Rabbi Kenneth Greene
Phone: (732) 462-0254
E-Mail:
rabbi@freeholdjc.org
Rabbi Kenneth Greene came to Freehold Jewish
Center in August of 1997. Born in the Boston area, Rabbi Greene attended
Brandeis University where he received his B.A. in Near Eastern and Judaic
Studies.
Rabbi Greene earned his first rabbinical degree in 1973 from the Jewish
Theological Seminary of America. He began his career in the pulpit rabbinate
after ordination in Windsor, Connecticut. Making education a priority in his
rabbinate, four years later he moved to Newington, Connecticut during which
time he received a Master's Degree in Education from Central Connecticut
State University in Curriculum, Administration and Supervision. During the
ten years that Rabbi Greene and his wife, Karen, lived in Connecticut, their
family grew with the addition of sons, Avi, Ephraim, and Hillel.
Moving to the mid-West, Rabbi Greene served Shaare Zedek Synagogue in St.
Louis, Missouri for twelve years. In addition to his involvement in the
local Jewish Federation and community Day-Schools, he was the first rabbi in
the area to innovate Family education programs. Growing out of his expertise
in education, he obtained a certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy from
the George Warren Brown School of Social Work of Washington University and
later a Master's Degree in Counseling from St. Louis University. In the
effort to expand programs in his congregation, he was admitted to the Doctor
of Jewish Studies Program of Spertus College, Chicago, Illinois.
Rabbi Greene left the pulpit rabbinate for two years during which time all
of his efforts were focused on education by serving as the Director of the
Bureau of Jewish Education in New Orleans. During this time, he established
the New Orleans Jewish Day School, the Jewish Educator's Council, and the
first community wide, Adult Education Program spanning all movements in
Judaism.
Returning to the pulpit, Rabbi Greene has been the spiritual leader of
Freehold Jewish Center for ten years, introducing educational and ritual
programs for all ages of the congregation. In recognition of the
congregation's traditional ritual posture, he received Orthodox ordination
from the Institute of Traditional Judaism in 2004.
While pleased with his accomplishments both within and outside of the pulpit
rabbinate, he is most proud of his family, Rabbi & Mrs. Avi Greene, Elisheva
& Shoshana; Rabbi & Mrs. Ephraim Greene, Rifka & Rena, and Hillel Greene,
who works for the Federal court system.
Cantor David Amar
Phone:
(732) 462-0254
E-Mail:
cantor@freeholdjc.org
Cantor David Amar began serving the
Freehold Jewish Center in May 2002. Born and raised in Israel, Cantor Amar
was brought up in the Modern Orthodox movement and was very active in his
community. He started singing on stage at the age of 5 in his father’s boys
choir. At a young age, Cantor Amar regularly attended the Bnei Akiva Youth
Group organization, later becoming a counselor, and a regional youth group
adviser.
Cantor David Amar attended Or Etzion (run by Rabbi Drukman), the only Jewish
religious military academy in the world. This school trains young adults to
become religious and military leaders. The academy has the saying Safra and
Sifa (the Torah and the sword) as its motto and prepares students to be an
example to others.
After graduating Or Etzion and knowing he had long years ahead in the
military, Cantor Amar took a leave of absence to study at Yeshiva. The
Cantor attended Yeshivas Ateret Cohanim in Jerusalem (by Rabbi Aviner), and
then Yeshivas Shavei Hevron (by Rabbi Bliecher).
Cantor Amar served in the IDF (Israel Defense Force). He was stationed both
at the northern Israeli border and Lebanon in an Armor division. After 4
years of service, Cantor Amar received an honorable discharge with the rank
of a lieutenant.
The Cantor then started his community work and professional training. In a
developing town, he taught in a junior high school and was a teenage
counselor for the town’s social service department. At the same time Cantor
Amar continued his education in Jerusalem, as well as starting his Ashkenazi
cantorial training at the Great Synagogue in Jerusalem (the Re’nanot
Institute). As a second generation Sephardic Cantor and a third generation
rabbi, Cantor Amar found the importance of the sacred melodies as a part of
praying. Following his parents who moved to New York, Cantor Amar attended
Yeshiva University and the Bells School of Music. Cantor Amar was ordained
as a Chazzan by The Jewish Ministers Cantors Association of America. He also
received a Semicha from the Tiferet Yisroel Yeshiva which is associated with
the American Seminary for Contemporary Judaism. Currently, Cantor Amar is
enrolled in the Pirchei Shoshanim program in order to receive an Orthodox
Semicha from the Israeli Rabbinate.
Cantor Amar is married to Milen and together they have three boys, Daniel,
Aron, and Shalev. He firmly believes in the importance of living Jewish life
and its continuity from generation to generation.
Marvin Krakower, Executive
Director & Principal
Phone:
(732) 462-0254
E-Mail:
office@freeholdjc.org
Marvin Krakower has been
involved in Jewish education since 1973. He has worked as a youth director
and taught in Reform and Conservative Hebrew schools before becoming a
principal in 1980. He has led Junior Congregation Services for ten years and
wrote a Siddur program for the Saturday Morning Service.
Marvin became Education Director of Freehold Jewish Center in 1997. He has a
Master’s Degree in Jewish Education, a Principal’s Certificate, and all of
his class credits for his Doctorate. He is a firm believer in a strong
foundation for his students and created and implemented many family
programs, such as our Havdalah Service and Hanukkah activities. Marvin
believes in a strong Jewish identity while teaching Hebrew reading, Torah,
history, and Jewish ethics.
In January of 2000, Marvin was appointed Executive Director of Freehold
Jewish Center. Although he greatly enjoyed working as a principal in a high
school and helping young adults to grow, Marvin felt a need to channel his
efforts in the Jewish community at Freehold Jewish Center. He earned a
Master’s Degree in administration, and has worked hard for the past six
years in improving the building where our members come to pray and
socialize.
Marvin is married to Diane, and they have four children: Melissa, David,
Erica, and Jacob. Their daughter Melissa, her husband Ronen, and two
grandchildren, Aiden and Dor, live in Haifa, Israel.
Carole Kane, Secretary
Phone:
(732) 462-0254
E-Mail:
office@freeholdjc.org
Carole Kane brings a diverse and interesting
background to the synagogue. She spent seven years in the financial
industry, ten years in the medical field, and eight years in the building
and construction field. She has been an executive secretary, a hospital
department manager, a marriage counselor, a published author, and a master
water fitness instructor. She earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees along
the way, and is now enjoying the sweetest part of her career – the Freehold
Jewish Center family.
Carole has a large and close-knit family – three children and their spouses,
nine grandchildren, three sisters and a brother (The Prince). She lives in
Freehold with her completely spoiled collie, Crystal Beauty.
Rachelle Lederman, Bookkeeper
Phone:
(732) 462-0254
E-Mail:
bookkeeper@freeholdjc.org
Rachelle Lederman and
her family have been members of the Synagogue for the last 15 years. She is
a member of the Executive Board and a past president of our wonderful
congregation. This year, Rachelle has become a member of the office staff
and looks forward to working with all of you. She is now in charge of
bookkeeping, which was her profession before children and the other
responsibilities that come along with a family.
Nothing makes Rachelle happier than coming to our beautiful building, so for
her this job is perfect.