Manis Friedman (full name: Menachem Manis HaKohen Friedman, Hebrew: מנחם מניס הכהן פרידמן; born 1946) is a Hassid, rabbi, author, social philosopher and public speaker. He is also the dean of the Bais Chana Institute of Jewish Studies. Friedman authored Doesn't Anyone Blush Anymore?, which was published in 1990 and is currently in its fourth printing. He is featured in the documentary films: The Lost Key (2014), The Jewish Journey: America (2015), and "Patterns of Evidences" (2017).
Born in Prague, Czechoslovakia in 1946, Friedman immigrated with his family to the United States in 1951. He received his rabbinic ordination at the Rabbinical College of Canada in 1969.
Activities
In 1971, inspired by the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Friedman as a shaliach ("emissary") cofounded the Bais Chana Women International, an Institute for Jewish Studies in Minnesota for women with little or no formal Jewish education.[1] He has served as the school's dean since its inception. From 1984 to 1990, he served as the simultaneous translator for a series of televised talks by the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Friedman briefly served as senior translator for Jewish Educational Media, Inc.[2]
Friedman has lectured in cities throughout the US, as well as London, Hong Kong, Cape Town, and Johannesburg in South Africa, Melbourne and Sydney in Australia, and a number of South and Central American cities.[citation needed] In the wake of the natural disasters in 2004 and 2005, Friedman authored a practical guide to help rescue and relief workers properly understand and deal with the needs of Jewish survivors.[citation needed]
Friedman is the most popular rabbi on YouTube, with over 190,000 subscribers as of March 2022.[3]
Though not extensively published in book form, Friedman's teachings have been cited by many authors writing on various secular issues as well as on exclusively Jewish topics.
Friedman has been quoted in:
Shmuley Boteach, The Private Adam (2005) and Dating Secrets of the Ten Commandments (2001)
Barbara Becker Holstein, Enchanted Self: A Positive Therapy (1997)
Angela Payne, Living Every Single Moment: Embrace Your Purpose Now (2004)
Sylvia Barack Fishman, A Breath of Life: Feminism in the American Jewish Community (1995)
In their autobiographies, Playing with Fire: One Woman's Remarkable Odyssey by Tova Mordechai (1991) and Shanda: The Making and Breaking of a Self-Loathing Jew by Neal Karlen (2004), the authors ascribe Friedman a role in their increasing religiosity.
Views on love, marriage and femininity
Two types of love
According to Friedman, the love between spouses must overcome the differences between the two parties, generating greater intensity in the relationship. By contrast the love between other family members are predicated upon the commonness the two parties share. Friedman further states that husband and wife, male and female, in essence always remain strangers; for this reason the acquired love in the relationship is never entirely consistent.[6]
Fidelity
On fidelity in marriage, Friedman is quoted stating "If you help yourself to the benefits of being married when you are single, you're likely to help yourself to the benefits of being single when you're married."[7]
Femininity
Sociologist Lynn Davidman interviewed a number of students studying under Friedman in 1983. She quotes Friedman saying that a woman "violates herself" if she were to refrain from having children and that birth control is a "violent violation of a woman's being". Friedman insisted that the teenage angst experienced by girls stems from the fact that they are already biologically and psychologically ready for marriage but their urges are held back; he believes that girls should optimally get married at the age of fourteen. According to Davidman, Friedman's position on femininity differed entirely from the values of his students.[8]
Controversies
On the Israeli-Arab conflict
Friedman has claimed that the moral way to fight a war is to "Destroy their holy sites. Kill men, women and children (and cattle)," and that if Israel followed this wisdom from the Bible, there would be "no civilian casualties, no children in the line of fire, no false sense of righteousness, in fact, no war." After receiving criticism Friedman clarified that "any neighbor of the Jewish people should be treated, as the Torah commands us, with respect and compassion." Friedman later clarified that when he was quoting from the Torah he was not advocating to actually kill anyone, rather if Israel would threaten to do these things, it would scare its enemies and prevent war.[9]
On victims of pedophilia
Friedman was quoted that survivors of child sexual abuse are not as deeply damaged as some claim and should learn to overcome their traumatic experiences. Friedman's comments were received poorly by advocates who saw his statements as trivialising the experiences of the victims.[10][11][12][13] Friedman subsequently issued an apology for the offensive remarks.[14][15]
On victims of the holocaust
According to the Australian Jewish News, Friedman, in a speech in the 1980s, framed the holocaust as part of a divine plan. Friedman reportedly stated “Who in fact died and who remained alive had nothing to do with the Nazis,” and “not a single Jewish child died because of the Nazis … they died in their relationship with God.” According to the paper, Friedman's statements were not well received by local holocaust survivors.[16]
Revocation of Status as a Chabad Shaliach (Emissary)
After many controversial comments and unorthodox views expressed by Friedman, Chabad released a statement saying: "Rabbi Friedman was not a Chabad emissary, as reported, but a Minnesota-based teacher who did not speak for Chabad."[17]
^"Find-A-Kohen Listing". kehuna.org. 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
^IPC Media. 1996-2010. ". NME. Archived from the original on July 2, 2010. Retrieved May 26, 2010.
