Meet Kenny Friedman
Long-time advocate, Kenny Friedman, grew up in Randallstown and moved to Pikesville with his wife, Marla, 20 years ago, where they have built a life with their four wonderful children. Kenny sits on the board of the Jewish Volunteer Connection (JVC) and the Jewish Cemetery Association of Greater Baltimore (JCA).
We sat down recently with Kenny to learn more about his volunteer work, his extracurricular activities and life in Baltimore. Let’s take a look at 10 things to know about Dr. Kenneth Friedman!
- Kenny’s family has been in Baltimore since the 1890s. “My Zaidy was the president of Anshe Niesen on Exeter Street, my mom grew up in Park Circle and my dad in Pimlico.”
- After graduating from the Talmudical Academy, Kenny studied for two years in Israel. He received his bachelors in psychology with an extended minor in journalism from UMBC and later earned his doctorate in chiropractic at the University of Bridgeport.
- He has always been interested in Baltimore Jewish history and became involved with JCA around six years ago. “With generations of my ancestors in Baltimore Jewish cemeteries, I was instantly interested in how I could help, following a local story of graffiti in a Baltimore Jewish cemetery. As I was already on the board of JVC, I helped arrange a cemetery cleanup and that led to others.”
- Kenny feels that this work is important because “Judaism is only maintained as a link from generation to generation. We are nothing if we aren’t connected to our ancestors. Honoring human dignity extends even after death when it becomes a great mitzvah as it cannot be repaid.”
- After first learning about the vandalism that occurred at the cemetery on German Hill Road, Kenny says he was deeply disgusted. “It highlights the important work of JCA. It also serves as a reminder that antisemitism is an eternal disease.”
- He speaks fondly of his volunteer work with JVC. “After getting involved in Annual Days of Service, running my own monthly Live With Purpose projects with friends (they are so much fun), and helping to create some VolunTeams (love that term), I have morphed into a kind of connector or liaison between JVC and other community organizations.”
- There are so many connections with much of the volunteer work he does with The Associated. “I am so proud to have recently been involved in the inaugural LIFE & LEGACY committee run by The Associated. As for JCA & JVC, we just organized Jewish Cemetery cleanup days in conjunction with JCA, JVA and with support from Fram Monument and Sol Levinson’s.”
- In addition to running his solo practice, Kenny is a wine writer and runs local kosher food and wine events.
- When Kenny is not working or volunteering, we can find him experimenting with all things food related – “roasting coffee, fermenting anything, smoking fish – basically running a local Zabar’s out of my house.” He also researches Baltimore Jewish synagogue history and maintains the popular group, “Baltimore Synagogues: Then & Now.”
- The power and satisfaction of giving is a lesson Kenny learned early on in life watching his greatest teachers – his Mom and Dad. “Mom has always put everyone else first and my Dad lived his entire life for his family. My amazing wife and my brothers and now my kids carry on this tradition. You need nothing to be able to give back.”
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