Moshe Aryeh Friedman (born 1972 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York City), currently living in Antwerp, Belgium, is a practicing Haredi Jew.
When speaking to the media, he introduces himself as "Rabbi Moshe Friedman", but his status as rabbi has been questioned and challenged by the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, Yona Metzger. Friedman opposes Zionism, and therefore does not recognize Rabbi Metzger's authority. Friedman's views are somewhat close to the Satmar Hasidic group, but he is not affiliated with them. Officials of the Austrian Jewish community claim that he has not proven that he has completed the rabbinical studies required to earn the title, and he was actually expelled from the Board of the Vienna Jewish Community.[1] The Central Israelite Consistory of Belgium, in 2014, also stated that he has no right to bear the title "Rabbi" in Belgium.[2]
In 2006, Friedman participated in the International Conference to Review the Global Vision of the Holocaust, stating: "I am not a denier of the Holocaust, but I think it is legitimate to cast doubt on some statistics."[3] He said that the figure of 6 million deaths during the Holocaust was from a prophecy made before World War II, and that the actual figure was closer to one million.[4]
Friedman's children were expelled from the Talmud Torah school in Austria, where the family lived.[5] He said it was because of his participation in the Holocaust conference; the school said its fees were not paid.[6] After being banned from the Jewish community in Austria in 2007,[7][8] he moved to New York City.[9][10]
In 2011, his family moved to Antwerp. Because no schools would admit his children, he sued, and in 2012, the court ordered a Jewish school for girls to admit his two sons, or face heavy fines.[10][11] In February 2013, the Court of Appeals reversed the trial court.[12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ * "The Strange Case of Mosheh Friedman". Jewish Federation of Dutchess County. 29 December 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ "Joodse Palestina-activist misbruikt titel van Rabbijn" (in Dutch). Joods Actueel. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- ^ Fathi, Nazila. "Israel Fading, Iran's Leader Tells Deniers Of Holocaust", The New York Times, 13 December 2006. Retrieved 27 February 2008.
- ^ Robert Tait (11 December 2006). "Holocaust deniers gather in Iran for "scientific" conference". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
- ^ "Rabbi Friedman's Complaint". The Vienna Review. 1 March 2007. Archived from the original on 2 July 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
- ^ Liphshiz, Cnaan. "In Antwerp, a Haredi pariah forces school to go coed". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Archived from the original on 13 March 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ^ "Jewish Sect Ostracized Over Iran Meeting". The Washington Post. 27 January 2007. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
- ^ "Vienna Jewish community bars rabbi who attended Iran Holocaust conference". European Jewish Press. 17 January 2007. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
- ^ "'A'jad pal' rabbi a deadbeat". New York Post. 4 December 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
- ^ a b Antwerp girls' school forced to admit boys – Israel Jewish Scene, Ynetnews. Ynetnews.
- ^ JTA (29 December 2012). "Antwerp Jewish Girls School Forced to Admit Holocaust Denier's Boys or Pay Fine". Jewish Press. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
- ^ "Zaak schoolkinderen Friedman, Hof van Beroep stelt school in het gelijk". Joods Actueel (in Dutch). 6 February 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
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