^Lyman, Bari. Meet to Marry: A Dating Revelation for the Marriage-Minded 2014-05-23 at the Wayback Machine. Health Communications, Inc. 2011. Accessed May 23, 2014.
^Fishman, Sylvia Barack. A Breath of Life: Feminism in the American Jewish Community 2014-05-23 at the Wayback Machine. UPNE. 1995. Accessed May 23, 2014.
^"Rabbi Manis Friedman, who downplayed damage caused by sexual abuse, apologizes [VIDEO]". Jewish Journal. January 31, 2013.
^Jacks, Timna. "Survivors' outrage over US rabbi". ajn.timesofisrael.com.
^"Rabbi apologises for remarks on sex abuse". theage.com.au.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Manis Friedman.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Manis Friedman.
Official website
A collection of articles and audio classes by Rabbi Manis Friedman
Ongoing series of lectures in video and audio form
Official YouTube Channel
January 07, 2023
manis, friedman, full, name, menachem, manis, hakohen, friedman, hebrew, מנחם, מניס, הכהן, פרידמן, born, 1946, hassid, rabbi, author, social, philosopher, public, speaker, also, dean, bais, chana, institute, jewish, studies, friedman, authored, doesn, anyone, . Manis Friedman full name Menachem Manis HaKohen Friedman Hebrew מנחם מניס הכהן פרידמן born 1946 is a Hassid rabbi author social philosopher and public speaker He is also the dean of the Bais Chana Institute of Jewish Studies Friedman authored Doesn t Anyone Blush Anymore which was published in 1990 and is currently in its fourth printing He is featured in the documentary films The Lost Key 2014 The Jewish Journey America 2015 and Patterns of Evidences 2017 Manis FriedmanRabbi Manis Friedman in 2009BornMenachem Manis HaKohen Friedman 1946 02 14 February 14 1946 age 76 Prague CzechoslovakiaOccupation s Rabbi Dean of Bais Chana Women InternationalKnown forDoesn t Anyone Blush Anymore Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Activities 1 2 Family 2 Teachings 2 1 Views on love marriage and femininity 2 1 1 Two types of love 2 1 2 Fidelity 2 1 3 Femininity 3 Controversies 3 1 On the Israeli Arab conflict 3 2 On victims of pedophilia 3 3 On victims of the holocaust 3 4 Revocation of Status as a Chabad Shaliach Emissary 4 Published works 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksBiography EditBorn in Prague Czechoslovakia in 1946 Friedman immigrated with his family to the United States in 1951 He received his rabbinic ordination at the Rabbinical College of Canada in 1969 Activities Edit In 1971 inspired by the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Friedman as a shaliach emissary cofounded the Bais Chana Women International an Institute for Jewish Studies in Minnesota for women with little or no formal Jewish education 1 He has served as the school s dean since its inception From 1984 to 1990 he served as the simultaneous translator for a series of televised talks by the Lubavitcher Rebbe Friedman briefly served as senior translator for Jewish Educational Media Inc 2 Friedman has lectured in cities throughout the US as well as London Hong Kong Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa Melbourne and Sydney in Australia and a number of South and Central American cities citation needed In the wake of the natural disasters in 2004 and 2005 Friedman authored a practical guide to help rescue and relief workers properly understand and deal with the needs of Jewish survivors citation needed Friedman is the most popular rabbi on YouTube with over 190 000 subscribers as of March 2022 3 Family Edit Manis Friedman is a Kohen 4 He is the brother of the Jewish singer Avraham Fried 5 and father of contemporary Jewish religious music vocalist Benny Friedman Teachings EditThough not extensively published in book form Friedman s teachings have been cited by many authors writing on various secular issues as well as on exclusively Jewish topics Friedman has been quoted in Shmuley Boteach The Private Adam 2005 and Dating Secrets of the Ten Commandments 2001 Barbara Becker Holstein Enchanted Self A Positive Therapy 1997 Angela Payne Living Every Single Moment Embrace Your Purpose Now 2004 Sylvia Barack Fishman A Breath of Life Feminism in the American Jewish Community 1995 In their autobiographies Playing with Fire One Woman s Remarkable Odyssey by Tova Mordechai 1991 and Shanda The Making and Breaking of a Self Loathing Jew by Neal Karlen 2004 the authors ascribe Friedman a role in their increasing religiosity Views on love marriage and femininity Edit Two types of love Edit According to Friedman the love between spouses must overcome the differences between the two parties generating greater intensity in the relationship By contrast the love between other family members are predicated upon the commonness the two parties share Friedman further states that husband and wife male and female in essence always remain strangers for this reason the acquired love in the relationship is never entirely