Funeral Details

Rabbi Gerry J. Rosenberg

April 1, 1938 - December 21, 2023

SERVICE INFORMATION

Date and Time

Friday, December 22, 2023 at 11:00 AM

Graveside

Shalom Memorial Park
1700 West Rand Road
Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004
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Clergy

Rabbi Joel Gutstein
Congregation Yehuda Moshe

Shiva

Rosenberg-Drazner Residence
4545 West Touhy Avenue
Lincolnwood, Illinois 60712
847.877.1983
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Traditional Shiva after the funeral until 2PM today, Motzei Shabbat from 7PM to 9PM, and Sunday through Wednesday from 10AM to 12 Noon, 2PM to 5PM and 7PM to 9PM

Memorial Contributions

Congregation Yehuda Moshe
4721 West Touhy Avenue
Lincolnwood, Illinois 60712
www.yehudamoshe.org





OBITUARY

Rabbi Gerry J. Rosenberg, age 85 died on December 21, 2023.
He leaves behind his beloved wife of 62 ½ years, Renee Rosenberg nee Lifchez, two loving daughters Melissa (Richard z’l) Drazner and Nancy (David) Given. Proud grandfather of Abigail, Jeremy and Hannah. Graveside service Friday 11AM at Shalom Memorial Park Cemetery (Section 5) 1700 W. Rand Road, Arlington Heights. Donations in his memory can be made to Congregation Yehuda Moshe, 4721 W. Touhy Av., Lincolnwood, IL, 60712, www.yehudamoshe.org. To attend the funeral live stream, please visit our website. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com


GUEST BOOK

We encourage you to share your personal condolences and stories of Rabbi Gerry J. Rosenberg below and we will share them with the family.
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Renee, Melissa, Abigail, Jeremy and family,

So sorry for you loss. May his memory be for a blessing.

Chuck Kahalnik
December 22, 2023
Renee, please accept my deep

Bruna Blandin
December 22, 2023
My condolences, expressed with deep personal sadness, to Gerry's family. I was very, very fond of Gerry. He was my JC at Camp Ramah in 1956 and a unique, dramatic, creative, joyful "presence" at Ramah for many, many years, and a friend for many decades after that. No one who was ever exposed to Gerry will ever forget him, his creative energy, sense of humor, joie de vivre, and love for and commitment to the Jewish People. He will be greatly missed by many. Y'hi zichro baruch. - Bob Berger

Robert Berger
December 22, 2023
Rabbi Gerry and Renee were among the people I remember from my summers at Ramah. Rabbi a Gerry will always be a blessed memory for me

Mike Sackett
December 22, 2023
I can still see and hear Gary in my mind, joyfully, playing the piano and singing Hebrew songs for us all to sing, along with him in the dining hall at Ramah, Wisconsin. My sincerest condolences to his family. How May his name and life forever be a blessing to us all ,to the Jewish nation and people, to the Jewish community, as a whole, and to the world. He will be sorely missed.

Harold Benson
December 22, 2023
I have many fond memories of Gerry when I was a young camper at Ramah and he was head of waterfront and head of the drama departments. In recent years I saw him on several occasions at Northwestern Hospital where he was volunteering and I was a patient after having open heart surgery. We we would always reminisce on these occasions. May Gerry’s memory be for a blessing!
Diane Raynes Rosenfeld

Diane Rosenfeld
December 22, 2023
Gerry was an important part of my Ramah days. Talented funny, and creative! Ramah would not have been the same without him. His memory is a blessing

Sybil Levine
December 22, 2023
As Ranah campers, Gerry was my cabin mate for two years.

In our very early twenties, he played Judd while I played Curly in a Ramah counselor production.

As college students at NYU, we were roommates in a West side apartment on 104th street which was not a great neighborhood.

We entered the JTSA together after graduating from NYU.

Thereafter, we both served as Chaplains in the United States Military where he served with distinction, abundant concern & expansive caring for both American troops and South Vietnamese citizens during the Vietnam War.

Gerry was a talented and vibrant human being whose death leaves a significant void to me and most assuredly to Renee and his family. His memory will be a continuing blessing to all who truly knew him..

Mark Elovitz
December 22, 2023
I remember both Gerry and Renee from my days as a camper at Ramah in the late 50's and early 60's. Gerry always led the Chadar Ochel in songs. He got everyone singing with his joyful enthusiasm! Those were the days!
Elaine Neubauer Lampert

Elaine Lampert
December 22, 2023
Hi remember Gerry as a vibrant program director at Camp Ramah in 1961 ss his assistant. He will be missed by all of us. שלום חבר.

Joel Gorfinkel
December 22, 2023
Gerry and I first met in 1949 and again in 1950, as campers at Camp Maccabee in Pelican Lake, WI., which, as I recall, was owned by his uncle, Harold Korey. He impressed me because he could play the piano. I then lost track of Gerry until 1958 when I caught up with him at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin located on the shores of Lake Buckatabon in Conover where we were both on staff. Gary loved Ramah and it is where he met his beloved wife, Renee. He was in charge of camper musical productions being primarily Broadway Musicals translated into Hebrew. Each of the several age groups presented a musical each summer. This was used a a means of teaching Hebrew and the songs were retained by most campers long after their camper days ended. He also wrote several songs which are still sung at Ramah to this day..

When we entered the working world, I had a law office downtown and would see Rav Gerry and Renee at Chicago Loop Synagogue on Shabbat where he would daven the Shabbat Musif service and enjoy the Kiddish afterwards. He loved the conversation and kibbitzing and usually took "center stage" as was his nature.

Gerry was a good person and will be missed by all who knew and loved him. May his memory be for a blessing and may he rest in peace.

Sadly,
Don Newman



Donald Newman
December 22, 2023
I loved working with Gerry at Copeland for about 10 years.,What a wonderful man and I will never forgot him. Rest in peace, Gerry. You were a fine man.
Hello Renee also. I hope you are well and live a long life.

Marilyn Friedman

Marilyn Friedman
December 23, 2023
Gerry and I were fellow brats at Congregation Rodfei Zedek in Hyde Park, Chicago, bunkmates for three years as campers in Camp Ramah, then JCs for two years in nearby cabins. Gerry was marvelously creative, especially musically. I remember fondly the "No Smoking" routines on Motzaei Shabbatot, with Gerry at the piano. יהי זכרו ברוך.

Ranon Katzoff
December 23, 2023
I am so sorry to hear about your dad and grandfather. Please accept our condolences. Syd and Fred

Syd Muenz
December 23, 2023
My deepest and most heartfelt condolences to you all.
Rabbi Rosenberg’s memory will forever be a blessing to all of us who had the good fortune to know him.
Xoxo
Sherry Krawitz

Sherry Krawitz
December 23, 2023
Thinking of you all and sending my deepest condolences.

Shari Coe
December 26, 2023