Rabbi Henry Fisher; University Faculty Member

Rabbi Henry Fisher, a 25-year faculty member at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles, has died at his Sherman Oaks home. He was 88.

Fisher died Sunday of a heart attack, said his daughter, Judith Leon of Encino.

Born in Brest Litovsk, Russia, Fisher came to the United States when he was 11. He graduated from City College of New York and earned a master’s degree at Teacher’s College at Columbia University in New York. He was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York in 1928. He first served as rabbi of a congregation in Long Island, N.Y., after which he served at Temple Beth El in Rochester, N.Y., from 1939 to 1945. From 1945 to 1965, he served at Congregation B’nai Zion in Chicago. He came to California in 1965 and the following year joined the faculty of the University of Judaism. Fisher was active with the university until his death.

In 1961, he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. In 1979, Fisher received the Mordecai M. Kaplan Medal of the University of Judaism for a lifetime of distinguished service to the Jewish community.

In addition to daughter Judith, Fisher is survived by his wife of 22 years, Dorothy Fisher; daughter Dr. Susan Fisher of Chicago; stepsons Dr. Stephen Klevens of Sherman Oaks and Joel Klevens of Manhattan Beach; sister Hinda Bilenker of Elizabeth, N.J.; 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. His first wife, Ramona Fisher, died in 1967.

A funeral, with burial to follow, is scheduled at 10 a.m. today at Mt. Sinai Memorial Park, 5959 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles. Mt. Sinai Mortuary is handling the arrangements.

Donations can be made to the Rabbi Henry and Dorothy Fisher Fund, in care of the University of Judaism, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles 90077.