consistent 6 Fidelity Edit On fidelity in marriage Friedman is quoted stating If you help yourself to the benefits of being married when you are single you re likely to help yourself to the benefits of being single when you re married 7 Femininity Edit Sociologist Lynn Davidman interviewed a number of students studying under Friedman in 1983 She quotes Friedman saying that a woman violates herself if she were to refrain from having children and that birth control is a violent violation of a woman s being Friedman insisted that the teenage angst experienced by girls stems from the fact that they are already biologically and psychologically ready for marriage but their urges are held back he believes that girls should optimally get married at the age of fourteen According to Davidman Friedman s position on femininity differed entirely from the values of his students 8 Controversies EditOn the Israeli Arab conflict Edit Friedman has claimed that the moral way to fight a war is to Destroy their holy sites Kill men women and children and cattle and that if Israel followed this wisdom from the Bible there would be no civilian casualties no children in the line of fire no false sense of righteousness in fact no war After receiving criticism Friedman clarified that any neighbor of the Jewish people should be treated as the Torah commands us with respect and compassion Friedman later clarified that when he was quoting from the Torah he was not advocating to actually kill anyone rather if Israel would threaten to do these things it would scare its enemies and prevent war 9 On victims of pedophilia Edit Friedman was quoted that survivors of child sexual abuse are not as deeply damaged as some claim and should learn to overcome their traumatic experiences Friedman s comments were received poorly by advocates who saw his statements as trivialising the experiences of the victims 10 11 12 13 Friedman subsequently issued an apology for the offensive remarks 14 15 On victims of the holocaust Edit According to the Australian Jewish News Friedman in a speech in the 1980s framed the holocaust as part of a divine plan Friedman reportedly stated Who in fact died and who remained alive had nothing to do with the Nazis and not a single Jewish child died because of the Nazis they died in their relationship with God According to the paper Friedman s statements were not well received by local holocaust survivors 16 Revocation of Status as a Chabad Shaliach Emissary Edit After many controversial comments and unorthodox views expressed by Friedman Chabad released a statement saying Rabbi Friedman was not a Chabad emissary as reported but a Minnesota based teacher who did not speak for Chabad 17 Published works EditDoesn t Anyone Blush Anymore Reclaiming Modesty Intimacy and Sexuality The Relief and Rescue Workers Guide to Judaism a Rescue Workers Handbook The Joy of Intimacy A Soulful Guide to Love Sexuality amp MarriageSee also EditSimon Jacobson Tzvi FreemanReferences Edit Bais Chana 2005 2010 Bais Chana International Extraordinary Jewish Learning About Us Archived from the original on 2010 05 04 Retrieved 2010 05 26 Jewish Educational Media BETA Jewish Educational Media BETA Meaningful People Rabbi Manis Friedman meaningfulpeoplepodcast libsyn com 2021 Find A Kohen Listing kehuna org 2013 Retrieved 5 August 2015 IPC Media 1996 2010 Avraham Fried Biography NME Archived from the original on July 2 2010 Retrieved May 26 2010 Lyman Bari Meet to Marry A Dating Revelation for the Marriage Minded Archived 2014 05 23 at the Wayback Machine Health Communications Inc 2011 Accessed May 23 2014 Fishman Sylvia Barack A Breath of Life Feminism in the American Jewish Community Archived 2014 05 23 at the Wayback Machine UPNE 1995 Accessed May 23 2014 Davidman Lynn 1993 Tradition in a Rootless World San Francisco CA University of California Press ISBN 0 520 07545 5 162 166 Chabad rabbi Jews should kill Arab men women and children during war Haaretz Call for apology as Rabbi Manis Friedman likens child abuse to diarrhoea The Australian Rabbi Manis Friedman Sex Abuse SBS World News Shock at Rabbi trivialising child sexual molestation www abc net au February 1 2013 Chabad rabbi sorry for inappropriate remark on molestation February 1 2013 Haaretz Rabbi Manis Friedman who downplayed damage caused by sexual abuse apologizes VIDEO Jewish Journal January 31 2013 Jacks Timna Survivors outrage over US rabbi ajn timesofisrael com Rabbi apologises for remarks on sex abuse theage com au External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Manis Friedman Wikiquote has quotations related to Manis Friedman Official website A collection of articles and audio classes by Rabbi Manis Friedman Ongoing series of lectures in video and audio form Official YouTube Channel Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Manis Friedman amp oldid 1113254896, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
