Rabbi Isaac N. Lerer, Ph.D., spiritual leader of Temple Menorah in Milwaukee since 1964, died Monday night of the effects of a stroke he suffered on Feb. 20. He was 78.
Lerer was born on Aug. 4, 1930, in Jerusalem, then ruled by the British Mandate. According to his son and co-spiritual leader of Menorah, Rabbi Gil-Ezer Lerer, he was “known as a brilliant child” who could recite pages of Talmud by heart. Moreover, Lerer taught himself English during World War II and translated radio broadcasts for family, friends and neighbors, his son said.
Upon receiving rabbinical ordination from Yeshivah Torah Chaim in Jerusalem in 1948, he came to the United States and studied at the Hebrew Theological College and Roosevelt College, both in the Chicago area.
His first synagogue pulpits were in Wisconsin, at Congregation Beth Israel in Stevens Point (1949-51) and Congregation B’nai Avraham in La Crosse (1951-55). He then went east to serve congregations in Florida and New Jersey and to earn a doctorate in Hebrew literature at Yeshiva University.
But as Lerer told The Chronicle (Oct. 4, 2002) on the occasion of his 50th year in the rabbinate, he had become “attached to Wisconsin” because of the “warmth and respect” he had received from Jews and non-Jews there.
In 1964, Lerer came to Milwaukee and became spiritual leader of what was then Congregation Beth Hamedrosh Hagadol B’nai Shalom Anshe Sfard located on Milwaukee’s West Side. At his instigation, according to his son, the synagogue changed its name to Temple Menorah.
In 1978, the synagogue moved to its present location on 76th St. near Brown Deer Rd. Though he did most of his work there, he also taught at several area institutions, including the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and served twice as president of the Wisconsin Council of Rabbis, according to his son.
In addition to his son Rabbi Gil-Ezer (Debbie) Lerer, he is survived by his wife Goldie (nee Schwartz); children Dr. Chavee (Vic Mellon) Lerer of Los Angeles, Michelle Lerer of Beverly Hills and Avi (Marsha) Lerer of Skokie, Ill.; brothers Shlomo and Shmuel Lerer and sisters Tziporah Rudnitzky and Chasya Lahat, all of Israel; brother-in-law Irving Schwartz; and 12 grandchildren.
Funeral services are scheduled to take place Wednesday, March 4, 11 a.m., at Temple Menorah. The family requests no visitation after the funeral until the first minyan at 5:30 p.m. that evening.
For further information about services and visitation, call the synagogue, 414-355-1120.
A longer story will appear in March 13 print edition.
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