David Wolf Silverman, rabbi, scholar, and educator, died peacefully at his home in Princeton on July 4th, 2021. He was 94.
Born in Chicago in 1926, Rabbi Silverman received his B.A. from the University of Chicago, his Masters of Rabbinical Ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, and his PhD in philosophy from Columbia University. He served as Chaplain at Fort Lewis, Washington, during the Korean War.
Silverman was rabbi of the Conservative Synagogue of Riverdale, Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel in Philadelphia, and Temple Israel of Deal, NJ.
Rabbi Silverman taught medieval and modern Jewish Philosophy for many years at the Jewish Theological Seminary, and was Principal of the Prozdor High School program there. He served as President of Spertus College of Judaica. Before his retirement, Silverman was adjunct professor of philosophy at Monmouth University.
Since his retirement from the rabbinate, Rabbi Silverman was an active member and sought after teacher of of Jewish philosophy, ethics, and bioethics at The Jewish Center and led High Holy Day services there. He also served for many years as Chaplin at the Princeton Hospital and The Penn Medicine Princeton Health Center.
Loving husband of seventy years to Tziona (Zion) Silverman, Rabbi Silverman was father to Shira (deceased), Debora, Eve, and Ethan Silverman, and father-in-law to Jeffrey Prager, Alan Kingsberg, and Irene Tobey. He leaves seven grandchildren: Daniel Prager; Jesse, Julia and Noah Deutsch; Theodore, Alexander and Raphael Silverman; and one great granddaughter, Abigail Prager
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 7th at 12 noon at The Jewish Center, 435 Nassau Street, Princeton followed by burial at Princeton Cemetery. Face masks are required for all those attending the service in the synagogue. Evening Shiva will be held by Zoom Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday and Monday at 7:15pm and on Saturday at 9:15pm.
Contributions in Rabbi Silverman’s honor may be sent to The Jewish Center, Mazon, and the adult education program of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York.
May his memory be a blessing.
Rabbi David wolf Silverman was a unique individual. He possessed a remarkable combination of scholarship, rabbinic and personal wisdom, as well as insight, understanding and compassion. He was an extraordinary teacher whose brilliant oratory laced with a delightful sense of humor made each of his presentations an unforgettable experience. Each lecture became an anxiously anticipated highlight of our week.
It was a privilege to share Chavurah meetings while still learning from him in a relaxed atmosphere.
Rabbi Silverman will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by all who had crossed his path
Please accept my sincere condolences
Rabbi David Wolf Silverman was an extraordinary teacher and scholar. We, members of The Jewish Center were privileged to be able to learn from him. He was also a source of wisdom to many of us who benefited from his sound advice and good council. Please accept our sincere condolences. He will be greatly missed.
I’m so sorry about the death of the much revered and deeply loved Rabbi David Silverman. Through his many mitzvahs, he affected all our lives. Special condolences to Tziona and Debby through whom I’ve come to know Rabbi Silverman over the past fifty years.
May his memory be a blessing.
Words cannot adequately express our profound sorrow to learn of the recent passing of our beloved Rabbi David Silverman z”l. The Simon family has known both David and Ziona for the last 25 years since we moved to Princeton in 1996. We have grown to love and admire you both. Your lives serve as an inspiration to us. David has had our unending admiration and respect both as a rabbi and teacher – but, also as a dear friend. His life is an inspiration to us and is greatly to be admired. We pray that the cherished memories that you both shared for over seven decades be a source of comfort to you and your family during your time of sorrow.
Y’hi Zichro Baruch – May Rabbi David Silverman’s z”l memory be for us all as a lasting blessing.
Rabbi Silverman was a “GREAT MENCH” very sorry to hear about his passing.
Our condolences to Ziona and family!
Love, Clara and Robert Saperstein
The Abraham family – David, Sandy and Nate – was very saddened to hear of the passing of Rabbi David Silverman “zl”. For us, he will always be remembered as Rabbi Silverman who so graciously tutored and prepared Nate for his big day and then officiated at Nate’s Bar Mitzvah. Rabbi Silverman went above and beyond to help us out and was a great diplomat as well as teacher. He made quite an impression on Nate as someone who was steeped in knowledge, able to understand a young teenager who really wanted to perform well, and who made the entire family –across the generations–feel comfortable. We think of him often. We would like to extend our heartfelt sympathy to Ziona, Debbie, Jeff and Daniel, as well as to the entire family. May his memory be for a blessing.
It was always a pleasure to see Rabbi Silverman and his wife at services when I would come from Israel to visit my mother. He was certainly a pillar of the Princeton Jewish Center community in his retirement years and he will be missed. Our heartfelt condolences to Tziona and the family.
We grew to know and admire Rabbi Silverman during our days in CWW. He was always so kind and open to us. Later, when during Steering Committee service we also began to know Ziona. Together, as a couple, we always felt blessed to be in his/their presence. David emitted a spiritual awareness. It was such a pleasure to be on the receiving end of his warmth.
He will be missed.
With sympathy and affection,
Bob Teweles
Karen Dandurand
Tziona and famiy – my deepest condolences on your loss. Rabbi Silverman was an absolute institution at TJC and I always enjoyed, from my occasional seat in front of him, hearing him sing and daven. May your memories of this wonderful man bring you comfort in the days and weeks ahead.
Love and hugs, Eve Niedergang