Bob Friedland of Friedland Realty grew up in Yonkers and as a teenager attended Greystone Jewish Center, on North Broadway. Last year he returned to visit, and wanted to contribute his talents to refurbish and improve the synagogue. Over many months, plans were made for a new carpet for the bimah; new stairs to walk up to the bimah to replace the rickety ones and the barely adequate handrail; and a beautiful new light brown oak aron for the Torahs. Friedland’s wife, Sheila, designed and commissioned a new parochet (embroidered curtain) to cover the aron when its doors are closed “in loving memory of Bea and Arthur Friedland,” Bob’s parents. The new blue cover for the new Torah cover was written “in loving memory of Herb Lebowitz,” a former member of the Greystone Jewish Center, who bequeathed it while he was in hospice care before he passed away.

Assemblyman Nader Sayegh presented a proclamation honoring Bob for “achieving his BA in physics from Bard College, an MBA from Adelphia University, and for pursuing his graduate studies in physics from the University of Connecticut. In 1971 he established Friedland Realty as a one-man operation from the basement of an office building, and over the course of 45 years he built it into a prominent commercial real estate company with 25 brokers across Rockland, Westchester and Bronx Counties. He has been a tireless philanthropist and community leader, a devoted husband to Sheila Friedland for 56 years, a father of three sons, devoted father-in-law to three daughters-in-law, and grandfather to 11 cherished grandchildren.”

Various people held the Torah aloft during a grand procession celebrating the completion of writing the Torah, with many hakafot and songs before the new Torah was placed in the Greystone Jewish Center’s new aron. Bob, Sheila and their son Jason were recognized and thanked, followed by a generous and ample buffet luncheon for the more than 200 people attending.

Robert Kalfus can be reached at (917) 379-4165 or [email protected]