Amanda Friedman

Amanda gives what she calls her "time, talent, and treasure" to Chicago's Jewish community in many ways.

She found her spiritual home in Chicago at Anshe Emet Synagogue, where she was not only a board member of the Young Adult Division, but also responds with an enthusiastic "yes!" to any request for help--from promoting upcoming events to volunteering as a Shabbat ambassador or hosting a rabbinical candidate for dinner.

Amanda's event planning and marketing skills led her to start a successful wedding planning business, growing from a one-woman show to an enterprise that employees 10 women across Chicago, Scottsdale and New York. She brings her special skill set to Indiana University Helene G. Simon Hillel, where she serves as an alumni advisor for the Campus Superstar state-wide singing competition and fundraiser. She has been involved with this event ever since she was a student and helped pivot it to an online platform during the pandemic.

As a child, Amanda's grandparents' yearly Hanukkah gift was a donation to a charity of her choice, and she continues this tradition by giving to JUF.

Amanda also hosts an annual Yom Kippur break-fast, a 30-minute Passover seder, and Shabbat dinners to bring young Jews together. 

AGE:
30

PRONOUNS:
she/her/hers

PRIMARY GIG:
Founder & Lead Wedding Planner, Amanda Paige Events

ON THE SIDE:
Mommy to Shay and our dog Kirk, married to my best friend Adam!

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 10 WORDS OR LESS:
Outgoing, Mommy, Hoosier, Bubbie in a 30-year-old body

WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT IN THE LAST 10 YEARS:
My proudest accomplishment, outside of being Shay's mother, is the quick success of my wedding planning business, Amanda Paige Events. Our company has been open for 3 years and we are about to celebrate our 100th wedding and can proudly say we have over 60 exclusively 5-star reviews! I am so proud of the team I have built where I give women the opportunity to break into the very opaque wedding planning industry of Chicago.

A JEW WHO INSPIRES YOU:
Harvey Milk is my Jewish idol. He was from the same area of Long Island as me and I was always inspired by his message of admitting who you are. My favorite Harvey quote is, “You must tell your friends if indeed they are your friends. You must tell the people in the stores you shop in. Once they realize that we are indeed everywhere, every myth, every lie, every innuendo will be destroyed once and for all.” Although he was talking about coming out, I think this applies to sharing your truest self, including your religion.

YOUR BEST PIECE OF ADVICE:
A popular saying I have for most wedding-related drama is: After a wedding, comes a marriage. Never forget to see the forest through the trees.