Sam Freedenberg
Joined TI: 1995
New Role: President of TI board of directors, 2009-2011.
Member of Tikvat Israel: Penina and I joined Tikvat Israel in 1995.
Volunteer roles at TI and what's given the greatest satisfaction: I have served on and chaired the Religious Practices Committee and the High Holiday Committee. I also set up the Bimah Gabbai training program and wrote our shul's "Gabbai Manual." I read Torah at least once a month and have led weekday, Shabbat and High Holiday services for several years. I also ran the Book Collection and Donation Program for Stepping Stones Shelter at 2004 Tikvat Israel Mitzvah Day and have lined up donors for the Social Action blood drive.
Greatest satisfaction: I have derived the most satisfaction from establishing the Tikvat Israel "Yad Squad," a group of seven dedicated volunteers (Mike Berman, Janaki Kuruppu, Rich Nisenson, Marc Pressman, Susan Apter, Jeff Bernstein, and Marc Schaffman) who are responsible for assigning several hundred Torah and Haftarah readings and Gabbaim for Shabbat, holidays, and weekdays year round.
Why are you motivated to service: I love being part of our synagogue and our multi-faceted, multi-talented community. I enjoy meeting, getting to know, and working with the members of our congregation. I want to do what I can to help Tikvat Israel become an even more vibrant and successful synagogue and community.
Native: I was born and raised in Harrisburg, Pa., and we have lived in Montgomery County since 1979.
Academic degrees: I received my B.A. in English from Dickinson College and my M.S. in Journalism from the University of Illinois. I spent my junior year studying at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Occupation: Director of communications, National Association of Small Business Investment Companies, since 2000. I have worked in the Washington area association industry for most of my professional life, but also spent six years in the printing business.
Anything else of note: I have been married for 32 years to Penina Weistrop Freedenberg. Penina is an administrator at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School. Our two children, Rachel and Eitan, are both Tikvat Israel b'nai mitzvah and JDS graduates. Rachel is an editor and writer at the Jewish News Weekly of Northern California and Eitan is a senior at the University of Maryland.
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