Rabbi Carl Wolkin

Rabbi Carl Wolkin had a knack for remembering everyone’s name, making others laugh, and caring for the community.

Over his storied career as a Conservative rabbi, Wolkin connected with congregants through his compassion, kindness, vulnerability, and wisdom. He died on Feb. 28 at the age of 77.

Wolkin served as a pulpit rabbi for more than 40 years. He began his career as Rabbi Mordecai Waxman’s assistant at Temple Israel in Great Neck, N.Y. and went on to serve as senior rabbi at Congregation Beth Shalom in Northbrook. After retiring in 2015, he found joy in serving as an interim rabbi at St. Albans Masorti Synagogue in England and Temple Adath Jeshurun in Syracuse N.Y., his hometown congregation. His final job was teaching at the Weinberg Community for Senior Living – CJE SeniorLife.

“A lover of all things Jewish, thoughtful, and kind, Rabbi Wolkin’s deep caring for others was forever evident in everything that he did” said Rabbi Michael Siegel of Anshe Emet Synagogue. “He was the consummate rabbi, always burnishing his craft, always growing.

“What set Carl apart was the joy that he brought to his rabbinate” Siegel added. “I would like to think that every rabbi loves what they do, but no rabbi could love being a rabbi more than Carl Wolkin. Congregation Beth Shalom, as well as the Jewish community of Chicago are better for having the leadership of Rabbi Wolkin. Zecher Zadik L’vracha : May the memory of the righteous be a blessing.”

He was born in Philadelphia on Dec. 27, 1946, to Paul and Rebecca Wolkin, and was raised in Syracuse. He earned his undergraduate degree from Columbia University and his rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1973, learning from luminaries like Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and Rabbi Louis Finkelstein.

Wolkin served on the JUF Board from 2007-2017, and the Chicago Board of Rabbis, where he served as president and immediate past president. He also was involved in a variety of other Jewish organizations, including Solomon Schechter Jewish Day School, Rochelle Zell Jewish High School, Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, and the Shalom Hartman Institute.

“I was honored to have Carl Wolkin as my rabbi and friend for over 30 years, said Michael H. Zaransky, former chair of the JUF Board and the JUF Annual Campaign. “Rabbi Wolkin had a profound impact on motivating and growing my, and countless others’, Jewish knowledge, and communal involvement. A master sermonizer, and membership building magnet, his relentless compassion and caring touched and uplifted thousands of families.”

Beyond the pulpit, Wolkin loved reading, running, reflecting, meditating, and rewatching every episode of Law & Order with his wife of 55 years, Judy, who was his best friend. A lifelong devotee of the Camp Ramah movement, he met Judy at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires in 1966. They would often say that they loved each other “with all my hearts and parts.” His congregants fondly remember Wolkin’s smile when Judy would enter the sanctuary.

Wolkin is survived by his wife Judy, his brothers Jay and Milton Zelermyer, and his sons Joshua (Aurelia Vasquez) and David (Keeli Sorensen), in addition to countless friends.

The funeral was held at Congregation Beth Shalom followed by a graveside service at Shalom Memorial Park in Arlington Heights; arrangements were by Chicago Jewish Funerals. Donations in Wolkin’s memory can be made to the Carl and Judy Wolkin Innovations in Education Fund at Congregation Beth Shalom, Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, and Solomon Schechter Jewish Day School.

This story drew in part upon the obituary posted on the Chicago Jewish Funerals website, to which David Wolkin, Rabbi Carl Wolkin’s son, contributed.