Rabbi Barry R Friedman

Rabbi Emeritus Barry R. Friedman, 78, of Hopatcong, NJ died on Monday October 8, 2012. Rabbi Friedman spent most of his adult life associated with Temple B’nai Abraham first in Newark and then in its current location of Livingston, NJ. He began his association in 1959 as Youth Director and teacher and then returning from being assistant Rabbi to Rabbi Arthur Lelyveld at Fairmount Temple in Cleveland, to become Associate Rabbi to Dr. Joachim Prinz in 1968, and then Senior Rabbi in 1977, and Rabbi Emeritus in 1999.

A Philadelphia native, Rabbi Friedman received his BA and BHL degrees at Yeshiva University. He studied at Machon L’Madrichai Chutz La’Aretz in Jerusalem. He was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. After ordination he pursued Doctoral Studies at Drew University, and St. Mary’s Ecumenical Institute in Baltimore.

As an undergraduate he was Executive Director of the New Jersey Zionist Youth Commission and Assistant to the Director of the Philadelphia region of the State of Israel Bonds. Rabbi Friedman has written numerous highly regarded services commemorating holidays and historic events, and the Siddur Or Chadash—New Light prayer book.

Rabbi Friedman, in his tenure as Senior Rabbi of Temple B’nai Abraham, led his congregation in its commitment to Zionism, commitment to the highest ethical and aesthetic standards of Jewish liturgy and education, commitment to the well-being of the Jewish people as well as its commitment to the entire community. He helped the congregation retain its unique and independent identity. As its spiritual leader, he was a warm, compassionate and effective friend who cushioned the vicissitudes and heightened the joys of the congregation’s life cycle events.

He lived a life of active involvement in the cause for peace, social justice and human rights. As president of the Jewish Peace Fellowship, as Board member of the Citizens Council for Human Rights, as Chairperson of Clergy and Laymen Concerned About Vietnam and as a member of the Joint Chaplaincy Commission, Barry Friedman was a determined voice for understanding among all people, for “Tikkun Olam” in the universe , both in the inner community of Judaism as well as the world community

He is survived by his wife Irene, three children, Aryeh, Adina and Aviva, and grandchildren, Nevona, Nadav, Elza Ruti and Zev.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Rabbi Barry Friedman Scholar in Residence Fund at Temple B'nai Abraham.