Who is
Rabbi Mordechai Yitzchok Friedman?

Rabbi Mordechai Yitzchok Friedman is a fourth generation rabbi of the Stara Lubavna (great grandfather) Tyrnava (grandfather, father) dynasties from Czechoslovakia. He studied at Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim (co-founded by the grandsons of the Chofetz Chaim), Yeshivas Ch’san Sofer, and Kamenitzer Mesifta. The post High School yeshivas, where he studied, were Chaim Berlin, MTJ (The Yeshiva of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, the most proficient Halachic decisor of last century) and Yeshiva Hechal Moshe. The Yeshiva Hechal Moshe in Manhattan was founded by Holocaust survivor Rabbi Victor Vorhand, the former Chief Rabbi of Prague. During the Holocaust Rabbi Vorhand saved many Jews. The other Rosh HaYeshiva there was Rabbi Meir Grunberg, a Dayan (Rabbinical Judge) also known as the Kahzmahcker Rav. Rabbi Grunberg was also the head of the Semicha program at Yeshiva Or HaChaim, whose Rosh HaYeshiva is Rabbi Doniel Lander, Chancellor of Touro College. Rabbi Grunberg was nominated to the aforementioned position due to his being among the last Poskim (Halachic decisors) from Europe.

Upon Rabbi Friedman receiving Semicha from Yeshiva Hechal Moshe, Rabbi Grunberg invited Rabbi Friedman to join his Bet Din on issues of Giyur KHalacha (Halachic Conversion). This afforded Rabbi Friedman of acquiring SHEMUSH (expertise) in Giyur from his Rav Movhahg (rabbinic mentor), the Kahzmahcker Rav.

When Rabbi Friedman was in Israel, he was offered the position of being the director of an Ulpan for Giyur. While interviewing candidates, it became apparent they were being accepted even though they were not meeting the Halachic requirements. Rabbi Friedman interviewed the Head Teacher of this Giyur Institute who testified to him that “not one candidate qualifies for Giyur”. Learning this, Rabbi Friedman informed the Director of the Ministry of Religion, “I shall not be involved in your Bet Charohshat (factory) of Giyur. The official admitted to the issues and retorted, “When a new Chief Rabbi will be elected, hopefully it will change!”

The Board of Trustees of Yeshiva Hechal Moshe had a number of most distinguished members as Rabbi Dr. Leo Jung. Among other Board members, there were the legendary activist for Jewish causes, Mr. Irving Bunim. Rabbi Friedman studied further Bet Din issues at the Gibborim Rabbinical Seminary. Rabbi Friedman received the Hebrew Teachers’ Diploma from the prominent Herzliah Hebrew Teachers Institute. The latter institute then combined with the Jewish Teachers Seminary and People’s University (Yiddishists), where Rabbi Friedman acquired the Bachelor of Jewish Literature (B.J.L.). Both latter combined institutions of higher learning were acquired by Touro College.

Rabbi Friedman received undergraduate degrees in Marketing Management (A.A.S.) and American history (B.A.) from C.U.N.Y. In addition, Rabbi Friedman received a Master of Science (M.S.) in Jewish Education from Ferkauf Graduate School of Yeshiva University.

Rabbi Friedman is fluent in Yiddish and Israeli Hebrew. He is on call from the New York State Court System to assist with litigants whose primary language is Yiddish, they being overwhelmingly of the Chasidic groups. In addition, he has authored several articles, including many scholarly theological papers.

Rabbi Friedman served as Principal of Talmud Torahs and Yeshiva Day Schools. He received the Permanent Principal’s License from the Board of License of the Board of Jewish Education of Greater New York and is a member of the National Conference of Yeshiva Principals.

Rabbi Friedman was involved in Kashrut Supervision commencing in his teen years. Included were the OU, Kof Kay, NK, Rabbi Grunbergs Hechshare, among other rabbinic and Kashrut agencies.

