Rabbi Burt E. Schuman Obituary
Homewood Cemetery, 1599 South Dallas Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Rabbi Burt E. Schuman was born on April Fools Day in NYC in 1948 to William and Dorothy Schuman (zl). He died in Pittsburgh, September 20th after a short, but intense fight with Chondrosarcoma. He is survived by his brother, Howard Schuman of London, cousin Ellen Karsh of NY, sister-of-the-heart Nancy Dubuar of Pittsburgh, beloved friends around the world, in the Jewish community, at Schenley Gardens and beyond.
Burt spent his first 40 years in NYC, growing up in Queens and then living in Brooklyn with many different jobs including teaching and public service. At age 42, he was accepted at Hebrew Union College and started his studies to become a Reform Rabbi. He called it, "the perfect synthesis of all my experiences-Jewish studies, human relations, music, teaching, speech writing, Jewish communal service...and a dose of theater.".
He served as a student rabbi in Grand Forks, ND and Monessen, PA. He learned to drive at 45. After graduating in 1995, he began his rabbinical career at Temple Beth Israel in Altoona, PA. He loved his congregation and they embraced him. He was also engaged in the civic life of that community and recognized for service to the Home Nursing Agency AIDS Intervention Project Advisory Committee.
In 2006, he moved to Warsaw, Poland as the first progressive rabbi since the holocaust. He returned to the US in 2012 and settled in Pittsburgh, moving to Schenley Gardens where he led Friday services, seders and other holiday services. He was loved by staff and other residents, and we are grateful for the loving care he received.
He enjoyed singing with the Temple Sinai and Rodef Shalom choirs until his hearing failed. He also was active at Rodef Shalom services and Torah study. Burt was a wonderful friend with much more life to live. We will miss his wit, his scholarship, his joy and the song in his heart. This world has lost a beautiful light.
Graveside service for our fabulous friend to be held at Homewood Cemetery on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at 2 PM. Memorial contributions to Persad Center (persadcenter.networkforgood.com) or Animal Friends in Pittsburgh (thinkingoutsidethecage.org), or to the animal rescue of your choice. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. http://www.schugar.com.
I had the privilege of learning about Rabbi Burt\'s life every Saturday during Torah study. Each session was enriched by his spirited discussions and his unwavering passion for educating the younger generations. He didn\'t just teach the Torah; he brought it to life with personal anecdotes and real-world applications that resonated with everyone. His enthusiasm was contagious, inspiring us to delve deeper and ask meaningful questions.
His life is an inspiration to all of us and a testament to a significant part of history. He witnessed and contributed to many pivotal moments, and his experiences enriched our understanding of the world. I am certain his contributions in leading the synagogue will have a long-lasting impact. His legacy will continue to guide us, and his teachings will be cherished by future generations.
By WESLEY LI - September 27, 2024I was indeed honored to know Rabbi Burt Schuman for these past six years. I think there are two turning points in his life that are key to understanding who Burt was. The first is that he had a very secular lifestyle in New York City where he encountered, not by chance I am sure, Jewish history in the likes of Roman Vishniac's photographic studies of the German Jewish Community in the mid-to-late 1930s. He said that exhibit lit a flame of sorts in his heart to attend Hebrew Union College to become a reform rabbi at the age of 42.
The second turning point in his life was when he felt called, I am sure, to try to help rebuild the progressive Jewish Community in Warsaw, Poland. With much political squabbling, he was able to establish a national organization called Beit Polska (or Polish House) that he was rightfully proud of.
In his last year, Burt told me about a book I needed to read. The Diary of Petr Ginz 1941-1942 was compiled by Petr's sister, Chava Pressburger. Petr was a Czech budding literary and artistic genius who by law had to be sent to a concentration camp by age 14. Petr continued to write short stories based on his interviews of people he met at Theresienstadt, and his amazing lithographic artwork. He died at Auschwitz in 1944 at the age of sixteen.
I suggest reading this book will show you that there were some things Burt had to do with his life.
I was so fond of Rabbi Butt. His spirit and his soul will be greatly missed.
By Sandy Davis - September 23, 2024I'm tremendously saddened by the loss of Rabbi Burt, and I offer condolences to all his family and friends, along with the hope that they find solace in how loved and appreciated he was. I knew Rabbi Burt best through participating in the Rodef Shalom choir, where he lent us his wisdom, knowledge, and enthusiasm. He was always tremendously kind toward my late wife Elaine, and both of us cared for and appreciated him. He will be greatly missed.
