Funeral Services were held here Sunday for Rabbi Morris Kertzer who died last Thursday in Scottsdale, Arizona at the age of 73. Born in Cochrane, Ontario, he had served as a rabbi in various synagogues in the United States.
He was the author of serveral well known books on Judaism, including "What is a Jew?", "The Art of Being a Jew", "Today’s America Jews", and "Tell Me Rabbi." He also contributed articles on religious issues to various American publications and magazines.
Between 1951-1958, Kertzer served as the director of interreligious affairs of the American Jewish Committee. He was secretary of the New York Board of Rabbis from 1957 to 1959. He was also a member of the executive board of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the association of Reform rabbis, from 1964-66, and was also a member of the board of trustees of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations from 1962-1967.
Kertzer received a B.A. degree from the University of Toronto, an M.A. degree from the University of Illinois, and a Doctor of Hebrew Literature degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He was ordained as a rabbi in 1934.
He was the recipient of various medals, among them a Bronze Star from the U.S. Army after World War II and the George Washington Medal from the Freedom Foundation. In 1956, Kertzer headed a delegation to the Soviet Union. He resided in Scottsdale for many years.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
