Shulamith Friedland

SHULAMITH R. FRIEDLAND (ZISKIND), 81, a resident of South Dartmouth, died Saturday, May 12, 2012. She was the beloved wife of Sheldon Friedland and the late Robert W. Goldstein. Born in New Bedford, she was the daughter of the late Rabbi Bernard H. and Minna (Lightman) Ziskind.

A graduate of New Bedford High School and Wheaton College, she was a teacher for the Head Start program in New Bedford. She then went on to establish her own real estate business and was a life member of the Greater New Bedford Association of Realtors.

As a member of Tifereth Israel Congregation, Shulamith served on the board, sang in the choir, taught Sunday school for over 25 years, and was president of its Sisterhood. She was a board member of the New England Regional Women’s League and served on the National Board as well. Shulamith was also a life member of the Council of Jewish Women, the Jewish Professional Women’s Club, and Hadassah, where she was a Keeper of the Gates. She was an active supporter of Israel, the Israel Bond Organization, and the Jewish Theological Seminary. As part of her support for the latter, she founded the Light of Torah Award, given annually to deserving women all over the country in an educational ceremony that benefited the Seminary. Always passionate about the arts, Shulamith was a long-time supporter of the New Bedford Whaling Museum, the Zeiterion Theatre, and many other local arts and cultural programs.

Along with her husband, she is survived by her children, Devorah Goldstein and her husband William Durfee of Edina, MN, and Morris Goldstein and his wife Rosi of Ashkelon, Israel; her grandchildren, Rachel and Ben Durfee, and Shulamith, Tal, Shelly Zeev, and Nesia Goldstein; and her brother, Jonathan Ziskind.

Her funeral service will be held Monday, May 14th at 11 AM at Tifereth Israel Congregation, 145 Brownell Ave., New Bedford with burial to follow in Plainville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hadassah or the Ziskind Memorial Fund at Tifereth Israel. Shiva will be observed at her late residence Mon. 7-9 PM and Tues. and Wed. 2-4 & 7-9 PM.