Myer S. Kripke

Myer Samuel Kripke (January 21, 1914 – April 11, 2014) was an American rabbi, scholar, and philanthropist. He was based in Omaha, Nebraska.

Early life Kripke was born on January 21, 1914 Kripke was one of seven children: Harold, Sidney, Albert, Homer, Shirley, and Joseph.

Career In 1930 Kripke moved to New York to study at New York University and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He graduated from New York University Phi Beta Kappa and earned a master's degree in philosophy from Columbia University. He received his master's, doctoral, and rabbinical degrees from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York City. He was senior class president at the seminary in 1937. In 2007 Kripke received the Otto Swanson Spirit of Service Award from the Conference for Inclusive Communities.

Philanthropy The Kripkes were active in philanthropy, which originated with their decision to invest with Warren Buffett. They got to know him and his wife Susan at the Beth El Synagogue. The couples had a lifelong friendship. Buffett and Kripke's wives, the latter a published author, had common interests in education and community service. They donated much of their profits to philanthropic causes.

Kripke Tower The renovation of the Kripke Tower at Jewish Theological Seminary of America was funded in large part by a $7 million endowment by the Kripkes. The Kripkes' close ties to the seminary originated from them having met and married there.

Kripke Center The Kripke Center at Creighton University was created to empower those among the faith communities to have better understanding of each other's differences and similarities.

National Jewish Book Award Kripke endowed the Kripke National Jewish Book Award for Education and Jewish Identity in memory of his wife Dorothy, who died in 2000.

Reconstructionist Rabbinical College Kripke and his wife gave nearly $1 million to the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Wyncote, Pennsylvania. The money created the Dorothy and Myer Kripke Scholarship Fund, which distributes $60,000 annually in scholarships and fellowships.

Personal life and death Kripke met his wife, Dorothy Karp, at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, while both were students there. They married in 1937. Kripke and his wife had three children: Saul A. Kripke, a prominent philosopher and logician; Madeline Kripke, a bookseller, editor and authority on dictionaries and slang; and Netta Stern, who was a social worker and psychotherapist.

Kripke died at the age of 100 in Omaha, Nebraska. He was buried at Beth El Cemetery.

Works or publications Kripke, Myer S. Cultural and Scientific Approaches to Jewish Ideas of God, Being Especially a Critique of the Theology of Mordecai M. Kaplan. Masters essay. Columbia University. Philosophy. 1937. Kripke, Dorothy K, Myer S. Kripke, and Laszlo Matulay. Let's Talk About Loving: About Love, Sex, Marriage, and Family. New York: Ktav Pub. House, 1980. Kripke, Myer S. Insight and Interpretation: Reflections on the Weekly Sidrah. Chestnut Ridge, N.Y: Town House Press, 1988.