Aleksandr Averbakh

Aleksandr Averbakh passed away peacefully on February 12 2026. Having been born in Leningrad, in 1936, Aleksandr lived through many challenging and tragic events. He just turned five, when Hitler invaded the USSR. Though his family managed to escape the Nazis, he experienced many hardships of war, including hunger, bombardments, and losing family members on the front and in the Holocaust. His life and career were impacted by the systemic Soviet antisemitism. However, despite all that, he always maintained a cheerful attitude and a gentle but strong spirit.

After graduating from St. Petersburg State University of Arts and Culture, he worked as a head librarian in a research institute until his immigration to the USA in 1997. He was a person of vast erudition, a great sense of humor, a passionate admirer of fine arts, poetry, and classical music, and an avid traveler. He was proud of his Jewish heritage and, through the years, managed to acquire a sizable collection of Jewish literature, cantorial recordings, and Yiddish folk songs. It was a herculean task in the Former Soviet Union, where the Jewish culture was silently, but almost completely forbidden.

But first and foremost, he was a family man, a great son, brother, husband, father and grandfather. He and his wife Fira were married for 49 years until her passing in 2014. There was no sacrifice big or small that he would not make for his loved ones, and that’s how he will remain in their memory. He is survived by his children Mark Averbakh and Cantor Larisa Averbakh (Dmitry Leiderman), grandchildren, Michael and Pauline Leiderman, and younger sister, Rita Kogan. His memory will be a source of blessing and strength to all who knew him.

Relatives and friends are invited to a Graveside Service, Sunday, February 15, 2026, 11:00AM at Beth Israel Cemetery, 6804 Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Twp, NJ 08234.

Donations in his memory can be made to Beth Israel Congregation of Vineland, 1015 E. Park Avenue, Vineland, NJ 08360. www.bethisraelvineland.com