On June 4th, HTC will honor HTC’s Rosh HaYeshiva Emeritus, Rabbi Avraham and Rebbetzin Tamar Friedman for their nearly 40 years of harbatzas haTorah in our Yeshiva. Talmidim across the globe know Rabbi Friedman (FYHS ’65) as a pillar of Torah for his Torah knowledge, simchas hachaim, and energetic love for every talmid. Rabbi Friedman helped lead HTC/Beis HaMidrash L’Torah in various roles for nearly four decades, including as a Rebbe and Mashgiach in Fasman Yeshiva High School, Beis Midrash Rebbe, Rosh Kollel, and most recently, as Rosh HaYeshiva from 2008-2021.
As a student in our Yeshiva, Rabbi Friedman studied under world-renowned talmidei chachamim, most notably the Novominsker Rebbe, Rav Yaakov Perlow ZT”L, and Rav Ahron Soloveitchik ZT”L. His parents, Joe and Charlotte Friedman A”H, were devoted lay leaders in Chicago for more than 50 years, with Mr. Friedman first attending Yeshiva High School in 1926 and later serving on the HTC ‘s Board of Directors for years. After his studies in HTC, Rabbi Friedman continued his learning in Israel and received semicha from Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg ZT”L and Rav Betzalel Zolty ZT”L. He also studied at Mosad Ha-Rav Kook and in the Mirrer Yeshiva under the guidance of Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz ZT”L and Rav Nachum Partzovitch ZT”L.
Rebbetzin Tamar Friedman is a dynamo in her own right. A master educator, Rebbetzin Friedman is a graduate of Michlalah - The Jerusalem College for Women, and received a Master of Science in School Administration from Northeastern University in Chicago. She served as member of the Hillel Torah North Suburban Day School administration from 1996 – 2021 after many years of teaching in the school’s Hebrew Department.
While dedicating their lives to teaching the next generation of Klal Yisrael, Rabbi and Rebbetzin Friedman raised a beautiful family of five children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They raised their children at the Yeshiva along with a special group of rebbeim and their families. “The Yeshiva was our life – both the talmidim and the rebbeim,” reminisces Rebbetzin Friedman.
Rabbi and Rebbetzin Friedman dedicated themselves to our Yeshiva. Now is our opportunity to express our appreciation to them by dedicating our Yeshiva’s Alumni & Friends Centennial Sefer Torah in their honor. The Torah will iy”H be presented at the Centennial Gala in June. We invite you to participate in this once-in-a-century opportunity to celebrate HTC’s 100 years and the great legacy of our Rosh HaYeshiva and Rebbetzin.