Rabbi Sheldon Zimmerman

Rabbi Sheldon Zimmerman passed away at the age of 84 on July 14th, 2026, in Plano, TX, surrounded in love by his wife, children, and grandchildren. He was born on February 21, 1942, in Toronto, Canada to Morris and Anne Helen Zimmerman. He grew up in Toronto surrounded by a large, multi-generational family who were instrumental in the building of the Toronto Jewish community. He graduated from Forest Hill Collegiate in 1960. He attended the University of Toronto and earned his BA in Philosophy in 1964 and his MA in Philosophy in 1965. He was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1970. From 1970-1972, Sheldon served as the Assistant Rabbi of Central Synagogue in New York, and from 1972-1985 served as their Senior Rabbi. From 1985-1996, he served as the Senior Rabbi at Temple Emanu-El of Dallas. In 1993, he was appointed President of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. In that same year, he was selected to serve on a 16-member Presidential Delegation sent by President Clinton to travel to Warsaw with Vice President Al Gore for the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. In 1996, he was installed as the 7th President of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, the seminary and educational center of Reform Judaism in North America and Israel, where he served until 2000. From 2001, he served as the Executive Vice President of Birthright Israel and from 2003, served as Vice President of Jewish Renaissance and Renewal at United Jewish Communities. From 2007-2017, he served as the Senior Rabbi at The Jewish Center of the Hamptons in East Hampton, NY. Sheldon met his beloved Judith at a B’nai Brith Youth Organization Convention in 1963, where he was a past Grand Aleph Godol and she served as the International Orator. They were married in Toronto in the summer of 1964 and were happily married for 62 years, building a life of joy, love, and true partnership. Following 10 generations of Rabbis in his family, service to the Jewish community was not simply a professional path he chose, but a legacy into which he was born. A natural-born teacher, scholar, and leader, Sheldon spent the five decades of his Rabbinate in dedicated and loving service to the Jewish community. He touched the lives of thousands, celebrating with them in their most joyful times, pastoring and comforting them through their darkest moments, and helping generations of Jews discover meaning, connection, and spiritual fulfillment in their Judaism. In addition to serving the Jewish people, he also mentored and taught hundreds of clergy and Jewish leaders, helping build and shape the Jewish professional field and the Jewish community as a whole. Sheldon is survived by his wife Judith, his sister Cheryl Zimmerman, his brother Aubrey Zimmerman, and sister-in-love Patricia Coburn; his children, Rabbi Brian Zimmerman, Kira Kerstine, David Zimmerman, and Micol Zimmerman Burkeman; his sons and daughters-in-love, Mimi Zimmerman, Jeff Kerstine, Bethany Christakos Zimmerman, and Rabbi Danny Burkeman; his grandchildren, Saul Zimmerman, Molly Zimmerman, Ethan Kerstine, Lissa Kerstine, Jake Kerstine, Gabby Burkeman, and Benny Burkeman; and his nieces, Rahel Kay and Claire and Rachel Zimmerman. Sheldon was preceded in death by his beloved parents Morris and Anne Helen Zimmerman. Burial will be private and a memorial service will be held at Temple Emamu-El, 8500 Hillcrest Rd, Dallas, TX 75225 on Friday, July 17th at 12 pm. Donations can be made in Rabbi Sheldon Zimmerman’s memory to: JFS Foundation of Greater Dallas: https://jfsdallas.org/donate-now/ and to Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger, and American Friends of Magen David Adom Condolences may be left on Sheldon Zimmerman’s online guest book at www.dallasjewishfunerals.com

Rabbi Sheldon Zimmerman

February 21, 1942 - July 14, 2026