Funeral services were held today for Rabbi Ben Zion Bokser, the spiritual leader of the Forest HilIs Jewish Center since 1933, who died Monday after a short illness. He was 77.
An author, teacher and an activist on behalf of many Jewish and Zionist causes, Bokser, was born in Poland. He came to the United States with his parents at the age of 13. He graduated from the City University of New York and received MA and Ph.D. degrees in philosophy from Columbia University. He was ordained as a rabbi by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1931.
Bokser was the author of a number of books on Judaism, among them, “The Wisdom of the Talmud”; “The Word of Cabala”; “The Legacy of Maimonides,” and, his most recent book, “Profile of Faith.” Bokser taught at the Jewish Theological Seminary for many years and was the teacher of many generations of rabbinical students.
Bokser also served for more than 25 years as program editor of the Eternal Light radio program sponsored by the Seminary.
He played a leading role in mobilizing funds for Israel’s economic development through his participation in the Israel Bond Organization program. He was also active on behalf of the United Jewish Appeal.
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.
