Albert Friedlander
Encyclopedia
Albert Hoschander Friedlander (10 May 1927 - 8 July 2004) was a rabbi
and teacher.
Friedlander, born on 10 May 1927 in Berlin
was the son of a textile broker, Alex Friedlander (d. 1956) and Sali Friedlander (d. 1965). In 1961, he married Evelyn Friedlander and had three children: Rabbi Ariel, Michal, and Noam
.
Friedlander and his family remained in Germany until 1939, spending Kristallnacht
hiding in the home of Christian friends in the suburbs. The family sailed to Cuba, and were on the last boat allowed to land before the MS St. Louis was sent away. The three Friedlander children: Albert, his twin Charles, and their sister Dorrit, were sent to separate foster homes in Mississippi. Their parents had to remain in Cuba until their visa numbers came up in the quota system. Eventually the family was reunited in Vicksburg
.
Friedlander graduated from Carr Central High School, Vicksburg in 1944 at the age of 16, and was accepted immediately by the University of Chicago
. While studying at college, he was also gaining a reputation as a long-distance runner. He had been a champion in Mississippi, and was able to run the mile in 4 minutes 30 seconds. The U of C coach suggested that he try out for the 1948 Olympic team, but he decided to concentrate on his studies instead, having made up his mind to enter rabbinic school upon gaining his Bachelor's degree. At the age of 18 Friedlander graduated from college and entered Hebrew Union College
in Cincinnati to begin his path to the rabbinate. He was ordained with the class of 1952. While still at rabbinical school, he was part of the first group of students that took part in the National Federation of Temple Youth camps in Wisconsin, and remained committed to NFTY throughout his career.
From 1956 to 1961 he served as Rabbi for Temple B'nai Brith, a Reform synagogue founded in 1845 and located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
. During his tenure there he also served as a part time faculty member for Wilkes College (now university). He then left for a position as advisor to Jewish students at Columbia University
in New York City, where he gained a Ph. D in theology, writing on the work of Rabbi Leo Baeck. He also became very involved in the fight for civil rights
, taking his students down to Memphis to march with Dr. Martin Luther King. In 1966, he moved with his family to London, to become the rabbi of Wembley Liberal Synagogue, and teach at the Leo Baeck College
. In 1971 he was invited to follow Rabbi Harold Reinhart and serve the Westminster Synagogue in Knightsbridge
, London. He remained there until his retirement, upon which he was created Rabbi Emeritus. In 1993 he was awarded the Bundesverdienstkreuz
(the Order of Merit) from the German government and in 2001 he became the first overseas-born Rabbi to be awarded an OBE
.
From 1975-1995 he was the Vice President for the World Union for Progressive Judaism
. He was chairman of the British branch of the World Conference of Religions for Peace (1990-94), committed to the Three Faiths Forum
, and a president of the Council of Christians and Jews. He was also a lecturer at the Leo Baeck College
from 1967-71, before becoming Director of Studies 1971-1982 and then Dean from 1982-2004. Friedlander was involved in many interfaith dialogues, both nationally and internationally. He spent a particular amount of time in the land of his birth, as a guest professor at many German universities, as a speaker and teacher at the Evangelischen Kirchentage
and Katholikentag
e; and appeared regularly in various German media.
He died on 8 July 2004 in London, and is buried in the West London cemetery
at Hoop Lane, Golders Green, surrounded by friends and congregants.
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
and teacher.
Friedlander, born on 10 May 1927 in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
was the son of a textile broker, Alex Friedlander (d. 1956) and Sali Friedlander (d. 1965). In 1961, he married Evelyn Friedlander and had three children: Rabbi Ariel, Michal, and Noam
Noam Friedlander
Noam Friedlander is an author, scriptwriter, TV reviewer, columnist, interviewer and feature writer. She has written 13 non-fiction books on subjects ranging from sport, religion, entertainment and children’s names as well as having over a decade of experience as a journalist for various...
.
Friedlander and his family remained in Germany until 1939, spending Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht, also referred to as the Night of Broken Glass, and also Reichskristallnacht, Pogromnacht, and Novemberpogrome, was a pogrom or series of attacks against Jews throughout Nazi Germany and parts of Austria on 9–10 November 1938.Jewish homes were ransacked, as were shops, towns and...
hiding in the home of Christian friends in the suburbs. The family sailed to Cuba, and were on the last boat allowed to land before the MS St. Louis was sent away. The three Friedlander children: Albert, his twin Charles, and their sister Dorrit, were sent to separate foster homes in Mississippi. Their parents had to remain in Cuba until their visa numbers came up in the quota system. Eventually the family was reunited in Vicksburg
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the only city in Warren County. It is located northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and due west of Jackson, the state capital. In 1900, 14,834 people lived in Vicksburg; in 1910, 20,814; in 1920,...
.
