Varda Rabin

Varda Rabin, a beloved and dedicated teacher, philanthropist, Jewish leader and passionate community builder died September 13, surrounded by her loving family. She was 81.

Born on March 25, 1945 in Tel Aviv, Varda was the youngest of four daughters born to immigrants from Poland. Most of the family they had left behind in Poland perished in the Holocaust, and Varda grew up alongside the young country of Israel, in an era of idealism, kibbutzim and hope.

After two semesters at Bar-Ilan University, Varda moved to Berkeley in 1966 with her first husband. She arrived in California speaking no English and with very little money and began teaching Hebrew at Congregation Beth Israel.

Determined to finish her education, Varda went on to earn her bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley and a master's degree in psychology. She built a successful career as a Marriage, Family and Child Counselor. She helped found the California Graduate School of Family Therapy and taught at Cal State Hayward.

Varda met Irving Rabin in 1979. The consummate bachelor, Irving dated nearly every eligible woman in the Jewish community until he met Varda. They soon married and welcomed four children in five years.

In 1988, when her youngest son was just two years old, Varda was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). She was initially given a devastating prognosis, yet she went on to live with the disease for nearly four decades. Varda approached cancer with the same will and determination that she brought to everything else. Alongside conventional medicine, she explored alternative medicine, famously bringing her own macrobiotic food to restaurants. Her interest in the relationship between mind and body, which she believed helped her cancer, led to the establishment of the Osher Center for Integrative Health at UCSF.

Even while raising four young children and managing a serious illness, Varda threw herself into the Jewish community, serving on the board of the JCC and the Jewish Community Federation and as the Northern California Chair of AIPAC. When she realized that many Bay Area Jewish children did not know the traditional songs and stories of the holidays, she created Jewish holiday tapes. She recruited professional actors, friends and her own children to participate. The tapes became enormously popular and are still remembered by families today. In 2018, the Federation honored her with its Judith Chapman Memorial Women's Leadership Award. She traveled to Washington, raised support for Israel, and brought political and community leaders to Israel.

Varda was an avid supporter of the Israel Philharmonic, opening her home for events where music was played among her beloved flowers.

After Irving's death, Varda sought a way to honor both his memory and his commitment to Jewish community. In 2016, she created the Irving Rabin Community Building Mission, bringing dozens of Jewish professional and lay leaders from the Bay Area to Israel to study intentional community building.

Varda's belief in the transformative power of community led her and Dr. Sarale Shadmi to co-found the Varda Institute for Community Building. Today, the Institute works to teach communities the culture of belonging. In recent years, its work has taken on particular urgency in to rebuild and reconnect in the aftermath of war and trauma. It is perhaps the fullest expression of an idea that ran through Varda's entire life: people need one another and find meaning in community.

For all she accomplished, Varda considered her family her greatest achievement. Being Safta was Varda's highest calling; she adored her 12 grandchildren. She doted on them and had a particular gift for creating magic around them.

The ripple effects of Varda's generosity, leadership and extraordinary energy extend far beyond her family and the Jewish community of San Francisco. Varda lived an enormous life. Over decades, she touched countless people with her wisdom, perseverance, warmth and vision.

Varda is survived by her four children: Shira (Dan Weissman), Ariel (Sarah), Orlee (Dave Shlacter), and Dani (Orli), and her cherished grandchildren.

To honor Varda's commitment to community building, please consider donations to the Varda Institute, an organization she co-founded that teaches community building across Israel and the Jewish world (https://vardacb.org/ - scroll towards the bottom of the page).