Rabbi Mordechai Yitzchok Friedman was associated with Congregation Ahavath Achim, Beth Aaron Synagogue, and Congregation Talmud Torah. Rabbi Friedman taught 3 credit Judaic courses at Touro College and Bramson Ort (2 year college). He has given lectures at many Congregations(Orthodox and non Orthodox), Federations, public schools, public libraries, hotels(Miami Beach), and at a Right to Life Convention in Boston. Rabbi Friedman has appeared on radio and television.

The Israeli Consulate in New York invited Rabbi Friedman to be a leader in Israel’s 1989 Prime Ministers’ Solidarity with Israel. Rabbi Friedman worked closely with Rabbi Abraham Hecht, President of the Igud Harabbanim (Rabbinical Alliance of America) who requested Rabbi Friedman to represent the Igud at the international conference. Rabbi Friedman, having been a member of the Igud for 23 years, later left it, to form the Vaad Harabbonim of America.

The Prime Ministers’ Solidarity with Israel group consisted of over 1,800 Jewish leaders, worldwide. Upon arrival at the meeting in Jerusalem, Rabbi Friedman was asked to be a member of the executive committee and he addressed then Prime Minister Yitzchak Shamir at this closed meeting. Rabbi Friedman gave full backing to the PM in putting down the Intifada! Although, Prime Minister Shamir asked not to bring up the issue of “Who is a Jew”, Rabbi Friedman improvised ‘We thank the Prime Minister for bringing up the issue of who is a Jew controversy. There would not be any crises if we continue the age old Halachic conversion requirements!” Rabbi Friedman said this as the last speaker and, after he was finished, PM Shamir exclaimed, “I accept what everyone said here today without exception”.

Rabbi Friedman, a highly principled man, turned down a request by the US Military to speak at a Military Base in Germany because he would not visit a country that committed genocide against the Jewish people.

Social Justice: Social justice for Jews!!!!

Rabbi Friedman’s involvement in real Social Justice commenced at an early age. Participating, co-sponsoring, and sponsoring “Social Justice for Jews, Judaism and Israel”. He has a long history of demonstrating against homegrown anti-Semitism and in support of the Jews of the Soviet Union, Jews of Syria, Jews of Iran, Jews of Israel, and mistreated Jews wherever they live. He developed his drive to ensure that every Jew is treated properly from his parents who were Holocaust survivors.

Rabbi Friedman’s mother, Rebbetzin Tziri, escaped from Bratislavah to Hungary. She organized an underground program to save Jews. When becoming aware of the Gestapo’s intent to raid hospitals, she would disguise herself as a nurse. Since some of the hospitals were run by nuns, she attired accordingly, spiriting the Jewish patients out of the hospitals. At her Levahya and Shiva in New York and Jerusalem (her sister lived in Israel), people paying their respects came forth declaring they were among the ones she had saved!

There was one episode where Rabbi Friedman’s mother saw a mob of Hungarians chasing a Jewish man beating him to death. A Hungarian woman living across the street, observing her, called the Gestapo to report her. The woman from the other building reported Rabbi Friedman’s mother as being “…too polite, too nice. She must be Jewish”. The Gestapo approached the landlady where Rabbi Friedman’s mother lived, but the landlady denied harboring any Jews in her building!

Rabbi Friedman’s mother’s brother, Shmayah Gottesman, was a Yeshiva bochur. He organized fellow bochurim to put on Nazi uniforms in order to stop truckloads of Jewish children from going to the extermination centers. This heroic group came to an end when two Jews turned them into the Gestapo. Rushing to the concentration camp, his mother was told, “Your brother died of typhus.”

Rabbi Friedman’s father, Rabbi Yisroel Yakov Friedman, escaped from Tyrnava to join the Polish Army. With the fall of Poland, he escaped to Hungary. He met his future wife as she was bringing food supplies to those hiding. After the war, desiring to go to Eretz Yisrael, they could only get out of Europe by coming to the USA. At her passing, during the Levahyah and Shiva, people in New York and in Israel (her sister lived there), people came forth who were saved because of her.

