The New Rosh HaYeshiva
It’s official. Rabbi Avraham Friedman is the newly appointed Rosh HaYeshiva of Beis HaMedrash LaTorah, The Hebrew Theological College (HTC). The announcement was made this morning.
Rabbi Friedman is a huge Talmid Chacham and has been in Chinuch for many decades. He was a popular Rebbe in Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh before he came to Skokie over 25 years ago. And he was a key component in the Yeshiva’s return to respectability. Hired by former president, Rabbi Don Well along with a star studded faculty the Yeshiva began to attract students once again.
Under the leadership of former Rosh HaYeshiva Rav Shlomo Morgenstern, Rabbi Friedman played a key role in taking the Yeshiva to where it is today. As Rosh HaYeshiva, my hope is that he will be able to take it to an even higher plane and make it the Yeshiva it has the potential to be.
His background is perfect for this Yeshiva. He was raised in it. His father, attorney Joseph Friedman, ZL was a one time chairman of the board ...and at a time that there were not that many Shomrei Shabbos on that board. He was always a champion of doing the right thing. And he was in Rabbi Aaron Soloveichik’s corner during the difficult period when the Yeshiva let him go.
Joe Friedman was rewarded by Heaven for his work at Skokie and in the Chicago Jewish community as well. His three children are exemplars of Torah Jews. His oldest son, HaGaon Rav Chanoch Friedman was one of the best Talmidim of his time in Lakewood. I saw the letter Rav Aharon Kotler sent to Mr. Friedman saying so. Harav Chanoch Friedman has gone on to become a Gadol in his own right. And his sister is a tremendous Baalas Chesed married to a big Talmid Chacham as well.
But Rabbi Avarahm Friedman is a Gadol in his own right. And an Anav to boot. And as an American he can relate to the American Bachurim quite well.
He and I were in the same Shiur in high school but he surpassed me in Torah learning very quickly. He was a Masmid. I was not. But he was also quite an athlete. And he knew his baseball. To this day he will often use baseball metaphors in his Hashkafa talks.
But this is not what makes him great. It is his keen perception and insight of every individual Talmid he has a relationship with. And there are many. He knows their strengths and their weaknesses. And he is a firm believer in Chanoch L’Naar Al Pi Darko.
My son attributes his success in Torah learning directly to Rabbi Friedman. My son’s senior year in high school at HTC was a particularly difficult one. Rabbi Friedman became as close as possible to him as any Rebbe could be to any Talmid. He sacrificed a great deal of his free time (of which he had precious little to spare) and spent it learning B’Chavrusah with him.
When it was time to consider a Yeshiva program in Israel, the popular Yeshivos then were Merkaz HaTorah and Beis Yisroel… two institutions that are decidedly right wing and whose goals were to mold their American Talmidim into the Charedi mold. Rabbi Friedman recommended Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh for my son. He knew that the strictures of the other two Yeshivos would not suit him personally and might even chase him away from Torah.
My son went to KBY and flourished. After two years there he came back to Chicago to get his college degree at night while learning in the Yeshiva during the day. During that time Rabbi Friedman saw potential Gadlus in my son. He advised him to go to Yeshivas Mir in Jerusalem. What my son is today 15 years later is directly attributable to Rabbi Friedman. My son and I both know that.
This man is now the Rosh HaYeshiva in Skokie. I wish him much success in getting the job done… to do what’s necessary to make this Yeshiva soar. It’s a big job. A tough row to hoe. But if anyone can do it he can.
