Freehold Jewish Center

Professional Staff

"Come visit us so that we can welcome you to our family, and we can become a part of yours."
59 Broad & Stokes Streets, Freehold, N.J. 07728 Phone: (732) 462-0254 E-Mail: office@freeholdjc.org

 

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   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.