Rabbi Irwin Huberman—Obituary

I believe in the future

We shall suffer no more

Maybe not in my lifetime,

but in yours, I feel sure

-Paul Simon, The Cool, Cool River

Irwin Huberman, Rabbi at Congregation Tifereth Israel of Glen Cove, New York,

died on 1 August 2026 in Bayàmon, Puerto Rico following a brief illness. He was 73

years old.

Rabbi Irwin was born on 30 June 1953 in Montréal, Quebec, to Leon and Charlotte

Huberman. He worked as a photographer for the Ottawa Citizen following his

graduation from Carleton University with a Bachelor of Journalism in 1974. In 1976

he moved to Fort McMurray, Alberta, where he founded the Fort McMurray

Express, one of the first two newspapers in the area. He played a leadership role in

Fort McMurray’s fledgling Jewish community, as well as volunteering with the Boys

and Girls Club and coaching children’s softball and soccer teams. He later wrote a

book on the history of Fort McMurray, The Place We Call Home.

After moving to Edmonton, Alberta in 1993, Irwin worked for government at

provincial and federal levels, managing several successful election campaigns and

drafting health and environmental policy. He was active in Edmonton’s

Congregation Beth Shalom, serving as its President for several terms.

In 2005, at the urging of his wife, Patte, Irwin began studies at the Academy for

Jewish Religion. He commuted between his studies in New York and his work in

Edmonton—2,500 miles each way—for several years. At the time of his death,

Rabbi Irwin had 1.4 million Delta SkyMiles.

In 2007, he was invited, as a reb, into Congregation Tifereth Israel of Glen Cove,

New York, the oldest continually-running synagogue on Long Island. He was

ordained as a rabbi in 2010.

For nearly twenty years, Rabbi Irwin presided over the weddings, funerals,

conversions, and bar and bat mitzvahs at CTI. He energized and grew the

congregation with a leadership of infectious joy that was proactive, welcoming, and

non-judgemental. He made a priority of children, as well as those in the

congregation with disabilities. He performed one of the first Jewish same-sex

weddings in Nassau County. He reached out to local churches and mosques to

strengthen interfaith bonds, and to join forces in countless charity efforts. He

touched countless lives in his community and well beyond it.

Irwin was a gifted musician, and led many of CTI’s services playing his guitar, a

1967 Gibson Hummingbird that was a gift from his father. He loved the Dave Clark

Five, the Byrds, Peter, Paul, & Mary, Joni Mitchell, Dire Straits, Paul Simon, Cat

Stevens, and the Beatles. He collected baseball and hockey cards, as well as coins

and stamps, all hobbies begun in childhood and nurtured by his parents and

grandparents. He was devoted to the New York Mets, the Montréal Canadiens, and

the Montréal Alouettes—and often mourned the loss of the Montréal Expos. His

favorite movie was Harold and Maude.

He is survived by his wife Patte (75); his daughter Jessica Sheva (43) and her

husband Blair (44), his stepdaughter Sarah (47) and her husband Paul (43), and his

stepson John(46); his brother Ron, sister-in-law Adeena, niece Jackie (Avidan), and

nephews Sean (Joanne), and Mitchell; several cousins; and, finally, by his

grandchildren, Mason (18), Brooke (15), and Clara (7).

Shiva will be observed at CTI as follows:

Wednesday, Aug. 5th,  7:00 pm-9:00 pm

Thursday, Aug. 6th,  2:00 pm-5:00 pm  / 7:00 pm-9:00 pm

Friday, Aug. 7th,  2:00 pm-4:00 pm

Saturday, Aug. 8th, 8:30 pm-9:30 pm

Sunday, Aug. 9th, 2:00 pm-5:00 pm  / 7:00 pm-9:00 pm

Monday, Aug. 10th, 2:00 pm-4:00 pm / 7:00 pm-9:00 pm

The Tuesday morning service completes the week of shiva.

Baruch Dayan HaEmet

In lieu of bringing food to the shiva, please donate to the CTI Shiva Fund: https://members.ctionline.org/form/shiva-fund.html

CTI will sponsor a blood drive in the Rabbi's memory in the fall.

May the name of Rabbi Irwin Huberman

HaRav Yisrael ben Yehuda Lev v'Charna HaKohen

be for a blessing in Israel and all the world.

Amen 

Cantor Gustavo Gitlin

Michael Blitz

Leslie Dwyer

Phyllis Spector

CONGREGATION TIFERETH ISRAEL

A Center for Jewish Life 

Where Everyone is Welcome & Every Voice is Heard 

40 Hill St. Glen Cove, NY

516-676-5080 • www.ctionline.org