Jerome Sidney Fox

Rabbi Jerome Sidney Fox died in Rockville, MD, on November 28, 2023, at the age of 75.

He was born and raised in Great Neck, NY.  He was the only child of Lawrence and Estelle Fox.

He graduated Salutatorian of Great Neck North High School in 1966. After receiving a full academic scholarship to attend New York University (NYU), he graduated with a B.A. Magna Cum Laude, majoring in Hebrew and Near Eastern Studies. In 1970, he was elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa. He then pursued a rabbinical degree at Hebrew Union College in New York City in which he was awarded a Master of Hebrew Letters. Upon graduating, he became a congregational rabbi and later earned an honorary doctorate after twenty-five years of rabbinical service. At NYU, he met his future wife, Carole Rosofsky, whom he married in 1971 after they both enjoyed a year of study in Jerusalem. Together they created a Jewish home life for their family, filled with conversational Hebrew and joyful holiday celebrations. 

His career as a senior congregational rabbi took them to Clarksburg and Fairmont, WV, Roanoke, VA, High Point, NC, and Hot Springs, AR. He used his many talents in Jewish history, Hebrew language and visual and dramatic arts to teach young and old alike. He was particularly adept at engaging youth to mount dramatic presentations at holidays, complete with costumes and stage sets. Rabbi Fox was skilled at tutoring children, teens and adults in preparation for their Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, instructing those who were interested in converting to Judaism, and took leadership roles in interfaith relations. Throughout his career, Rabbi Fox emphasized his love for the State of Israel. He was proud of having made ten trips to Israel including his most recent, where he co-officiated at the bar-mitzvah of his grandson, Aaron, at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. 

After relocating to the Research Triangle, NC in retirement, Rabbi Fox took great pleasure in producing visual art. He will be remembered for his dry wit, playful and artistic talents, and love for his immediate and extended family and friends.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Carole Fox; daughter, Elana Fox Lippa (Genya); son Ari (Cheryl); 3 grandchildren, Aaron Lippa, Marisa Lippa, and Aayla Fox, as well as sister-in-law, brother-in-law, nephews, great-nephews and great-niece.

Burial will take place in Durham, NC.

Donations in his memory may be made to Hebrew Home of Greater Washington in Rockville, MD, and/or Beth El Synagogue in Durham, NC.