By Jeff Lipton
At a memorial service on Feb. 24, several hundred friends, family members and colleagues packed Congregation Beth Sholom in Lawrence to pay their respects to a man they called a true leader. "He was like a general, and we, in the congregation, were his people," said Mel Kahn, the rabbi's friend for 45 years. "His people believed whatever he said because he was a man of his word. He was a fantastic speech-giver and a very caring person."
Kahn recalled his visit to Israel with Friedman, who traveled there frequently, as the trip of a lifetime. "It was the best vacation I had," Kahn said. "He knew everyone in Israel."
Attorney Benjamin Brafman said he treasured his friendship with the rabbi for the past 20 years. "He was, in my judgment, one of the greatest men I will ever have the privilege of knowing in my lifetime," Brafman said. "He was a true gentleman, a scholar, a patriot and a wonderful friend of Israel. He enhanced the quality of life of all of us who are privileged to call him their friend."
Brafman said that when his father passed away, he sought guidance from Friedman. "I have often looked to Rabbi Friedman to fill the terrible void in my own life," he said.
One of the rabbi's crowning achievements occurred in October 1984, when Reagan addressed the temple's congregation a week before he would be re-elected. Friedman then hosted Reagan for lunch at his home, which may have been the first time a sitting president had lunch at the home of a rabbi. Those who know Friedman said the president's visit spoke volumes about the rabbi's influence and prestige.
Reagan was only the second sitting president to visit a synagogue, and the first since George Washington visited the Touro Synagogue in Rhode Island in 1791.
When Reagan died last June, Friedman and Temple Hillel held a memorial service, and Friedman read the speech Reagan had made to the North Woodmere congregation 20 years earlier.
"[Because of Friedman] Temple Hillel stands foremost on the map and geography of Jewish life," said Saul Teplitz, rabbi emeritus of Congregation Sons of Israel in Woodmere, who called Friedman one of his closest friends. "He was able to make Temple Hillel a prominent congregation in the country."
"It is a sad day for the Jewish people and his loving family," said Congregation Beth Sholom Rabbi Kenneth Hain, who led the memorial service. "Morris Friedman was larger than life and meant so much to so many people. Today is the day we hoped would not come. Many rabbis are revered, many are admired, but very few are all those and also loved. Morris Friedman was loved by a community and the world Jewry. He thrived in the rabbinate."
Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum of the Orthodox Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst said that when he arrived in the area, Friedman took him under his wing and made him feel comfortable.
Friedman arrived on Long Island in 1950, becoming spiritual leader of Congregation Beth David in Lynbrook. He moved to Temple Hillel in 1963, where he remained the principal rabbi until his retirement on July 1, 1996. For the past nine years he served as the temple's rabbi emeritus. He was also a past president of the New York Board of Rabbis and chairman of the United Jewish Appeal-Federation.
Steven Kline, the temple's president, who knew Friedman for 27 years, said he brought "an aura of excitement, class and passion to all issues of the day. He was one of a kind. He was special. He was charismatic and had great love for his family, his congregation and the state of Israel."
Temple Hillel Rabbi Steven M. Graber said that Friedman "established Camelot in Valley Stream and the Five Towns. He created an atmosphere filled with energy. His legacy will live forever." Graber said that Friedman was instrumental in the donation of some 40 ambulances to Israel, and was responsible for the renovation of the synagogue. "He had a huge network of contacts, both religious and political," Graber said.
In addition to his congregation and Israel, Friedman's greatest love was for his family, mourners said. "For the last nine and a half weeks of his life, he fought for his life with such courage and such dignity," said his son David, who spoke at the service. "He fought so hard so that he could return to his beloved family."
"The vision of you as a father and husband will remain in me," said Mark, his oldest son. "His greatest pleasure was giving to Mommy and us. Most of all he loved Mom, he honored her and revered her. He taught us how to be loving spouses."
The oldest of Friedman's 13 grandchildren, Sarah, remembered her grandfather's love and strength. "Everyone knew him in different roles," said Sarah. "As granddaughter, I saw his best role. His love was a really warm blanket that you could wrap yourself in. I have had a hard time reconciling the images of the past to the frail man he had become. How could such a robust person be contained in a weak body?"
"He always wanted us to be strong," said another granddaughter, Ariela. "When I think of you, I think of strength. We were always so proud to sit next to him on the bimah."
Friedman is survived by his wife, Adelaide; David and his wife, Tammy; Mark and his wife, Ellen; his daughter, Naomi Wolinsky, and her husband, Steven; grandchildren Daniel, Jacob, Aliza, Talya, Benjamin, Davida, Ariela, Yael, Yoseph, Aryeh, Katie, Sara and Becky; and great-grandchildren Kobi, Avrami, Tani, Eliora, Michael and Shlomo.
Following the services at Congregation Beth Sholom, the funeral procession made a brief stop at Temple Hillel before Friedman was buried at New Montefiore Cemetery.
Comments about this story? JLipton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 204.
