“I’m not a macher!” insists Sam Friedman of Springfield’s Temple Sholom, using the Yiddish expression for a big shot. “I’m just a volunteer.” 

At Temple Sholom, he is a key volunteer. Since joining the Reform temple in 1945 he’s taught Sunday school and Hebrew; founded and still leads the Shofar Choir; makes assignments and schedules for the High Holy Day honors; organizes Simchat Torah dinners and kosher Passover Seders; and, “between rabbis,” Sam modestly notes, has coached five or six Bar Mitzvah students.

For years he was the cemetery committee chair, and he still serves on the committee. He regularly attends Friday night services and on occasion, when the rabbi must be absent, he leads services and gives “crazy sermons.”          
 

Sam is  88 years old and was born and raised in Dayton. He grew up attending Beth Jacob Congregation and moved to Springfield as a newlywed in 1941. 

“We owned the first neighborhood department store in Springfield, The Fair Store,” he recalls during an interview at Temple Sholom. “We were the first store around open until 9 p.m.” 

Later, Sam managed four Read More Stores. He’s vague about when he retired — ”I never retired, I just changed my priorities.”

He’s proud to announce that this Jan. 26 he’ll be married 64 years “with the same woman!”  Three rabbis were involved in the wedding ceremony:  “We were tied tight.”

“I’m the extrovert and she’s the introvert,” Sam says of his wife, Ida. “Like she says, we have nothing in common, so we have nothing to fight about.” 

The pair have four sons, three granddaughters, and three great-grandchilden. Their youngest son lives with his wife in Centerville and is a member of Temple Sholom.

“A small congregation relies heavily on a small number of people and Sam’s a real mainstay of the congregation and a delightful person,” says Temple Sholom’s Rabbi Janice Garfunkel. “He’s also a good role model for Jewish life.”

“I enjoy doing things,” Sam says. “That’s what keeps me alive.”

In 1990, Sam learned that his PSA — a blood test marker for prostate cancer — was 435, a hundred times higher than normal. 

“My doctor said, ‘Go home and enjoy your last six months,’” Sam recalls. Sam and his family did not go for this. 

“I went to Ohio State and I had two prostate surgeries and I take medicine and I’ve been OK,” Sam says, shrugging. 

“Tell all the wives, if your husband’s over 45, make sure he gets a PSA.”

Sam’s volunteering is not confined to Temple Sholom. He’s active with the local Elderly United agency, helping out with Bingo every Wednesday and preparing lunches every other Thursday for a lunch and movie event.
 

Several times a year he helps serve meals to the poor. He also works with the Dad’s Club promoting soccer at Warden Park/Wayne Elementary School. 

He’s received many volunteer awards. “My wall at home is covered with those plaques.”
“If your mind is working,” Sam says, “your body keeps going.”
  

“I’ve seen a lot of people die,” Sam muses, shaking his head. “I don’t have that many friends left. I used to like the springtime best, but now all I’ve got is today. At my age, every day you say, ‘Thank you, Lord, I can enjoy another day.’”

Before he leaves the Temple, Sam has a question for the rabbi. “You want the kosher Seder again this year?” he asks, referring to one of the events he organizes.

“Of course,” Rabbi Garfunkel says, sounding startled that Sam would even ask.