Rabbi's position endowed

Trinitas Foundation gives $1m in honor of Michael Steinberg

Published January 12, 2004; Category: ADMINISTRATION

Honoring the memory of a Dartmouth alumnus whose faith was central to his life, the Trinitas Foundation of Quincy, Mass., has given $1 million for creation of the Michael Steinberg Class of 1961 Rabbi of Dartmouth College Hillel. Rabbi Edward Boraz will serve as the inaugural Steinberg Rabbi.

Steinberg, leader of the Jewish Federation of the North Shore (Mass.), and a partner at Goodwin Procter LLP, died in October 1997 after a four-year battle with cancer.

"Michael's passing occurred during the Ten Days of Repentance, which fall between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur," said his widow, Josene Steinberg. "At Michael's funeral, the rabbi noted that passing during this time has long been viewed in our tradition as an expression of divine affection. This gift is a wonderful expression of Michael's passion for both Dartmouth and Jewish life."

The endowment will support the work of the rabbi at Dartmouth College Hillel, a program of the Tucker Foundation. Dartmouth Hillel serves the campus and the Jewish community in the Upper Valley from the Roth Center for Jewish Life, dedicated in 1997. "This gift will further strengthen the College's resources to nurture the spiritual, social, cultural, and religious life for Jewish students," said Dartmouth President James Wright.

Josene and Michael Steinberg's two children are also Dartmouth alumni. Adam Steinberg is a member of the Class of 1988 and SaraJane Steinberg is Class of 1991.

The gift was initiated by the Trinitas Foundation and two of its trustees: Richard Young, Dartmouth Class of 1946, who for many years served as a trustee of the foundation with Steinberg, and Stuart M. Cable Class of 1975, Tuck School Class of 1976, who was Steinberg's successor as trustee, and partner at Goodwin Procter.

"This gift connects the dominant themes in Michael Steinberg's life: his family, his Jewish faith, and his devotion to Dartmouth College," Cable said. "The Trinitas Foundation is honored to be a small part of this great step forward for Jewish life at Dartmouth."