Washington Rabbi Found Stabbed to Death in His Home

Funeral services were held today for Rabbi Philip Rabinowitz, for 34 years spiritual leader of the Kesher Israel synagogue here, who was found stabbed to death in his Georgetown home yesterday morning. He was 63. Burial will be in Israel.

Rabinowitz was widowed and lived alone. His stabbed and bludgeoned body was discovered after members of his Orthodox congregation, the second oldest in the Washington metropolitian area, became concerned when he failed to appear for morning services. Homicide investivators said they have no suspects and no known motivations in the case.

Rabinowitz was born in Lomza, Poland in 1920 and came to the United States in the 1930s. He studied at the Hebrew Theological College in Chicago, at Columbia University, Brooklyn College and Wagner College, all in New York City. He taught at Hebrew schools in New York, Chicago and Washington and at the Hebrew Academy in Silver Spring, Md. He became rabbi of Kesher Israel Congregation in 1950.

Leaders of the Jewish community here expressed shock and sorrow over Rabinowitz’s death. They described him as a scholar with a deep commitment to learning and teaching his faith, particularly to young people. In addition to his rabbinical duties, he taught Hebrew and Jewish studies to high school students and conducted a weekly Torah class for adults.