Lebanon area residents today learned with a sense of personal loss, that Rabbi Archie Davidson had died at 11:55 a.m., Sunday, in Good Samaritan Hospital. Archie, as the beloved Jewish, spiritual leader was known to many people in all walks of life, was a legend in his own time, an honor achieved by few but aspired by many. He was 76 on Oct. 2, and he resided with his wife, Lillian (nee Kaplan), at 1100 Jackson Blvd. He had been in ill health for a number of years, and about a year ago his condition began deteriorating. He was admitted to the hospital last Wednesday. Services for the popular Rabbi, who at one time served the Beth Israel Congregation here, were conducted this afternoon at the Rohland Funeral Home, Rabbi Steven M. Glazer, of Beth Israel Synagogue, officiated. Burial was made in Beth Israel Cemetery. Shiva will be held at the Davidson residence. Pallbearers were: Dave Etter, Lester Etter, Norman Schaffer, Dr. Martin Schneider, Guy Geller, Dr. Norman Lazin, Dr. Charles Lazin, and Howard Zackroff. Honorary pallbearers were Fred Klompus, Abe Grosky, Dr. Henry Silberman, Raymond Stadiem, Nathan Krim, Lewis Gardner, William Davidson, Dr. Steven Druckman, Dr. Ronald A. Legum, Judge G. Thomas Gates, and Judge L. E. Meyer. The family has asked that desired memorials should be made to United Cerebral Palsy. Rabbi Davidson’s first affiliation with the Lebanon community came in 1930, when he received the call to become the first rabbi of the new Beth Israel congregation. He later spent a quarter of a century in Chicago, returning to Lebanon in retirement about a dozen years ago. His absence for the city, however, did not diminish the memories of his work here or the friendships he had made. Although not big or robust in stature, he possessed a monumental amount of energy that he expended for the benefit of his fellowmen. An interesting and indefatigable conversationalist, Rabbi Davidson was well read and could speak with conviction and authority on almost any topic. He was frequently called upon to address area community organizations. Of his many outstanding attributes, the one that immediately comes to mind for most area residents was his practice of remembering anniversaries and other important events in the lives of others. Born in New York and reared in Passaic, New Jersey, Rabbi Davidson was the son of the late Rabbi Philip S. and Frume Gittel (Sachs) Davidson. His father was at one time the chief rabbi of New York City. When Rabbi Davidson came to Lebanon, his installation as the spiritual leader of the local Jewish community was a never-to-be-forgotten event. It was attended by many of the area religious leaders, plus Philadelphia’s district attorney and a number of judges. None of the oratory delivered at the installation could match the brilliance of that of the then new and young, Lebanon rabbi. His oratorical ability was on a par with his conversational prowess. The conversations were not, however, self-centered. Rather, they were always the product of a lifetime of study by a man who was a scholar, and who also possessed an excellent, balanced judgment that was devoid of petty and selfish interests. Not the least of his attributes was his delightful sense of humor. Judge G. Thomas Gates described him as “very witty.” After eight years of service to Beth Israel here back in the thirties, Rabbi Davidson took on the job of working with the United Jewish appeal, headquartered in Chicago. He held this post for almost a quarter of a century, traveling throughout the United States and also in Canada and Israel. After a heart attack in 1962, Rabbi Davidson and his wife retired to Lebanon to make their home. He had an intense interest in sports, and was chairman of a local baseball league. An active Kiwanis club member for many years, Rabbi Davidson served as chairman of the club’s underprivileged, children’s committee. He was a member of the Citizens’ Advisory Committee of the Lebanon County Child Welfare Department, and was on the board of directors of United Cerebral Palsy. He played a part in launching what is now the Lebanon County Mental Health Association. He was the brother of Matilda Caplin, New Jersey; Charlotte Rutstein, Wilkes-Barre; Rabbi Isidore Davidson, Wilkes-Barre; Louis Davidson, Ohio; Mildred Friedman, Illinois; Minerva Bacarat, New Jersey; Samuel Davidson, New Jersey; and step-brother to Bernice Davidson, New Jersey; and Milton and Jesse Davidson, New York.

(Published in Lebanon Daily News, Monday, December 16, 1974)