Freedman Family Papers

Joseph Freedman (born Josef Poczkarnick) was born on April 15, 1879 in Eišiškes, Lithuania. His family later relocated to the neighboring town of Truk (Trakai), and Joseph went on to study at the Yeshiva in Slobodka, Lithuania, eventually becaming a cantor, mohel, and shochet.

Lena Freedman was born in Butrimonys, Lithuania in 1884, the youngest of seven children to Joshua and Sara (Gans) Sakowitz. Joshua, a scribe of religious texts, was born in Butrimonys in 1845 to Levy and Lena (Cohen) Sakowitz; Sara was born to Meyer and Itta Gans in 1845 in Zosly (Žasliai), Lithuania.

Joseph and Lena married in 1903 and had a son, Jacob (known as Jack), born on December 18, 1903. The following year, in August of 1904, Joseph, Lena, and Jacob immigrated to the United States aboard the Potsdam and first settled in Hoboken, New Jersey. In 1905, Joseph was offered by Rabbi Samuel Rappaport the position of cantor at Springfield, Massachusetts’ Beth Israel Synagogue, and the family moved to Springfield, where Joseph and Lena remained for the rest of their lives. Joseph and Lena had three more children: Samuel, Martin, and Sarah.

Both Joseph and Lena were active in Springfield’s Jewish community. Joseph was especially involved in the Zionist movement and served as a delegate to two of the Zionist Organization of America’s national conventions. Lena was a charter member and principal fundraiser for the Daughters of Zion Home for the Aged (later known as Springfield Jewish Home for the Aged, Jewish Nursing Home of Western Massachusetts, and finally Jewish Geriatric Services), as well as actively involved in the local Mizrachi Women’s Organization (later AMIT Women). She also served as president of the Beth Israel Synagogue Sisterhood for eight years. Joseph Freedman died on February 10, 1958, and Lena Freedman died on April 12, 1965.

Jacob Freedman attended Springfield’s High School of Commerce, graduating in 1921. He then attended Harvard College for one year, after which he transferred to Columbia University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts and won the Benjamin S. Romaine Prize for Greek Language and Literature in 1926. He later earned his Master of Arts from Columbia. Jacob then went on to attend the Jewish Theological Seminary, earning a Master of Arts in Hebrew Literature and a Doctor of Divinity and was ordained as a rabbi in 1930. After his ordination, he served as a rabbi at numerous congregations throughout his career, including Temple Sinai in Long Beach, California; Temple Beth El in Chelsea, Massachusetts; Temple Beth-El in Fall River, Massachusetts; and Congregation Knesses Israel in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

In addition to his rabbinical career, Jacob as also a prolific songwriter and translator. He wrote musical pieces including "Hatikvoh" (an English version of the Israeli national anthem), "Hail! Happy Purim", and "O God of Peace" and translated Hebrew writings, such The Great Madness, Eve, and Pinocchio in Israel.

Jacob is also known for his publication of the Polychrome Historical Haggadah, a color-coded guide to the Passover seder which illustrates the historical period or source from which text of the Hagaddah originates (for example, black for Biblical era, orange for Amoraic Period, brown for Middle Ages, purple for modern times, etc.), which was published in 1974. He also used the same concept for a prayerbook, called the Polychrome Historical Siddur or Siddur Bays Yosef, but the work was never completed or published before Jacob’s death on May 1, 1986.

Samuel King Freedman was born on August 15, 1908. He worked as an attorney (going by the name S. King Freedman) and married Sylvia Knecht. Together, they had four children: Marilyn, Martin, Richard, and Leslie. Samuel died on May 24, 1989.

Martin Freedman was born on January 7, 1910. He attended Springfield’s Central High School, graduating in 1926, and later enrolled at Harvard College. In the summer of 1928, just after completing his second year at Harvard, Martin fell ill and died on July 11 at the age of eighteen. In his memory, his parents and brother Jacob established the Martin Freedman Memorial Award, presented to Central High School students with the best scholastic record in English courses.

Sarah Freedman was born on December 20, 1913. She went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work in 1935, and later a Master of Social Services, both from Simmons College. Sarah worked as a social worker, including at the Jewish Social Service Bureau, where she helped to resettle displaced persons after World War II, until her retirement in 1973. On June 20, 1950, she married Harry Aizenstat. Sarah died on February 24, 2009.

April 15, 1879

Joseph Freedman is born.

1884

Lena Sakowitz is born.

1903

Joseph Freedman and Lena Sakowitz marry.

December 18, 1903

Jacob Freedman is born.

August 23, 1904

Joseph, Lena, and Jacob immigrate to the United States.

August 15, 1908

Samuel King Freedman is born.

January 7, 1910

Martin Freedman is born.

December 20, 1913

Sarah Freedman is born.

July 11, 1928

Martin Freedman dies.

1930

Jacob Freedman is inducted as a rabbi.

1930-1931

Jacob Freedman serves as rabbi at Temple Sinai (Long Beach, Calif.).

1931

Jacob Freedman serves as rabbi at Congregation Sons of Israel (Amsterdam, N.Y.).

1932-1935

Jacob Freedman serves as rabbi at Temple Beth El (Chelsea, Mass.).

1935

Joseph Freedman becomes a naturized citizen of the United States.

1936-1937

Jacob Freedman serves as rabbi at Temple Beth Israel (Niagara Falls, N.Y.).

1937-1941

Jacob Freedman serves as rabbi at Temple Beth-El (Fall River, Mass.).

1942-1943

Jacob Freedman serves as rabbi at Congregation Ahavath Israel of Oak Lane (Philadelphia, Penn.)

1943-1944

Jacob Freedman serves as rabbi at Beth El Synagogue (New Rochelle, N.Y.).

1944-1946

Jacob Freedman serves as rabbi at Kew Gardens Jewish Center (Kew Gardens, N.Y.).

1946-1948

Jacob Freedman serves as rabbi at Jewish Community Center of Greenwich Village (New York, N.Y.).

1948

Jacob Freedman serves as rabbi at Congregation B'nai Sholaum/Ninth Street Temple (Brooklyn, N.Y.).

1948-1949

Jacob Freedman serves as rabbi at Temple Beth El (Asbury Park, N.J.).

June 20, 1950

Sarah Freedman and Harry Aizenstat marry.

1951

Jacob Freedman serves as rabbi at Fresh Meadows Jewish Center (Flushing, N.Y.).

1952-1955

Jacob Freedman serves as rabbi at Congregation Knesses Israel (Pittsfield, Mass.).

1955-1956

Jacob Freedman serves as rabbi at Congregation Beth Israel (Vancouver, B.C., Canada).

February 10, 1958

Joseph Freedman dies.

1958-1960

Jacob Freedman serves as rabbi at Temple Beth Sholom (Providence, R.I.).

1962-1963

Jacob Freedman serves as rabbi at Temple Beth Sholom (Stratford, Conn.).

April 12, 1965

Lena Freedman dies.

1966-1967

Jacob Freedman serves as rabbi at Temple Adas Israel (Hyde Park, Mass.).

May 1, 1986

Jacob Freedman dies.

May 24, 1989

Samuel King Freedman dies.

February 24, 2009

Sarah (Freedman) Aizenstat dies.