Obituary: Rabbi Melvin Glazer
The Atlanta native served congregations in the United States and Canada and was a chevra kadisha expert.
Rabbi Melvin Glazer, congregational rabbi and grief specialist, died peacefully Sunday, April 22, 2018, 7 Iyar 5778, at the age of 71.
Born and raised in Atlanta, Rabbi Mel earned a B.A. from Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary, was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1974, and received a doctor of ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1995. Rabbi Mel served congregations in South Orange, N.J.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Nashville, Tenn.; Princeton, N.J.; London, Ontario; Fairfax, Va.; Miami; Stroudsburg, Pa.; Colorado Springs; and The Villages, Fla. He specialized in working with the chevra kadisha (Jewish society that ritually prepare bodies for burial). He trained Jewish communities to establish their own chevra kadishas, hosted a weekly radio show about grief and healing, and counseled hundreds of people experiencing loss, allowing them to lay their grief gently down and find peace.
His writings include “The London, Ontario Hevra Kaddisha: A Critical Reflection on the Nature of the Experience to Those Who Perform It” (1995); “When Death Visits a Jewish Home: 99 Actions for Mourners” (2007); “And G-d Created Hope: Finding Your Way Through Grief With Lessons From Early Biblical Stories” (2007); and “A GPS for Grief and Healing: 3 Powerful Steps to Help You Move From Mourning to Morning” (2013). Known for his kindness, quick wit and boisterous sense of humor, Rabbi Mel always encouraged people to find hope for a better future.
Survivors include his wife, Ellen (Glanz) Mossman Glazer; his sons, Ilan Glazer (Sherri Vishner Glazer), Rafi Glazer (Lauren Glazer) and Avi Glazer (Debbie Glazer), his daughter, Shoshi Glazer; his stepsons, Jeremy Mossman and Matt Mossman (Jes Skillman); his grandchildren, Baruch, Mordi, Yitzi, Eli, Meir, Rivka and Yehuda Glazer and David and Mitchell Mossman; his sister, Gail Saloff (Barry Saloff); and his brother, Jerry Glazer (Debbie Glazer).
The funeral and burial will take place at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, at Arlington Memorial Park in Atlanta. On Wednesday after the burial, visitation will be at Dunwoody Springs Clubhouse (Dunwoody Springs Drive at the lake) with services at 7 p.m. On Thursday and Sunday evening at the Saloff residence, 5636 Brooke Ridge Drive, Dunwoody, visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. with services at 8. Donations to benefit the newly established Rabbi Mel Glazer Chevra Kadisha Educational Fund can be made to Kavod v’Nichum at www.jewish-funerals.org or 8112 Sea Water Path, Columbia, MD 21045. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.
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