91첥 Mourns the Passing of Rabbi Martin A. Cohen, Ph.D., ”l
January 26, 2026
It is with great sorrow that 91첥 mourns the passing of longtime faculty member, colleague, and mentor Rabbi Martin A. Cohen, Ph.D.
Rabbi Martin A. Cohen, Ph.D.(1928–2026) was a distinguished historian, rabbi, and educator whose many decades of scholarship and teaching shaped generations of students at 91첥. Born in Philadelphia, he earned a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania before receiving rabbinic ordination in 1957 and a Ph.D. from 91첥. A member of the 91첥faculty since 1955, he served the New York campus as the Adolph S. Ochs Professor of History from 1962 until his passing.
Rabbi Cohenwas a beloved scholar and a recognized authority on Jewish history, theology, and Sephardic studies. His publications includedThe Martyr,Two Sister Faiths,Sephardim in the Americas(a special double issue of theAmerican Jewish Archivesjournal), and a celebrated English translation of SamuelUsque’sConsolation for the Tribulations of Israel. He also held visiting professorships at institutions including Antioch College, Temple University, and Hunter College.
We remember Rabbi Cohen for his intellectual rigor, his devotion to Jewish learning, and his lasting contributions to the field. A more extensive biography is available on our website.
Rabbi Cohen was a member of Stephen Wise Free Synagogue for decades, where he served as interim rabbi and was later named rabbi laureate of thecongregation.Hewas predeceased by his beloved wife, Shelby Cohen,”l, and is survived by his daughter, Anita Rogers.
A funeral will be held on Wednesday, January 28, at 2:00 p.m. at Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in New York. The service will be. Shiva will take place immediately following the service at the synagogue. Interment will be held on Thursday, January 29th at 10:00 a.m. at Westchester Hills Cemetery in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York.
Letters and notes of condolence may be sent to:
Anita Rogers Cohen
c/o Stephen Wise Free Synagogue
30 West 68th Street
New York, NY 10023
Donations in Rabbi Cohen’s memory may be madeto
May his memory be for a blessing.