At their birth, the late Rabbi Dr. Peter S. Knobel wrote each of his grandchildren a letter. In one, he wrote: “One quotation rabbis repeat is: ‘Repent on the day before your death.’ Since we do not know when we will die, each new day is the time for change.”

Over a lifetime of service, Knobel fostered significant change for his local and national Jewish community. He died at age 76 on Aug. 20 in Los Angeles, where he had been serving as an Interim Rabbi for Temple Israel of Hollywood.

For 30 years, Knobel was the senior rabbi, then rabbi emeritus, at Beth Emet The Free Synagogue in Evanston, where he had served since 1980.

Beth Emet’s Senior Rabbi, Andrea C. London, eulogized him as “a mensch who placed the greatest emphasis on the accomplishments of others,” and who inspired his congregants to create a soup kitchen and a burial society.

Knobel also was on the faculty of Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership. He also taught at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR), Yale University, and the University of Connecticut.

He earned his undergraduate degree at Hamilton College, his rabbinic ordination and MAHL from the HUC-JIR, and his Ph.D. from Yale in 1976.

“A Renaissance-man rabbi, Peter was at home in the classics of Western civilization, and a masterful rabbi to the members of his synagogue,” recalled Rabbi Yehiel E. Poupko, JUF’s Rabbinic Scholar. “He was an outstanding Jewish scholar possessed of both a penetrating intellect and an innate sense of goodness.”

Beyond the pulpit and podium, Knobel was an activist of national impact, serving on the boards of the Union for Reform Judaism and the American Jewish Committee. He also served as president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) and chaired the CCAR committee for Mishkan T’filah , the Reform Movement’s new prayer book.

“I was privileged to serve as an officer of the CCAR during Peter’s tenure, and I will always remember his moral integrity,” said Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union of Reform Judaism. “During his term as the president, Peter launched the reimagination of the organization as we know it today.”

Knobel was passionate about Israel. He served on the national board of the Association of Reform Zionists of America and chaired its Institute for Reform Zionism. He was also a member of the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative on Peace in the Middle East.

Locally, Knobel was the president of JUF’s Chicago Board of Rabbis from 1993-97 and served on JUF’s Board of Directors; he and his wife were Silver Circle donors to the JUF Annual Campaign. He also served as president of the Chicago Association of Reform Rabbis and was active in the Chicago Black-Jewish Dialogue.

Knobel’s interests were as widespread as his impact. He was a prolific writer and editor who wrote about everything from Reform Zionism, Jewish bioethics, and liturgy to assisted suicide, spirituality and same-sex marriage.

Knobel, the son of the late Lothar and Lotta Knobel, is survived by his wife of 53 years, Elaine “Goodie” (nee Goodman) Knobel, and his sons Seth and Jeremy (Alyssa) Knobel. He was the grandfather of Leah, Alana, Heather, Stephen, Lily, and Oliver. He was brother-in-law to Judy and Tom Varga and Howard and Janet Goodman, and uncle to Lauren and Michele Yanoff and Scott and Dana Goodman.

The funeral was held at Beth Emet The Free Synagogue, with interment at Memorial Park Cemetery in Skokie; arrangements were by Chicago Jewish Funerals. Memorials may be made to Beth Emet The Free Synagogue.