Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-09-25
Rabbi Who Devoted
Life 10 Ancient Law
To Be Buried Today

FUNERAL services Tor RABBI Abba
Silverman, 81, a Washington resi-
dent who failed as an inventor, a
farmer and a businessman before
finding happiness in a life ccm-
pletely devoted to strict living ac-
cording to ancient Hebrew law, were
to be held at pm. today.
The services for Rabbi Silverman
who died Tuesday at George Wash
ington University Hospital a few
hours before the solemn chanting
of Kol Nidre ushered in the holy
Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, will
be held at the Goldberg funeral
home, 4217 Ninth street NV. Rab-
bi Solomon H. Metz of the Adas
Israel Congregation and Rabbi
Zemach Green of Ohev Sholom
Congregation, will officiate.
Burial will be in Adas Israel
Cemetery, where the religious
leader, who had no congregation
but belonged to the sacrificing
Shomrei Shabbos Order, will be
buried next to his wife Ethel who
died in 1914, and his son Stephen
who died in 1886.
Remained in Seclusion.
A resident of the Washington
area for the last 40 years, Rabbi
Silverman Joined the Shomrei Shah
hos order about 20 years ago. Since
then he had remained practically ir
seclusion, studying ancient Jewish
manuscripts and writing atises
on his religion. He lived at 72s
Rittenhouse street NV.
Child of Russian parents, he was
forced to flee his native land wher
his parents and relatives all were
slain during a potom. He Their
settled in Washington with his bride
For some time he attempted tt
make his living as an inventor but
met with little success in marketing
his devices. According to his fam.
lily, he developed the first working
clothes line pulley, but realized
little profit from it because Of hi
lack OF acumen as businessman.
Moved to Farm.
After few years of living in pow
erty here, he moved to a small farm
in Prince Georges County, in ar
area now known as Chillum Heights
He returned to Washington with
his family when an attack of polio
struck one Of his two sons shortly
after World War L He then en-
tered business as a salesman for a
wholesale drygoods company, anc
later went into the same business
for himself.
According to his family, he at one
time owned three such stores, but
was completely wiped out after q
series OF unfortunate business ven
lures.
Embittered by his failure, he re.
solved to devote his life to religion
He studied for time at Hebrew
school in New York and then re.
turned here, where he practiced 6
life of discipline regimented by the
teachings of the ancient Jewish
prophets.
Gave All to Charity.
Every cent of his meager income
his family said, was given tt
charity. In addition to his worl
among the poor mere, he sent two
boys through divinity school.
His family said his greatest wish
was to live the last days of his life
in the Holy Land, and to be buriee
In Palestine. With that in mind
he had purchased a small house il
Tel Aviv, paying for it with small
carefully -hoarded monthly sums
When the bitter strife in the HOLY
Land famed to new intensity sew.
eral years ago, he donated the house
to the mayor of the town to be usec
to house homeless fugitive Jews.
Surviving are three daughters
Mrs. Rose Milstein, Mrs. Sarah
Seigel and Mrs. Lena Rollins, all OF
the Washington area; a son, Julius
SliVerman, Detroit; a brother. Isaat
Silverman, Washington, and sever
grandchildren.