As a young man, Rabbi Friedman’s father accompanied his father, Rabbi Yitzchok Friedman, Tyrnavah Rav, to the European conference known as the Knessiah Gedolah in 1938 in Mirinbahd, Checkoslavakia. The conference proclaimed that Eretz Yisroel is not to be partitioned and no part to be given to the Arabs. This was a rejoinder to the League of Nations desire to severe parts of the Jewish land.

Rabbi Friedman’s decades of protesting anti-Semitism was influenced by his parents’ example. He relentlessly confronts both Gentile and Jewish anti-Semites and exposes them. An example of this once happened in Israel when Rabbi Friedman was walking through the Old City of Jerusalem. At that time, he noticed two burly Muslim Arabs harassing a young Jewish lady. He was the only other Jewish person in the area, so he took it upon himself to confront them, telling them to “Let her go”! The young lady escaped, but he found himself surrounded by an Arab mob in the Arab occupied part of Jerusalem.

Speaking in English, an Arab said, “You Americans make all the troubles here!”

Rabbi Friedman retorted, “The Almighty gave this land to the Jewish people.”

Thereupon, he was threatened, “You will be thrown on the ground. A lynching will be your reward.” All of a sudden an Israeli appeared and took Rabbi Friedman out of harm’s way.

Rabbi Friedman was a spokesperson for Gush Emunim when he would visit Israel, especially in the summer months, representing the pioneers’ view to the foreign press. He would meet with the founder of Gush Emunim, Rabbi Moshe Levinger and, on occasions, Rabbi Meir Kahane would visit him at the hotel. Rabbi Friedman would accompany Rabbi Kahane to rallies around the country. He would also take letters for Rabbi Kahane to USA, thus avoiding both Israeli and American intelligence, from getting them!

When young, Rabbi Friedman was active in Betar and was both a member of JDL and its board. Rabbi Kahane personally gave Rabbi Friedman a Tnuat Kach membership card the JDL of Israel, during a visit to Israel. Two weeks prior to Rabbi Kahane’s assassination in New York, Rabbi Friedman addressed a JDL protest in front of the UN. Rabbi Kahane followed him in addressing the crowd. Rabbi Kahane told Rabbi Friedman that he was concerned, since Israel passed a law just for him, that one cannot be a member of the Knesset and hold another citizenship. This made it difficult for Rabbi Kahane to come freely to the USA to conduct his speaking engagements and fundraising. Unfortunately, two weeks later, Rabbi Friedman went to Rabbi Kahane’s funeral at the Young Israel of Ocean Parkway.

Rabbi Friedman grew up on the Upper Westside of Manhattan. At times he would daven at Rabbi Naftali Carlebach's shul, who was a great orator. His son, Shlomo, was among the greatest composers of Neshamah (Jewish Soul Music) melodies. Rabbi Friedman would visit Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, when he assumed his fathers pulpit at his home, shul, and concerts in the USA and Israel.  Reb Shlomo will be remembered for eternity by exuberantly,  joyously singing and dancing his soul niggunim.

Who is a Mensch?   Rabbi Friedman was performing a wedding at the The Jewish Center, Manhattan and invited Rabbi Emanuel Rackman to co-officiate.  Rabbi Rackman was the rabbi of the prominent Fifth Avenue Synagogue and President of Bar Ilan University in Israel.  After the ceremony, Rabbi Friedman offered Rabbi Rackman compensation. Rabbi Rackman declined to accept, declaring, "your still active, I am retired"!  Rabbi Friedman escorted the distinguished  Rabbi Rackman to a cab taking him home, and offered to pay for the taxi, again Rabbi Rackman  declined.  "He was a Mensch!" declared Rabbi Friedman.

The above background is only a synopsis. There is much more to who is Rabbi Mordechai Yitzchok Friedman?

Rabbi Friedman gives weekly lectures via Cable TV Broadcasts and the internet. He is available to lecture worldwide, "Have Lecture Will Travel", please contact the office for booking.