Micheline Burke (née Miriam Avshalom)

June 17, 1943 – January 19, 2025

Micheline Burke, born Miriam Avshalom / Emsellem on June 17, 1943, in Fez, Morocco, to Joseph and Haciba Emsellem, passed away peacefully on January 19, 2025 held by loved ones. Her family immigrated to Israel in 1948, where she later attended the University of Tel Aviv and studied linguistics and English literature.

She went to University in Paris, France then in 1967, Micheline moved to the United States and began teaching Hebrew at the National University in Washington, D.C. She met Michael John Burke at a New Year’s Eve party in D.C., and they married in 1970.

Micheline was a devoted mother and is survived by her daughters: Erika Burke Rossa (husband Steve; children Mia and Vincent) and Nicole Burke (husband Ryan Miller; children Miela and Cedrus), as well as her brother Ury Emsellem (sister in law Toby, nephew Drew, niece Chelsea, and predeceased nephew Alex) She was preceded in death by her brother Moshe. She also was a dear friend to many and cultivated and maintained relationships with  a wide array of friends from around the globe.

A passionate educator and world traveler, Micheline served as director of youth programming and Hebrew teacher at Temple Judea and Heschel Day School in Los Angeles, CA. She served her community from 1991-2010 as the principal of Temple Beth Rishon’s Hebrew School in Wyckoff, NJ. During the 1980s, Micheline and her family lived in Hong Kong and Taiwan, where she launched a successful accessory business, as well as served as head of the youth programming at the Jewish Synagogues in both Hong Kong and Taiwan. She also served as Head of the English Department at Minchuan College in Taipei and was well loved and respected by her students and colleagues.

Fluent in seven languages (and bits and pieces of several others), Micheline was a lively conversationalist and a true people person. She was a real bon vivant and an accomplished artist, designer, cook, and loving grandmother (“Safta”). She was also know for her red nails and lipstick and love of good fashion, good times and good jokes. In 2014, she achieved her lifelong dream of becoming a rabbi after being ordained by the Academy of Jewish Religion in Yonkers, NY.

After enduring strokes starting in 2011, Micheline relocated to Vermont in 2012, then to New York City in 2015 before returning to Rutland, VT, in 2020 - moving between to be near both her daughters and beloved grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, January 22nd at 11 a.m. at the Rutland Jewish Center (96 Grove Street), with burial to follow. A meal of consolation will take place afterward at the Center. Shiva will be observed at Michael Burke’s residence; please contact the synagogue for details (802-773-3455).

You can also join the funeral by zoom at 11am

Zoom Meeting ID: 857 532 2364

Passcode: 212121

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