IRENE JACOB

JACOB
IRENE
Age 84, on Thursday, December 6, 2012, passed away peacefully at home with Walter, her devoted husband of 54 years by her side. Beloved wife of Rabbi Emeritus and Senior Scholar, Dr. Walter Jacob. Irene (Loewenthal) Jacob was born in Germany, and lived for a time in England and later Israel, before immigrating to the United States. She and Walter married in October 1958 and made their home in the Point Breeze neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Irene was an active member of Rodef Shalom Congregation and was a civic leader within our city. Irene was the founding director of the Rodef Shalom Biblical Garden, which she envisioned and nurtured for more than a quarter century. Additionally, Irene was the author or co-author of seven books on horticulture, including Gardens of North America and Hawaii: a Traveler's Guide, Biblical Plants, the Healing Past, Plants of the Bible and their uses, and Botanical Symbols in World Religions, as well as numerous monographs and papers, which she presented nationally and internationally. Additionally, Irene was a co-founder of Mainstay Services for Handicapped Children, the Pittsburgh Recorder Society and Mother's Day Out. Further, for more than half a century, she was a regular fixture at Temple, actively engaged in the lives of our Temple families. Irene Jacob was admired and appreciated by all who knew her. Irene was the mother of the late Claire Jacob, Kenny Jacob, Daniel and Eslyn Jacob. In addition to her husband Walter, she is survived by her sister, Eva Meisler of Jerusalem; and brother, Eli Loewenthal of Haifa; and nephews and nieces, Max and Lisa Jacob of Burlinggame, CA, Jenny and Drew Patterson of Mountain View, CA, Susan and Geoffrey Caine of Jerusalem, Ronnie and Limor Loewenthal of Modiin, Israel, Jonnie Freier of Tel Aviv and Kate Stern of London as well as many other relatives and friends in North America, Germany and Israel. Services at Rodef Shalom Temple, 4905 Fifth Avenue at Morewood on Friday at 2:30 p.m. Interment West View Cemetery of Rodef Shalom Congregation. Memorial contributions may be made to the Rodef Shalom Biblical Botanical Garden Endowment Fund, c/o Rodef Shalom Congregation, 4905 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Arrangements entrusted to RALPH SCHUGAR CHAPEL, INC.
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