Barbara Kirshner, a resident of Delray Beach, Florida, died on October 12th, 2022 at the age of 84. Funeral services arranged by The Dorfman Chapel.

Location of Service:

Graveside

Date of Service:

Sunday October 16th, 2022

Time of Service:

10:00 AM  

Interment at:

Machpelah Cemetery, 4615 Branch Rd, Flint, MI 48506

Officiant:

Rabbi Steven Rubenstein  

Shiva Information:

Because of the Shmini Atzeret holiday, Shiva will not begin until Tuesday night.
Local Shiva will be held from 4:00PM until 7:00PM on Wednesday and Thursday at Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills, with Religious services each evening at 6:00PM.
In addition, Shiva will take place at the home of Dori and David-Seth Kirshner in Closter, New Jersey Wednesday October 19, and Thursday October 20, from 2-8 PM with Minyan at 7:30 PM. Friday from 1-4 PM. The balance of shiva will take place privately, with just immediate family.  

Charitable contributions:

Donations in memory of Barbara Kirshner should be made to the Rabbi Gabriel Kirshner Memorial Fund at the Academy for Jewish Religion or the charity of your choice.  

Family Members:

Barbara Wolin Kirshner died Wednesday morning, the 12th of October 2022 – 17th of Tishrei – Hol HaMoed Sukkot, 5783. She was 84 years old.

Barbara was the wife of Rabbi Sherman Phillip Kirshner (z'l) for 54 years and the mother of Rabbi Gabriel Kirshner (z'l) Elliott and Connie Kirshner of Marietta, Georgia, Larry and Missy Kirshner of Commerce, Michigan and David-Seth and Dori Kirshner of Closter, NJ. She had 9 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Barbara also leaves two sisters, Toby Katz of Flint, Michigan and Manya Wolin Abrams of Chicago, Illinois, and a brother, Sheldon Wolin (Carol) of Grand Blanc, Michigan and her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Reva (Mark_ Waldman of North York, Ontario.

Barbara was born and raised in Flint, Michigan. She met Phillip in 1956 and was married in 1958. Together they raised 4 sons. Phillip was a cantor and then studied to be a rabbi, and Barbara was the gold-standard clergy spouse. She could cook and host a meal for 12, clean her home, polish the silver, change diapers all while working full time as a stenographer and court reporter.

Phillip and Barbara lived in many places, ranging from Fort Worth Texas, to Charlotte, North Carolina to Flint, Michigan, to Mansfield, Ohio to Miami and Seminole, Florida to West Bloomfield, Michigan to Flushing, New York and eventually to Delray Beach, Florida. In each stop, Barbara was a Rebbetzin par-excellence, a doting daughter, a beloved aunt, caring sister and friend to innumerable people. She was the glue of her family and a treasured member of every community she lived.

After the death by suicide of her eldest son, Gabriel, Barbara dedicated much of her energies towards helping other parents with grief and memory. She was a trusted member of the Chevra Kaddisha for more than 50 years, caring for the needs of the deceased without any recognition or fanfare. She served on the executive board of her synagogue, Temple Anshe Shalom in Delray Beach for almost a decade. She was honored by Israel Bonds for her unwavering Zionism, was a proud advocate of AIPAC and was a pioneer of the Pinellas County Jewish Day School, helping the school launch from infancy to strength. She always offered wise counsel and was selfless for anyone who was in need.

After her children left the home, Barbara worked for the monument Department at Riverside Chapels in Manhattan and then Beth Israel Chapels, in Florida.

Her family is heartsick at the absence her death has created but are slowly filling that void with the most meaningful memories she shaped during her 84 years of life.  

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Yahrzeit Schedule:

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