Dr. Malka Lotterstein Goodman Obituary (1929 - 2022)

Dr. Malka Lotterstein Goodman, age 93, passed away October 30, 2022, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Malka Lotterstein was born in Kiryat Motzkin near Haifa, in what was then Palestine and is now Israel, on September 13, 1929. Her parents and extended family had fled Ukraine (then under Russian control) due to pogroms against Jewish people. One of the two boats carrying Malka’s family was sunk with half of her extended family and all of their savings. Malka’s parents arrived in Israel penniless. Malka was born at home, since her mother could not safely get to the hospital amid bloody riots. Malka later recalled that the story of her birth was “a very important influence on the way I’ve approached things throughout my life.” Malka served in the Israeli Army during the War of Independence and was one of the few women who rose to the rank of Lieutenant. After the establishment of the State of Israel, Malka traveled to Bologna, Italy to study medicine and met her future husband, the late Dr. Ernest Goodman, who was then also studying medicine in Bologna. Falling in love, Malka moved to her husband’s home city of St. Paul in 1953, where she lived the rest of her life. Malka—one of the few women in her medical school class—earned her medical degree from the University of Minnesota and completed training to become a child and adolescent psychiatrist. She practiced for 35 years, treating thousands of families in the Twin Cities. Malka and her husband also sheltered unwed mothers who were ostracized by their own communities and provided them with free medical care and counseling. Long after she retired, Malka donated her time to mentor counselors, providing free walk-in counseling services and volunteered at the Saint Paul Sholom Home. Malka and her husband were philanthropists and gave generously to the Jewish Community Center, Temple of Aaron Synagogue, and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, among other charities. Malka deeply loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was mother to Dr. Aviel Goodman, Paula Goodman Maccabee (husband Paul Maccabee) and Dr. Sheila Goodman Rosenthal (husband Solomon Rosenthal); grandmother to Leora Maccabee (husband Sam Miller), Dr. Nadia Maccabee-Ryaboy (husband Oleg Ryaboy), Aaron Maccabee, Shoshana Rosenthal, Elianna Rosenthal Smith (husband Brant Rosenthal Smith), and Amalia Rosenthal; and great-grandmother to Maya Maccabee Ryaboy, Liat Maccabee Ryaboy; Lev Asher Maccabee Ryaboy; Lisa Rose; Benny Ezra; and River Adira Miller. Malka was predeceased by Ernie, her husband of 63 years. The funeral will be held on Tues., November 1, 11:00 a.m. at Temple of Aaron Synagogue, 616 Mississippi River Blvd., St. Paul and livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNIXHKMPmqNO8rOPQw0FEDg, with graveside service to follow. The Shiva evening service will be held at Malka’s home, 1045 Davern Street, St. Paul, at 7:00 p.m. on Tues., Nov. 1; Wed., Nov. 2, and Thurs., Nov. 3.