In 1946, Zev was born in Estonia to Holocaust survivors, Jacob & Miriam Friede. In 1958, he arrived in Israel and spent his teenage years in a youth aliyah group on Lohamei Ha’geta’ot (a kibbutz founded by Holocaust survivors). In 1965 he was drafted into the army and served with the distinguished Golani Brigade. After his service, he studied Technical & Electrical Controls and Installation.

Thanks to the “biggest matchmaker” in Israel (the Israeli army!), he met his lovely wife, Tova, and they were married on April 8, 1968. By 1977 the Friede family had joined Zev’s brother in Wayne and raised three daughters, Rotem, Smadar, and Keren (z”l). Members of Shomrei Torah since they arrived in the States, Smadar and Keren were both bat mitzvah here at Shomrei Torah.

What brought the Friede family and Shomrei Torah together? Zev states that Jewish community is different here than in Israel. Here, Zev explained, you actively need to choose to become involved in a Jewish community and it was important to Zev that his children be aware and knowledgeable of Jewish traditions and life cycles. Conservative Judaism filled the need for community, Hebrew language, and a traditional structure of worship, one that was more familiar to Zev and his family.

Retirement for Zev is a relative term. While no longer commuting daily to Manhattan, he is active in many different ways. Always involved, he is on the Board of Adjustment in Wayne. He goes daily to the gym and his avid intellectual curiosity is satisfied by his extensive reading. He is a proud grandfather of five. Two of his grandchildren, Leah (12) and Eli (7), children of Smadar and her husband, David Kleinstein, are 2nd generation members of Shomrei Torah. Zev is an almost daily fixture here at the synagogue, always willing to lend his expertise in electrical and structural matters. He volunteers his time, his skills, and his good humor with everyone.