Mordechai Eliahu “Max” Kreinin, Phd.

East Lansing, Michigan.

Born January 20, 1930 in Rishon Lezion, Israel son of the late Avraham and Joheved Kreinin passed away February 9, 2018 at age 88.

Mordechai grew up in Israel and attended the prestigious Gymnasia Herzilia High School and at the age of 18 fought in the Givati Brigade during Israel’s War of Independence.  He received his Phd. from the University of Michigan and was a Distinguished Professor of Economics at Michigan State University for 57 years and also had an office at Tel Aviv University for many years.  Professor Kreinin used everything from “show tunes” to the Bible to help his students understand economics.   Dr. Kreinin lived in 25 different countries during his life, was a leading figure in International Trade and Development having lectured all over the world, testified before Congress, consulted for many Governments and International Trade Organizations including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.   Max was the author of 20 books and nearly 200 published articles.  He was passionate, first and foremost, about his family and loved taking his grandchildren for cappuccinos and asking them about their lives.  He was also passionate about Judaism, Israel, tennis (having regularly attended every Grand Slam event), paddle ball, bridge, and “The Bottom Line”.

Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Marlene; three daughters, Tamar (Rosalind Hinton) Kreinin, Elana (Dennis) Markovitz, and Miriam (David) Souccar; four grandchildren, Raviv (Michal Latzer) Markovitz, Netana Markovitz, Noa Souccar, and Lyla Souccar; sister, Oshria Pik in Israel; Nephews, Arnon Tzimbler and Oded Lavy along with the Saulson family of Franklin, MI.  Mordechai was preceded in death by his sister-in-law, Laela Miller Saulson.

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, February 11, 2018 at Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 1924 Coolidge Rd., East Lansing, MI with Cantor Pamela Schiffer officiating.  Burial will take place at Beit Olam East Cemetery in Wayland, MA.

Those who wish, may make memorial contributions, in Max’s memory, to American Friends of Tel Aviv University at www.aftau.org