Clifton Park - Irwin Harvey Fishbein, a Rabbi and long-time resident of Westfield, NJ, died on May 20, 2025 at the age of 93.

Irwin was born in Providence, Rhode Island on August 4, 1931 to Sadie Rich Fishbein and Ralph Fishbein.  He graduated with a BA in Philosophy from Brown University in May of 1952, and married Barbara Riva Tcath on June 15, 1952.  While in Cincinnati for rabbinical school, he and Barbie welcomed Jonathan and Linda Gay.  In 1956 Irwin was ordained a Rabbi by the Hebrew Union College with a BHL (Bachelor of Hebrew Letters) and an MHL (Master of Hebrew Letters).  After graduation, Irwin served in the US Navy and attended chaplaincy school in Newport, RI before taking successive chaplaincy positions in Treasure Island, CA and Guam Island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.  While on Guam Irwin and Barbie welcomed their third child, David Joel.  After his service in the Navy, Irwin worked as a Rabbi in Croton on the Hudson, NY and then in Nyack, NY, where he and Barbie welcomed their fourth child, Robert Alan.  In 1961, Irwin accepted a position as Assistant Rabbi at Temple Rodef Shalom in Philadelphia, PA and the family moved to Elkins Park, PA.  By 1963, Irwin was heavily involved in the Civil Rights movement and in August he participated in the March on Washington lead by Martin Luther King.  He was also in Montgomery, AL with other clergy and civil rights protesters to greet the Selma to Montgomery marchers on March 24, 1965.  In the spring of 1964 Irwin accepted a position as Rabbi of Temple Beth El in Elizabeth, NJ and the family moved to Westfield NJ.  Irwin left the Elizabeth Congregation in 1970 and took a one-year position as Rabbi at Temple Emanu-El in Yonkers, NY.

During this transitional year, he planned and in 1970 founded the Rabbinic Center for Research and Counseling, and in 1971 the Rabbinic Center Synagogue, where he continued to pursue his life’s calling by providing novel and groundbreaking support for interfaith couples, including the creation of the first list of Rabbis who would officiate at interfaith marriages.  In addition, he provided marriage counseling and psychotherapy for couples and individuals.

Irwin had lifetime love for learning and studied ancient near-eastern languages at Columbia University in 1973 (class work completed but no dissertation) and received a DMin (Doctor of Ministry) in psychotherapy, group therapy, and marriage and family therapy from Andover-Newton College in 1978.  Irwin received an honorary DD (Doctor of Divinity) degree from Hebrew Union College in 2007.

Above all else, Irwin was a devoted brother, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Irwin is survived by a sister, Toby Reifman, and brother, Norman Fishbein, as well as 4 children, 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, as follows: Jonathan married to Paula with children Benjamin and Lia; Linda Altman married to Howard with children Rebecca Stearns (married to Thomas with children Elliot and Bobby) and Sarah Floyd (married to Jacob with children Scott and Alan); David married to Patricia McQuilken with children Sam (married to Shyanne), Joshua and Eli; and Robert married to Carla with children Aaron (married to Shevi with children Moshe, Dovid Tzvi, Yitzhak and Binyomin), Stephanie Ribnick (married to Jon with children Faye and Lily) and Rose.

A funeral service is scheduled for 11:00 at Beth Israel Cemetery in Woodbridge, NJ on Sunday May 25, 2025. The funeral services will be livestreamed on Zoom and can be accessed with the following:

Meeting ID # 825 7352 9400

Passcode 569951

 

Shiva will be held locally at the home of Stacey Crandall in Bethlehem on Monday May 26th from 5:00 – 8:00 pm. Please call the funeral home for the address if you are planning to attend.

Donations in leu of flowers to:  Community Hospice, 445 New Karner Rd., Albany, NY 12205.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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