WOMEN WHO WELCOME AWARD RECIPIENTS
Every year, The Federation of Jewish Women’s Organizations of
Philadelphia recognizes one woman from each of its member
organizations. The theme of this year’s convention was Welcoming
the Stranger, so the organization recognized the Women Who
Welcome. Here are the organizations and the women who were
recognized. of this year’s theme, ‘Welcoming the
Stranger,’ is especially meaningful as
there has been so much happening
around the world dealing with diversity,
racial equity, inclusion and justice,”
Friedman said. “There is much work that
needs to be done on all of these topics
and being welcoming and willing to
have difficult conversations with people
who may look different from ourselves
is just the first step in what I see as
a lifelong process. We need to each
start with ourselves by reading more,
listening and understanding our own
biases. I love Maya Angelou’s quote,
‘When you know better, ... do better.’”
Friedman, 53, grew up in Pikesville.

She is a lifelong member of Beth El
Congregation, of which her grandparents
were founding members, and is involved
in the Soul Center. Her children, who
were raised in Owings Mills, now live
in New Orleans, where she and her
husband John enjoy visiting them.

“Jewish values inform all the work
I do, whether it’s in the Jewish or
secular community,” she said. “I
20 Adat Chaim Sisterhood - Susan Ansel
AMIT Children - Iris Miller
Federation Women - Nina Rosenzwog
Beth El Congregation Sisterhood – Glenda Chernoff
Beth Israel Congregation Sisterhood - Cindy Bradley
Beth Tfiloh Congregation Sisterhood – Brenda Pariser
Brandeis National Committee, Philadelphia Chapter - Norma Axel
CHANA - Joy Katzenberg
Chizuk Amuno Congregation Sisterhood – Sheila Sandbank
Covenant Guild, Inc. – Estelle Bloomberg
Hadassah of Greater Philadelphia – Barbara Fink
Israel Bonds Maryland Women’s Division - Ellen Cohen
Jewish Women of Buck’s County - Michelle Lurie
Jewish Women International – Betsy Felsenberg
Kappa Guild, Inc. – Michale Sharon Misler
Levindale Auxiliary – Yael Schwarzenberger
Miriam Lodge, K.S.B., Inc. – Reta Zuckerman
Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah Sisterhood - Shirley Carp (in memoriam)
Ner Tamid Greenspring Valley Synagogue Sisterhood – Naomi Lazerow
Rodger C. Snyder Memorial, Ladies Auxiliary - Cheryl Mitnick
Sinai Mitzvah Foundation - Marcy K. Kolodny
Support for Families of Nursing Home Residents - Beth Wiseman
Temple Isaiah Sisterhood - Ellen Strichartz
The Women’s Club of Har Sinai-Oheb Shalom - Miriam Lavender (in memoriam) and Erma Sigler
Women of Philadelphia Hebrew Congregation - Marcia Rosenblatt
VOLLANIMINCTO ENTI IUR REMPOS
RAE SIMET, QUOS EATUS MAIO
MOLOREMPORES AUT ATEM
AUTEMQUIS ALIS ET DOLUM NET
would like to think I treat others with
dignity and respect (k’vod), that I live
ethically and responsibly (derech eretz),
practice tolerance (sovlanut) and most
importantly I am guided by the work of
tikkun olam as I try my best in my own
small way to ‘repair the world’ through
my behaviors, attitudes and actions.”
Friedman has a bachelor’s in
communications and psychology from
The University of Michigan and a
master’s in counseling psychology from
Towson University.

Friedman began volunteering about
20 years ago when her oldest child
began preschool. She got trained as
a hotline volunteer for CHANA, taking
calls from people who were victims of
AUGUST 26, 2021 | JEWISHEXPONENT.COM
domestic violence.

This led to Friedman joining the
CHANA board, which she served on for
17 years, and to her greater involvement
in the community. She volunteered for
The Associated and joined the Art with
a Heart board, as well as other student
mentoring and tutoring programs. She
has served as a founding board member,
past chair and campaign liaison for the
Jewish Women’s Giving Foundation and
served as Women’s Campaign Chair for
The Associated. She also served on the
National Women’s Philanthropy Board
of The Jewish Federations of North
America for six years and is a graduate
of ACHARAI: The Shoshana S. Cardin
Jewish Leadership Institute’s first cohort.

She began volunteering, Friedman
said, because she “had the time and
capacity to do so.”
“What started out as a learning
opportunity truly became my life’s
mission to help others,” she said. “I feel
beyond fortunate to be able to do this
important work and take my ‘volunteer
job’ very seriously. I believe people who
have the means to help others have a
responsibility to do so. We as Jews are
very lucky to live in our Baltimore Jewish
community and only by helping to
grow our infrastructure can we hope to
sustain our neighborhoods and vibrant
communities we have worked tirelessly
to build.”
Friedman values community and
giving back, but most importantly,
she values “family first and foremost,
female friendships, justice, fairness and
inclusion, clear communication and
deep listening skills, intelligence, good
grammar, a sense of fashion, our close-
knit Baltimore Jewish community, art in
its many forms, genuineness, warmth
and love.” l



For the third year in a row Abramson Senior Care Primary Care
physicians Jennifer L. Claves, MD, and Jean P. Haab, MD have
been named by Philadelphia Magazine as Top Doctors.

Both physicians were nominated by their peers for the
annual list that honors the best doctors in the
Philadelphia region.

Congratulations to Dr. Haab and Dr. Claves!
We are proud of all of our excellent medical
VWDƩDQGZHWKDQNWKHPIRUWKHLUGHGLFDWLRQ to providing compassionate care.

Dr. Jean Haab (l) and Dr. Jennifer Claves (r)
Birnhak Transitional Care | Edna Young Gordon Healthy Brain & Memory Center
Lila H. Levin Palliative Care Program | Home Care | Abramson Hospice | Care Advisors
Medical Adult Day Services | Abramson Primary Care | Polisher Research Institute