The University of Massachusetts Amherst
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Freedman, Jacob

Jacob Freedman Papers

1937-1981
2 boxes 1 linear feet
Call no.: MS 135

A scholar, linguist, and bibliophile, Jacob Freedman (1903-1986) served as Rabbi at Temple Beth-El in Fall River, Mass., during the 1930s and early 1940s, and later at congregations in Pittsfield, Springfield, and Stratford, Conn., among others.

The collection contains the published newsletter of Temple Beth-El from 1937-1941, as well as other published materials and a photograph of Rabbi Freedman.

Background on Jacob Freedman

A scholar, linguist, and bibliophile, Jacob Freedman (1903-1986) served as Rabbi at Temple Beth-El in Fall River, Mass., during the 1930s and early 1940s, and later at congregations in Pittsfield, Brookline, Springfield, and Stratford, Conn.

Freedman received a BA from Columbia University in Greek, where he was awarded the Romaine Prize, remaining there for an MA before studying to become a rabbi and master of Hebrew Literature at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Active in the Menorah Club at Columbia and Harvard, when he studied there briefly, Freeman was involved in the Zionist student movement and other Jewish student activities, serving as adviser to Jewish students and as director of the Jewish Student House at Columbia as a post-graduate.

Contents of Collection

The collection contains the published newsletter of Temple Beth-El in Fall River, Mass., from 1937-1941, as well as a photograph of Rabbi Freedman and published materials from other temples where Freeman served, including Congregation Knesses Israel (Pittsfield, Mass).

Collection inventory
Bulletin of Temple Beth El (Fall River, Mass.), vol. 1
1937 Sept. 27-1938 June 17
2 copies
Box 1: 1-2

Second copy incomplete.

Bulletin of Temple Beth El (Fall River, Mass.), vol. 2
1938 Sept. 16-1939 June 16
2 copies
Box 1: 3-4
Bulletin of Temple Beth El (Fall River, Mass.), vol. 3
1939 Sept. 14-1940 June 28
Box 1: 5
Bulletin of Temple Beth El (Fall River, Mass.), vol. 3
1939 Sept. 14-1940 June 28
Box 2: 1
Bulletin of Temple Beth El (Fall River, Mass.), vol. 4
1940 Oct. 3-1941 May 2
Box 2: 2
Photograph: Jacob Freedman
undated
Box 2: 3
Congregation Knesses Israel Golden Jubilee Journal, 1903-1953, Pittsfield, Mass.
1953
Box 2: 4
Congregation Knesses Israel, Pittsfield, Mass., 1970
1970
Box 2: 4
Program: Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve Service, Temple Beth El, Springfield
undated
Box 2: 5
Program: Temple Adath Israel Sisterhood of Hyde Park, Scholarship Donor Dinner
1946
Box 2: 6
Administrative information
Bibliography

A brief entry on Freedman appeared in the Bridgeport Power (Sept. 7, 1962)

Provenance

Gift of Jacob Freedman, 1986.

Processing Information

Reprocessed by I. Eliot Wentworth, Oct. 2015.

Copyright and Use (More informationConnect to publication information)

Cite as: Jacob Freedman Collection (MS 135). Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries.

Subjects

Congregation Knesses Israel (Pittsfield, Mass.)Fall River (Mass.)--HistoryTemple Beth-El (Fall River, Mass.)

Types of material

Newsletters