| Max M. Goldberg |
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Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Max M. Goldberg, 88, who practiced law for more than 40 years and was a leader in the
Jewish community in the Washington area, died Nov. 21 of complications of a brain
tumor at Casey House hospice in Rockville.
Mr. Goldberg began practicing law in Washington after World War II and worked for
many years with his brother, Harry W. Goldberg. At age 60, he passed the Maryland Bar
examination and moved to an office in Rockville. He remained in practice for the next 10
years with his son, until his retirement in 1989
David Goldberg said his father loved the nobility of the law and the role of lawyers in
society. "His hero was Clarence Darrow," his son said. "He emulated Darrow in his
willingness to represent the poor and the disadvantaged. Fighting for the underdog
became a way of life."
Mr. Goldberg also was active in local, national and international Jewish affairs. He
became a member of Adas Israel Congregation in Washington at the time of his bar
mitzvah in 1932. He served as president of the Adas Israel Men's Club in 1959 and was
congregation president from 1979 to 1983.
He also served as international president of the Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs, an organization of men's clubs in more
than 420 Conservative Jewish congregations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Mexico and Israel. He also was
editor of the federation's newsletter and held editing roles with two other federation publications, including The
Torchlight, which he founded. He also served the federation as a lay representative to the United Nations for Jewish
interests.
He was a member of the Rabbinical Assembly Commission on the Philosophy of Conservative Judaism, which
published for the first time in 100 years a statement of Conservative Jewish principles. He also served as president of a
national program, the Art of Jewish Living, which published books for use by synagogue-based adult education programs.
A native of Washington, he graduated as a valedictorian from McKinley Technology High School. He enrolled in the
evening program at National Law School, now part of George Washington University, and received a law degree in 1941.
He served in the Army during World War II and was legal adviser in the Office of Strategic Services, predecessor to the
CIA, under William J. "Wild Bill" Donovan.
Over the years, Mr. Goldberg held key roles in several groups, including president of the Seaboard region of the United
Synagogue of America and member of the Board of Overseers of the Jewish Theological Seminary.
He was a panel member for the American Arbitration Association and a member of the Board of Code Compliance for
Kentlands in Gaithersburg.
His honors include the Melvin Jones Fellow Award by Lions International and the President's Memorial Award from the
Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs for his efforts on behalf of Judaism.
In addition to his son of Gaithersburg and his brother of Bethesda, survivors include his wife of 67 years, Reeva
Goldberg of Gaithersburg; two daughters, Sharon A. Holtz of Gaithersburg and Karen N. Thompson of Warwick, N.Y.;
two brothers, Leopold Goldberg of Silver Spring and Samuel Goldberg of New Port Richey, Fla.; a sister, Betty Duncan
of Silver Spring; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
-- Yvonne Shinhoster Lamb
Max M. Goldberg, 88, who practiced law for more than 40 years and was a leader in the
Jewish community in the Washington area, died Nov. 21 of complications of a brain
tumor at Casey House hospice in Rockville.
Mr. Goldberg began practicing law in Washington after World War II and worked for
many years with his brother, Harry W. Goldberg. At age 60, he passed the Maryland Bar
examination and moved to an office in Rockville. He remained in practice for the next 10
years with his son, until his retirement in 1989
David Goldberg said his father loved the nobility of the law and the role of lawyers in
society. "His hero was Clarence Darrow," his son said. "He emulated Darrow in his
willingness to represent the poor and the disadvantaged. Fighting for the underdog
became a way of life."
Mr. Goldberg also was active in local, national and international Jewish affairs. He
became a member of Adas Israel Congregation in Washington at the time of his bar
mitzvah in 1932. He served as president of the Adas Israel Men's Club in 1959 and was
congregation president from 1979 to 1983.
He also served as international president of the Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs, an organization of men's clubs in more
than 420 Conservative Jewish congregations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Mexico and Israel. He also was
editor of the federation's newsletter and held editing roles with two other federation publications, including The
Torchlight, which he founded. He also served the federation as a lay representative to the United Nations for Jewish
interests.
He was a member of the Rabbinical Assembly Commission on the Philosophy of Conservative Judaism, which
published for the first time in 100 years a statement of Conservative Jewish principles. He also served as president of a
national program, the Art of Jewish Living, which published books for use by synagogue-based adult education programs.
A native of Washington, he graduated as a valedictorian from McKinley Technology High School. He enrolled in the
evening program at National Law School, now part of George Washington University, and received a law degree in 1941.
He served in the Army during World War II and was legal adviser in the Office of Strategic Services, predecessor to the
CIA, under William J. "Wild Bill" Donovan.
Over the years, Mr. Goldberg held key roles in several groups, including president of the Seaboard region of the United
Synagogue of America and member of the Board of Overseers of the Jewish Theological Seminary.
He was a panel member for the American Arbitration Association and a member of the Board of Code Compliance for
Kentlands in Gaithersburg.
His honors include the Melvin Jones Fellow Award by Lions International and the President's Memorial Award from the
Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs for his efforts on behalf of Judaism.
In addition to his son of Gaithersburg and his brother of Bethesda, survivors include his wife of 67 years, Reeva
Goldberg of Gaithersburg; two daughters, Sharon A. Holtz of Gaithersburg and Karen N. Thompson of Warwick, N.Y.;
two brothers, Leopold Goldberg of Silver Spring and Samuel Goldberg of New Port Richey, Fla.; a sister, Betty Duncan
of Silver Spring; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
-- Yvonne Shinhoster Lamb
| Max M. Goldberg served as international president of the Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs. |
