Obituary of Joseph Freiman

FREIMAN, Cantor Joseph Cantor Joseph Freiman, revered and beloved chazzan of Congregation Or Shalom died peacefully, at Marian Villa, on Saturday, September 7, 2013. For almost sixty years he was Eva Rosenblatt’s adored husband. He is survived by his children Liliane (Emil) Freiman-Cohen and Gabriel (Yetta); grandchildren Rebecca and Noah Freiman; his brother Emil (Magda) Freiman of Toronto, and his sister Clari Bohm of Argentina; his sister-in-law Carla Taub of London; as well as many nieces and nephews. Cantor Freiman was born on Sept 17, 1919 in Satu Mare, Romania to Henry and Mathilda Freiman. From 1937 to 1940 he attended rabbinical/cantorial school, at which he was encouraged to learn leatherwork, based on the belief that Torah study should be accompanied by a trade. As a teenager, he moved to Czechoslovakia, and then returned to Romania. After the outbreak of World War Two, he was deported in 1940, and imprisoned in various camps, including Auschwitz for one year. In 1945, following his liberation, he returned to Romania, where he located surviving family members. He left for Italy, and studied voice for two years, and then travelled to Uruguay where he obtained a job as a cantor. There he met and married Eva in 1955 The family came to London Ontario and Congregation Or Shalom, in July 1968, where Joseph served as Cantor; with dignity, respect, and love for Jewish Tradition, and in turn was revered, respected, and very much loved by the entire Jewish community, for whom he was simply: Yossi. He was a man who "walked the walk" and "talked the talk" of a sincere and genuine God-fearing Jew, he was a role model to a generation of bar/bat mitzvah students, and to the entire Or Shalom family. Yossi said that "being a cantor is not a job or a business, but a calling." The family expresses its gratitude and appreciation to Veronica Johnston, and Gabriele DeGraw who were constant, loving, caregivers; and also to Lionel Rabkin, to Dr Gerald Brock, and Dr William Klein. Funeral service will be held on Monday, Sept 9th at 3:00 pm at Or Shalom Synagogue, Rabbi Catharine Clark officiating. Interment Or Shalom Cemetery. Shiva will be observed at the London Jewish Community Centre Lounge where services will take place at 7:00 PM and 7:30 AM Monday evening through Friday morning; and where visitors will be received from 2 – 4 pm and 7 – 9 pm daily until Thursday evening due to the advent of Yom Kippur. Memorial donations may be made to the Cantor Joseph & Eva Freiman Family Trust Fund c/o Congregation Or Shalom. Logan Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Services: Service Date Monday, September 9, 2013 Service Time 3 pm Service Location Or Shalom Synagogue Burial Date Sept 9 2013 Burial Location Or Shalom Cemetery Requested Charity Cantor Joseph and Eva Freiman Family Trust