Hadassah Lieberman
Encyclopedia
Hadassah Lieberman is the wife of United States Senator
Joseph Lieberman (ID
- CT
).
, Czechoslovakia
. Her parents were both Holocaust survivors. Her father was Samuel Freilich, a lawyer and rabbi
from Munkács, in the Carpathian Ruthenia
(now Mukachevo in Ukraine
). Her mother, Ella (Wieder) Freilich, had survived both Auschwitz and Dachau
. Hadassah was named for her maternal grandmother, who died at Auschwitz. Samuel Freilich brought his family to the United States in 1949, settling in Gardner, Massachusetts
, where he was the rabbi of Congregation Ohave Shalom.
Hadassah Lieberman received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and Dramatics from Boston University
in 1970, as well as an MA in International Relations from Northeastern University
the following year. She was a research analyst at Lehman Brothers
, a director of Policy, Planning, and Communications at Pfizer
, and a senior program officer at the National Research Council
. She worked on health issues, assisting nonprofit organizations, improving educational standards, and promoting international understanding. She has served on several national nonprofit councils and boards. Lieberman continues to be vocal on many issues, which includes improving women's health, reducing hurdles faced by immigrants, and the challenge of caring for aging parents.
Lieberman was also a member of Parent's Music Resource Center. Rolling Stone magazine stated that she "is an active proponent of the V-Chip and [has served] on the board of the PTC
."
She worked for the lobbying company APCO Associates, which serves many pharmaceutical and health care corporations, as well as four major drug companies. In March 2005, Lieberman was hired by Hill & Knowlton
as "senior counselor" in the firm's "health care and pharmaceuticals practice." Her work with the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries led to controversy over her involvement with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.
Lieberman also served as Chairman of the Ambassador's Ball for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
, and as Honorary Board Member for Society for Women's Health Research
.
She was actively involved in her husband's vice presidential campaign in 2000, making campaign stops nationwide, including Chicago
's Taste of Polonia
over the Labor Day Weekend, where she appeared along with Tipper Gore
and Dick Cheney
.
, with whom she has a son, Ethan Tucker. They divorced and she married Sen. Joseph Lieberman, with whom she has a daughter, Hana Lieberman.
She co-authored "An Amazing Adventure: Joe and Hadassah's Personal Notes on the 2000 Campaign" with her husband.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Joseph Lieberman (ID
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
- CT
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
).
Biography
She was born Hadassah Freilich in a refugee camp in PraguePrague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. Her parents were both Holocaust survivors. Her father was Samuel Freilich, a lawyer and rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
from Munkács, in the Carpathian Ruthenia
Carpathian Ruthenia
Carpathian Ruthenia is a region in Eastern Europe, mostly located in western Ukraine's Zakarpattia Oblast , with smaller parts in easternmost Slovakia , Poland's Lemkovyna and Romanian Maramureş.It is...
(now Mukachevo in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
). Her mother, Ella (Wieder) Freilich, had survived both Auschwitz and Dachau
Dachau
Dachau is a town in Upper Bavaria, in the southern part of Germany. It is a major district town—a Große Kreisstadt—of the administrative region of Upper Bavaria, about 20 km north-west of Munich. It is now a popular residential area for people working in Munich with roughly 40,000 inhabitants...
. Hadassah was named for her maternal grandmother, who died at Auschwitz. Samuel Freilich brought his family to the United States in 1949, settling in Gardner, Massachusetts
Gardner, Massachusetts
Gardner, Massachusetts is a city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 20,228 as of the 2010 census. Gardner is home to Dunn State Park, Gardner Heritage State Park, Lake Wampanoag Wildlife Sanctuary, and Mount Wachusett Community College.-History:Named in honor of...
, where he was the rabbi of Congregation Ohave Shalom.
Hadassah Lieberman received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and Dramatics from Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
in 1970, as well as an MA in International Relations from Northeastern University
Northeastern University, Boston
Northeastern University , is a private, secular, coeducational research university in Boston, Massachusetts. Northeastern has eight colleges and offers undergraduate majors in 65 departments...
the following year. She was a research analyst at Lehman Brothers
Lehman Brothers
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. was a global financial services firm. Before declaring bankruptcy in 2008, Lehman was the fourth largest investment bank in the USA , doing business in investment banking, equity and fixed-income sales and trading Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (former NYSE ticker...
, a director of Policy, Planning, and Communications at Pfizer
Pfizer
Pfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States...
, and a senior program officer at the National Research Council
United States National Research Council
The National Research Council of the USA is the working arm of the United States National Academies, carrying out most of the studies done in their names.The National Academies include:* National Academy of Sciences...
. She worked on health issues, assisting nonprofit organizations, improving educational standards, and promoting international understanding. She has served on several national nonprofit councils and boards. Lieberman continues to be vocal on many issues, which includes improving women's health, reducing hurdles faced by immigrants, and the challenge of caring for aging parents.
Lieberman was also a member of Parent's Music Resource Center. Rolling Stone magazine stated that she "is an active proponent of the V-Chip and [has served] on the board of the PTC
Parents Television Council
The Parents Television Council is a U.S. based advocacy group founded by conservative activist L. Brent Bozell III in 1995 using the National Legion of Decency as a model...
."
She worked for the lobbying company APCO Associates, which serves many pharmaceutical and health care corporations, as well as four major drug companies. In March 2005, Lieberman was hired by Hill & Knowlton
Hill & Knowlton
Hill & Knowlton is a global public relations company, headquartered in New York City, United States, with 79 offices in 44 countries. Hill & Knowlton was founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1927 by John W. Hill and is today led by Chairman & CEO, Paul Taaffe...
as "senior counselor" in the firm's "health care and pharmaceuticals practice." Her work with the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries led to controversy over her involvement with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.
Lieberman also served as Chairman of the Ambassador's Ball for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, a United States-based non-profit organization, and its network of chapters nationwide promote research, educate, advocate on issues relating to multiple sclerosis, and organize a wide range of programs, including support for the newly diagnosed and those...
, and as Honorary Board Member for Society for Women's Health Research
Society for Women's Health Research
The ' , a national non-profit organization based in Washington DC. Founded in 1990, SWHR's mission is to bring national attention the need for the appropriate inclusion of women and minorities in major medical research studies and the need for more information about conditions affecting women...
.
She was actively involved in her husband's vice presidential campaign in 2000, making campaign stops nationwide, including Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
's Taste of Polonia
Taste of Polonia
The Taste of Polonia is a Chicago festival held at the Copernicus Cultural and Civic Center in the Jefferson Park community area of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States every Labor Day weekend since 1979. It is the Copernicus Foundation's major fundraiser and a four-day celebration of...
over the Labor Day Weekend, where she appeared along with Tipper Gore
Tipper Gore
Mary Elizabeth "Tipper" Gore , née Aitcheson, is an author, photographer, former second lady of the United States, and the estranged wife of Al Gore...
and Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
.
Personal life
Hadassah Freilich first married Rabbi Gordon TuckerGordon Tucker
Gordon Tucker is a prominent rabbi, with a reputation as both a political and a theological liberal in Conservative Judaism. He currently has a position as senior rabbi of Temple Israel Center in White Plains, New York.-Education and career:...
, with whom she has a son, Ethan Tucker. They divorced and she married Sen. Joseph Lieberman, with whom she has a daughter, Hana Lieberman.
She co-authored "An Amazing Adventure: Joe and Hadassah's Personal Notes on the 2000 Campaign" with her husband.