Rabbi Louis R. Firestein

Rabbi Louis Firestein

Rabbi Louis Firestein passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 9, 2009, surrounded by his loved ones. 

Louis Firestein was born on June 4, 1922, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Abraham and Rebecca Firestein, Jewish immigrants from Russia. As a young man, he studied religion, attending Yeshiva University and the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City. Upon ordination in 1953, Rabbi Firestein joined the United States Air Force and served as a chaplain at Amarillo Air Force Base until 1955. From 1955 to 1962, Rabbi Firestein served Congregation Emanu El in Houston, Texas. In 1962, Rabbi Firestein assumed the pulpit of Austin's Congregation Beth Israel, Austin's largest Jewish congregation, and served there for twenty-five years, until his retirement in 1987; he was a respected community leader and, in December 1963, during a visit to Austin, President Lyndon B. Johnson described Rabbi Firestein as "a great, good and decent soul".

In 1987, Firestein became Rabbi Emeritus at Beth Israel. Rabbi Firestein was a devoted husband to his beloved wife of 45 years, Margaret Furman Firestein, who preceded him in death in 2001; a loving father to his four children; a patient and generous teacher; an eloquent public speaker; a proud American; and a devout Jew. He is survived by his four children, Beth, Karen, Julie and David, and nine grandchildren.

Rabbi Firestein was preceded in death by his parents and his four cherished siblings, Joseph, Rose (Jean), Minnie and Harry. Private graveside services were held for Rabbi Firestein on January 11, 2009, at the Furman family burial site in Houston's Beth Yeshurun Cemetery (Post Oak). A memorial took place at Austin's Congregation Beth Israel on January 13, 2009.

Published in Austin American-Statesman on January 20, 2009