Linda Freedman Block Family Papers

Linda Freedman Block family history:

Surname Knobler -

Goldie Berger Knobler was born on February 15, 1905 (Zarshynow, Russia), and died on May 13, 1996 (age 91). She entered the Jewish Children’s Home (JCH) in New Orleans, Louisiana on February 21, 1916, when she was 11, and left on July 8, 1922. When she “aged out” and left for Houston the Westheimer family “adopted” her. She married Isadore Solomon Knobler (born July 23, 1897 - April 11, 1972, age 74) on February 15, 1925, on her 20th birthday.

Their children were: First - a girl, stillborn in 1925; Second - Betty Dove Knobler Freedman, born on July 29, 1928; Third - Ivan William Knobler, born on October 1, 1931, died on March 16, 2018 (age 86). Ivan married Enid Rosenbaum Knobler, who was born on November 27, 1945 and died on December 9, 2020 (age 75).

Surname Freedman -

Esther Clara Nodler Freedman was born to Marcus and Hinda Nodelr on March 1, 1901 (Jassy, Romania, according to Ellis Island records) and died on April 20, 1993 (age 93). She came to the United States on December 15, 1903. She married Sam (Szmuel Chaskielewitz) Freedman. He was born on May 15, 1899, in Svislach (Svislač) on the border between modern-day Belarus and Poland. He considered himself Russian. He came to the United States on July 6, 1914. He died on May 12, 1965 (age 65). His brother Harry was born in the same city, as well as their sister Dora Freedman Levit. (the city is located on the border, and got transferred between countries in the first half of the 20th century, hence different records suggest different countries of birth - Belarus, Poland or Russia)

Their children were: First - Harold Jerome Freedman, born on July 6, 1921, died on February 15, 2015 (age 93); Second - Milton Leslie Freedman, born on November 22, 1923, died on November 12, 2008 (age 84); and Third - Alfred Gene Freedman, born on June 26, 1930, died on August 22, 2008 (age 78).

Linda's parents Milton Leslie Freedman and Betty Dove Knobler married June 15, 1947, in Houston, Texas. After returning from service in World War II, Milton started a meat packing company called M. Freedman Packing. When his brothers joined the business, the name was changed to Freedman Brothers Packing Co., and eventually changed to its current name, Freedman Distributors. The couple had four children: Mark, Donnie, Judy, and Linda. They were members of Congregation Beth Yeshurun and active in B'nai B'rith and Hadassah among other organizations.

The family moved from West University to Meyerland in 1960. Linda attended Kolter Elementary, Johnston Junior High, and graduated from Bellaire High School in 1971. Linda met her husband, Nelson Block, through their involvement in BBYO. The two dated while attending the University of Texas at Austin and married August 22, 1976. The couple have three children: Adam, Brian, and Jordan. After Milton graduated from UT Law School, the couple settled in Houston where Milton was a briefing attorney on the 14th Court of Civil Appeals before starting at Sheinfeld, Maley and Kay a year later. They are involved with the JCC, the Federation, Israel Bonds, Hadassah, and Boy Scouts at Beth Israel.

Linda formed Noah's Ark Newspaper with longtime friend Debbie Dubin in 1978. The two ran the educational, children's publication for 16 years. It was a monthly publication to city Jewish newspapers around the country like The Jewish Herald Voice. They grew to be in 400 synagogues on six continents.

Excerpted from Linda Freedman Block's oral history: https://digitalcollections.rice.edu/south-texas-jewish-archives/south-texas-jewish-archives-oral-histories