Friedlander graduated from Carr Central High School, Vicksburg in 1944 at the age of 16, and was accepted immediately by the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. While studying at college, he was also gaining a reputation as a long-distance runner. He had been a champion in Mississippi, and was able to run the mile in 4 minutes 30 seconds. The U of C coach suggested that he try out for the 1948 Olympic team, but he decided to concentrate on his studies instead, having made up his mind to enter rabbinic school upon gaining his Bachelor's degree. At the age of 18 Friedlander graduated from college and entered Hebrew Union College
Hebrew Union College
The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is the oldest extant Jewish seminary in the Americas and the main seminary for training rabbis, cantors, educators and communal workers in Reform Judaism.HUC-JIR has campuses in Cincinnati, New York, Los Angeles and Jerusalem.The Jerusalem...
in Cincinnati to begin his path to the rabbinate. He was ordained with the class of 1952. While still at rabbinical school, he was part of the first group of students that took part in the National Federation of Temple Youth camps in Wisconsin, and remained committed to NFTY throughout his career.
From 1956 to 1961 he served as Rabbi for Temple B'nai Brith, a Reform synagogue founded in 1845 and located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. During his tenure there he also served as a part time faculty member for Wilkes College (now university). He then left for a position as advisor to Jewish students at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in New York City, where he gained a Ph. D in theology, writing on the work of Rabbi Leo Baeck. He also became very involved in the fight for civil rights
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
, taking his students down to Memphis to march with Dr. Martin Luther King. In 1966, he moved with his family to London, to become the rabbi of Wembley Liberal Synagogue, and teach at the Leo Baeck College
Leo Baeck College
Leo Baeck College is a rabbinical college and centre for Jewish education located in north London. As well as being the smallest academic college in England, it is also the largest Jewish Progressive University and Rabbinic College in Europe....
. In 1971 he was invited to follow Rabbi Harold Reinhart and serve the Westminster Synagogue in Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge is a road which gives its name to an exclusive district lying to the west of central London. The road runs along the south side of Hyde Park, west from Hyde Park Corner, spanning the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
, London. He remained there until his retirement, upon which he was created Rabbi Emeritus. In 1993 he was awarded the Bundesverdienstkreuz
Bundesverdienstkreuz
The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany is the only general state decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has existed since 7 September 1951, and between 3,000 and 5,200 awards are given every year across all classes...
(the Order of Merit) from the German government and in 2001 he became the first overseas-born Rabbi to be awarded an OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
.
From 1975-1995 he was the Vice President for the World Union for Progressive Judaism
World Union for Progressive Judaism
The World Union for Progressive Judaism describes itself as the "international umbrella organization for the Reform, Liberal, Progressive and Reconstructionist movements." This overall Jewish religious movement is based in about 40 countries with more than 1,000 affiliated synagogues...
. He was chairman of the British branch of the World Conference of Religions for Peace (1990-94), committed to the Three Faiths Forum
Three Faiths Forum
The Three Faiths Forum is one of the UK’s leading interfaith organisations. For 14 years it has worked to encourage harmony and confront prejudice...
, and a president of the Council of Christians and Jews. He was also a lecturer at the Leo Baeck College
Leo Baeck College
Leo Baeck College is a rabbinical college and centre for Jewish education located in north London. As well as being the smallest academic college in England, it is also the largest Jewish Progressive University and Rabbinic College in Europe....
from 1967-71, before becoming Director of Studies 1971-1982 and then Dean from 1982-2004. Friedlander was involved in many interfaith dialogues, both nationally and internationally. He spent a particular amount of time in the land of his birth, as a guest professor at many German universities, as a speaker and teacher at the Evangelischen Kirchentage
Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag
The Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag is a movement of lay members of the Evangelical Church in Germany...
and Katholikentag
Katholikentag
Katholikentag is a festival-like gathering in German-speaking countries organized by the Roman Catholic laity. Katholikentag festivals occur approximately every 2–4 years in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.-History:...
e; and appeared regularly in various German media.
He died on 8 July 2004 in London, and is buried in the West London cemetery
Golders Green Jewish Cemetery
The Golders Green Jewish Cemetery is a Jewish cemetery in London. It is also known as Hoop Lane Jewish Cemetery. It is maintained by the West London Synagogue.-Location:...
at Hoop Lane, Golders Green, surrounded by friends and congregants.
Selected bibliography
- "Never Trust A God Over 30" (1967)
- Leo Baeck: Teacher Of Theresienstadt (1968), 1991, ISBN 0-87951-393-4
- Out Of The Whirlwind: A Reader Of Holocaust Literature (1968)
- The Six Days Of Destruction (with Elie WieselElie WieselSir Eliezer "Elie" Wiesel KBE; born September 30, 1928) is a Hungarian-born Jewish-American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate, and Holocaust survivor. He is the author of 57 books, including Night, a work based on his experiences as a prisoner in the Auschwitz, Buna, and...
, 1988) - A Thread Of Gold: Journeys Towards Reconciliation (1990)
- Riders Towards The Dawn: From Ultimate Suffering To Tempered Hope (1993)