Rabbi Philip Matov Posner, a lifelong advocate for justice, a principled community leader, and a man who never missed an opportunity to bake a challah, was born on December 7, 1938 and died peacefully on May 29, 2025, at the home he shared with his wife, Louise Drummond, in Jocotepec, Mexico. He was buried in a nearby Jewish cemetery.
The public gathering on August 3rd will include a short documentary about his time as a Freedom Rider and reflections on his life and legacy. 

Ordained as a Reform rabbi in 1969, Philip Posner viewed the rabbinate as a platform for practicing compassion and confronting injustice.

His longest pulpit was at Temple Beth El in Riverside, California, where he served from 1971 to 1988. Alongside his first wife, Helene Figoten, he raised two sons and became a trusted leader of the community.

In 1965, Rabbi Posner joined the Freedom Riders, helping integrate a train station in the segregated South. He spent 50 days in jail in Mississippi.

In Santa Cruz, he remained active in social justice work with his wife Louise — including the Freedom Sleepers protest, where they slept outside City Hall with unhoused people twice a month. He served on the boards of the Chadeish Yameinu Jewish Renewal congregation and the Association of Faith Communities.

He pedaled around town with his little dog, personally selling thousands of copies of his book, Food for Thought, Character, and Soul: A Conversation with the Rabbi and His Famous Friends. Baking challahs and sharing them was one of his quiet ways of caring.

Rabbi Posner wasn't mystical, but he was ethical to his core. As our national dialogue becomes more confrontational and less respectful, his example of decency and public conscience will be deeply missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to peoplefirstscc.org, to support housing for people without homes.

He is survived by his wife, Louise Drummond; his sons, Hillel Posner and Micah Posner; his daughter-in-law, Akiko Minami; and his grandchildren: Ziven Posner, Adyson Posner, Tamarah Posner Minami, and Emunah Posner Minami.

Please forward to friends of Rabbi Philip Posner.

El Rio Mobile Home Park - Community Room
2048 N. Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz (near Lenz Arts)
Bagels will be served. Please bring healthy snacks to share. (no kitchen)