Avi Schaefer, son of Rabbi Arthur Gross-Schaefer, dies at 21

Avi Schaefer, 21, the son of Rabbi Arthur Gross-Schaefer, spiritual leader of the Community Shul of Montecito and Santa Barbara, and Laurie Gross-Schaefer, was struck by a car on the morning of Feb. 12 near the campus of Brown University, in Providence, R.I., where he was a freshman. He died from injuries sustained in the accident.

Described by Brown University President Ruth Simmons as “a young man of inordinate strength and integrity,” Schaefer quickly distinguished himself as a student leader who recently organized a campus-wide relief effort for victims of the earthquake in Haiti. According to Simmons, Schaefer was working with a Brown University professor and a Palestinian undergraduate to establish a new course on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, emphasizing the importance of dialogue.

Prior to matriculating at Brown, Schaefer served for three years in the Israeli army, becoming an instructor in counterterrorism and working with special units in both the Israeli and American military.

In addition to his parents, Schaefer is survived by his brothers Elisha, Yoav and Noah, and grandparents Jesse and Sylvia Gross.
Services will be held at Stephen S. Wise Temple in Los Angeles on Monday, Feb. 15 at 11 a.m. (visit