Contributions to the tribute of Rabbi Dr. Murray J Kohn

In Memory of

Rabbi Dr. Murray J Kohn

1929 - 2021

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Sunday

December

Visitation at Main Service

12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Sunday, December 12, 2021

Beth Israel Congregation

1015 East Park Avenue

Vineland, New Jersey, United States

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Sunday

December

Funeral Service

2:00 pm

Sunday, December 12, 2021

Beth Israel Congregation

1015 East Park Avenue

Vineland, New Jersey, United States

Get Directions

Sunday

December

Final Resting Place

3:30 pm

Sunday, December 12, 2021

Alliance Cemetery

970 Gershal Ave

Norma, New Jersey, United States

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Angelica N lit a candle

Monday, November 13, 2023

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I was a student at Richard Stockton College of NJ in the 1990s. I was generally interested in history and the Holocaust would be an interesting class for me. It was, I was surprised to be treated to a survivor professor Dr. Kohn. In one semester he became a sort of plumb line test for me, or a re-centering. Not sure how else to explain it. His voice was always calm, steady, but strong. He had this way of looking at you intently, making small motions with his hands, never pointing at you, sometimes spreading them out, holding your gaze. You found yourself wondering how you would respond to impossible situations described in the class. One memorable lecture was about suicide among survivors. We talked about who had the right to judge whether it was a scandal or not. And we talked about the way the mind can give up after the direct attack has stopped. And we tried to figure out why and what it meant and how to counter it so people could recover from trauma. Or I tried to figure that out. It seemed to be the goal of the lecture. It was an amazing class I'll never forget. I gained my most important insight from the class. Trust and faith are essential to my survival. I don't mean faith as in religion. But that's good too. Faith can be as simple as faith that when someone knocks on the door they're a nice person who wants to do some thing nice for me, probably. And trust is those moments when you inevitably have to give a little trust to someone else (as simple as, taking a plane, trusting a pilot). He taught me that. And I wasn't even a religious student. He taught me that by teaching Holocaust studies. I'm not even sure he said it in words. It was a discovery. With Ukraine and now Israel attacked, I've thought of him often. Around August 2020 I looked him up and he seemed OK and debated contacting him. But it seemed intrusive and the pandemic and all. This was the next time I checked and I'm so sorry I waited. If I come to NJ I'll stop by and place a stone on his headstone if possible. He'd understand why. That's another story for another time. I feel like I'm intruding now. But he was such an amazing person. I'm hoping there's a biography of him or someone's going to work on one.

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Bonnie Zahn posted a condolence

Sunday, December 19, 2021

Please extend our family's sincere sympathy to the family of Rabbi Murray J. Kohn. Rabbi Kohn officiated at our wedding and my daughter's Bat Mitzvah as well as many other family events. My mother-in-law, Laura Zahn, worked at the synagogue as the receptionist and secretary to Rabbi for many years and my husband's Aunt June was the bookkeeper for the synagogue. They had a wonderful relationship with him. He was always there for us, in good times as well as providing support to the family in times of sadness. May his memory be for a blessing and may he rest in peace. Bonnie Zahn

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Greg Kidorf posted a condolence

Thursday, December 16, 2021

Rabbi Kohn was as integral to my childhood as Philadelphia sports, Happy Days, and PB&J sandwiches. A larger than life presence, he demanded my participation in shul each Shabbat and commanded me to sing with as much force as my young lungs could muster. And through his encouragement and praise, I eventually learned to leyn Torah and Haftarah (sometimes with little warning) - and continue to do so at my own shul. Most memorable were his fiery sermons that frequently interwove recent news from the New York Times into the weekly parsha – perhaps emphasizing the article more than the parsha when one especially aroused his passion. In any event, I was the most well-informed and culturally astute 10-year-old walking around Vineland in those days. Rabbi was such a meaningful part of my life that I immediately thought of him to officiate at my wedding – which he did with a wonderfully good-humored and warm touch that helped start off my marriage on a joyful note. Later, when my mother was terminally ill, Rabbi Kohn sat with her to ensure that she would not pass this world alone. He also spoke lovingly at both of my parents’ funerals with the earnest words of a friend who knew and respected them – and well-captured their most endearing traits. Rabbi’s many professional accomplishments are well-known to the community and beyond, but it was the way he personally affected me that I felt most compelled to share. The Vineland community has been so fortunate and honored to be served by his strength, leadership, and righteousness; and his influence will continue to be felt through the generations. We will deeply miss him – and we are a stronger people for having had him in our lives. Ha’makom yenahem etkhem betokh she’ar avelei Tziyonvi’Yerushalayim With deep consolation and eternal respect, Greg Kidorf

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The family of Rabbi Dr. Murray J Kohn uploaded a photo

Sunday, December 12, 2021

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Rita Davidson posted a condolence

Saturday, December 11, 2021

So sorry for your loss. Rita Davidson

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Lori Merer Lesser posted a condolence

Saturday, December 11, 2021

Rabbi Dr. Kohn was instrumental in showing me the many amazing facets of Judaism. He was the foundation that created a thirst for knowledge and understanding of my heritage that has remained with me to this day. It was that foundation that taught me the importance of teaching and celebrating our traditions with my children. I have many wonderful memories of spending time with Martha and Sara at their home where I was always warmly welcomed. Not only was he a great Rabbi but a wonderful mentor, as well. He will be missed by so many who have been lucky enough to have known him. Lori Merer Lesser

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Dorothy R. Burke posted a condolence

Saturday, December 11, 2021

"My thoughts and prayers are with Martha and her family at this very sad time." In Sympathy, Dorothy R. Burke

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Neil Brandt lit a candle

Saturday, December 11, 2021

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I was fortunate to be accepted into the first class of the MA program of Holocaust/Genocide studies at Richard Stockton College. My first instructor was Murray Kohn. Not only was he my teacher, he became my friend. He called me “Daddy long legs.” Years later we met at Zahor dinners. He was a coefficient at my wedding. His memory is a blessing. I’m smiling thinking of the times I spent with Murray in the classroom and elsewhere. I especially remember him telling us about his bar mitzvah in Auschwitz and the forced march from Auschwitz to Germany.

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Mary Lynn Doernbach posted a condolence

Saturday, December 11, 2021

My sincere condolences.

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Sonja Levin uploaded photo(s)

Friday, December 10, 2021

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Rabbi officiated our children's Bat/Bar Mitzvah plus Confirmation celebrations at Beth Israel Synagogue.

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Allison Gunn posted a condolence

Friday, December 10, 2021

Dr. Rabbi Murray Kohn was the first Holocaust survivor I ever met. I was in high school and he talked to my class. I was interested in history before meeting him, but he solidified my desire to go to school for history. I appreciated how open he was about his experiences, being completely honest to share with us the horrors of his past. When I was applying to colleges I was asked to write about someone who inspired me and Dr. Kohn is who I wrote about. Despite everything, he lived with joy and love. After earning my undergraduate degree I attended Stockton in the Holocaust and Genocide Studies program. I was lucky enough to have Dr. Kohn as my professor during my first semester. I'll always remember the impact he had on me. I expect he will live on in the memory and hearts of many others as well.

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