The Hebrew Academy family deeply mourns the passing of Rabbi Aaron Rosenbleeth, Judaic Principal at the Hebrew Academy and a leading figure in the Bay Area Orthodox Jewish world. Rabbi Rosenbleeth passed away on February 14 after a courageous battle with cancer.

An overflow crowd at Sinai Memorial Chapel paid final tribute to Rabbi Rosenbleeth on Sunday, Feb. 15. Rabbi Yitzchak Wasserman, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Toras Chaim in Denver, where Rabbi Rosenbleeth learned, delivered the first of many deeply moving tributes, followed by eulogies from Rabbi Mordechai Rindenow of Passaic, NJ, Rabbi Sholom Fine of Boston, MA, Rabbi Asher Lipner of New York, and Rabbi Pinchas Lipner, Dean of the Hebrew Academy. Other distinguished rabbis journeyed from San Diego, Los Angeles, and many Bay Area locations to pay their respects, making this occasion one of the largest gatherings in San Francisco of Orthodox rabbis in living memory.

Rabbi Rosenbleeth was universally eulogized as a tzaddik. Quiet and unassuming in nature, he perfectly exemplified the trait of Gemilus Chesed (loving-kindness.) “He entered a room quietly and he left quietly,” noted Rabbi Wasserman in his eulogy. Added Rabbi Pinchas Lipner, “He was the most ‘ego-less’ and devoted person I have ever worked with or known. He only thought of the needs of others, never of his own needs.

Rabbi Rosenbleeth was on the faculty of the Hebrew Academy for 17 years and served for many years as its Judaic Principal. Joining the staff at about the same time the school moved to the large, modern campus it now occupies on 14th Avenue, he played a key role in creating the highly successful Hebrew Academy High School, the first Jewish high school in Northern California. He administered and strengthened the Judaic Department, and taught Torah and Judaism to hundreds and hundreds of Jewish children, many of whom were getting their first taste of Yiddishkeit.

Rabbi Rosenbleeth played an equally significant role in the Hebrew Academy’s Institute for Jewish Medical Ethics and its International Conferences on Jewish Medical Ethics, personally supervising the religious services, all elements of kashruth, and all other religious aspects of the conferences.

Quietly and behind the scenes, as a member of the Vaad HaKashruth of Northern California, Rabbi Rosenbleeth was instrumental in extending kashruth facilities and products in the San Francisco Bay Area. Under his supervision Krispy Kreme’s Bay Area bakery and retail stores were kashered, as well as the bakery at the Albertson’s supermarket at Fulton and Masonic. One of his last accomplishments on the Vaad was to supervise the kashruth of the new kosher crepe café on Geary Boulevard, Café de la Terrasse.

Also noteworthy was his tireless work with Rabbi Yitzchok Feldman on the Jewish divorce court (gitten.)

Rabbi Rosenbleeth is survived by his wife of 18 years, Chanie, who steadfastly and bravely stood by him during his last illness, and four children, Yossi, 15, a student at Yeshiva Toras Chaim, and Dovid Uri, 13, Alana, 10 and Rina, 4, all students at the Hebrew Academy.

The Hebrew Academy has established a memorial scholarship fund in Rabbi Rosenbleeth’s honor. Contributions may be made payable to the Hebrew Academy Rosenbleeth Memorial Scholarship Fund and sent to the Hebrew Academy, 645 14th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94118.

Link to the obituary in J, the jewish news weekly