Remembering Bernard Alpert

Jewish activist and philanthropist Bernard “Bernie” Alpert died on June 24 at age 88.

Bernie and Fran, his wife of 64 years, traveled the world- living in Chicago and Jerusalem, visiting Refuseniks in the former Soviet Union, and helping people of many different faiths and backgrounds. 

In 1981, the Alperts founded the tour-guide course called Archaeological Seminars. Its “Dig for a Day” program brings tourists and families to Beit Guvrin (part of JUF’s Partnership Together region), to explore and dig in caves for ancient artifacts. 

Bernie was born in 1932 in Albany Park, and eventually settled in Highland Park.

Fran first met Bernie’s brother, Seymour, at a wedding in 1955. Seymour immediately wanted to introduce the two of them, and Fran agreed. One year later, Bernie finally called her. 

“Hi, I’m Bernie,” said the voice on the other end of the phone. “My brother told me to call you. I’ll pick you up at 6 o’clock.”

That evening, Fran recalls watching Bernie emerge from a blue Ford convertible in a fisherman’s hat.  ”We’re going fishing,” he said. Fran and Bernie went smelt fishing at Montrose Harbor on that first date-and were together ever since. 

Bernie’s self-described mission was to make an impact on the Chicago Jewish people for good. He expressed his passion for Jewish education through his involvement with North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, Solomon Schechter, and Chicago Jewish Day Schools. He blew the shofar for patients at Highland Park Hospital, and co-wrote the Conservative movement’s guidelines for funerals. 

Before he reinvented himself as an archeologist, Bernie was a master entrepreneur, selling everything from carbon-copy paper to toys. “Bernie was the most creative person I [ever] met,” said Fran, “and was always generating ideas.”  

The Alperts spent six months in Israel in 1967-including during the Six-Day War. When they returned to Chicago, Bernie started to lose interest in business, and the two felt pulled back to the Jewish State, making aliyah soon after. A lover of baseball, he became one of the founders of Israeli Little League.

Then, in 1984, the two went to Oxford, where Bernie got his MA in archeology and became an accredited archaeologist.  

Bernie and Fran traveled the world, always visiting Jewish communities along the way. Their travels inspired them to volunteer with American Jewish World Service, working with hundreds of people in underdeveloped regions in India and Uganda for months at a time.  

In 1970, the Alperts went with friends to the former Soviet Union where they smuggled then-outlawed Jewish supplies to Refuseniks. At one point, the two couples were detained by the KGB, separated and interrogated for a day and a half. They were sent to Paris where they immediately went to Reuters and told their story, which was broadcast around the world.

Even with Bernie’s incredible world adventures, some of the most satisfying years of his life started when the Alperts returned to Chicago, where he got to do what he loved most-spend time with his children and grandchildren.

In addition to Fran, Bernard is survived by his children, Iris (Gerald Selvin), Abby (Michael Deeter), Danny (Andrea) and Chava (Michael Bloom). A son, Joshua David, preceded him in death. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and adoring family and friends all over the world. Memorials may be made to Chicago Jewish Day School or American Jewish World Service. Interment was at Memorial Park. Arrangements were made by Chicago Jewish Funerals. 

Richard S. Moline is Assistant Vice President of Israel Education for the Jewish United Fund of Chicago.