Longtime Summit Rabbi Wins 'Unity Achievement' Award For Activism Work

SUMMIT, NJ — Rabbi Avi Friedman of Congregation Ohr Shalom was recently recognized by The Union County Human Relations Commission for his work serving the Jewish community in Summit, as well as advocating for people with disabilities.

Friedman was one of 20 "outstanding" Union County residents to earn Unity Achievement Awards for dedicating their lives to strengthening their local communities. The winners were given their awards on Thursday, June 9 at Kean University's STEM Center in the Township of Union.

Read more: 20 'Outstanding' Union Co. Residents Honored By HR Commission

Friedman — a Detroit, Michigan native — told Patch that he just completed his 17th year working as a rabbi in Summit. He first started his work at the synagogue on July 1, 2005.

Prior to becoming a rabbi, Friedman earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in 1991 and his Master of Hebrew Letters in 1993 from the University of Judaism in Los Angeles.

Then in 1997, he was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York City.

His prior service included time spent as Assistant Rabbi at the Ahavath Achim Congregation in Atlanta, Georgia and as an instructor at various community high schools, as well as the Florence Melton School of Jewish Learning in Pittsburgh.

Just before coming to Summit, Friedman spent six years as the rabbi at the Tree of Life congregation in Pittsburgh. This synagogue made national headlines after a horrific mass shooting occurred there in 2018, where 11 congregants were killed at a Saturday morning Shabbat service.

The rabbi personally knew several of these worshippers, and he said the tragic incident "had a profound impact" on him.

"Horrible moments like that remind us of the importance of interfaith work," Friedman told Patch. "Other communities of faith reached out to the Jewish community and helped lift us up. When another group is inevitably the target of violence, we will be there for them."

"We all need to be there for each other — which is the essence of humanitarian work. We must constantly remind one another that our common humanity is far more important than any small differences among us," Friedman said.

After the Tree of Life shooting, as well as during other tragedies, the rabbi rallied his neighbors in a call for action.

For instance, when a shooting occurred at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, Friedman led Ohr Shalom congregants as they lined the walkway of the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge and came together for prayer services and to show support for the local Muslim community.

As the father of a son with Down syndrome, Friedman is also a fierce advocate for people with disabilities who confront daily issues of bias and prejudice where they live, work attend school and socialize.

"Advocacy for those with special needs is another cause that is near and dear to my heart," Friedman said. "It is simply another form of humanitarianism — seeing the humanity of someone who may be different."

Friedman said during his 17 years in Summit, his son has been "made to feel welcome by so many" and participates in programs through Summit's Department of Community Programs. He has also had jobs at The Connection and the Family Aquatic Center, in addition to working at Congregation Ohr Shalom.

"He has benefited greatly from the commitment to inclusion on the part of so many people and organizations," Friedman said. "I want other people with differences to have the same kinds of opportunities that he has enjoyed."

Friedman is also a prominent member of the Summit Interfaith Council, which he said has been a "very important" part of his experience in Summit and is one of the reasons why he loves the community.

"I was welcomed by my fellow clergy within weeks of arriving in Summit," Friedman said. "In addition to our monthly meetings and interfaith worship services, we have gone on retreats and worked together on important communal issues."

Friedman previously served as president of the Council, and he said he is proud of their work on creating fair housing, anti-racism education, care for the homeless and other causes.

Fostering an inclusive environment in his synagogue is something Friedman is deeply passionate about.

"We all have to remember that our common humanity is much more important than any differences we may have," Friedman said. "It's true for a single congregation, for a town like Summit, for a county like Union County and beyond. If we go into every interaction remembering that, then we will inevitably put into practice the golden rule of the Bible —'Love your neighbor as yourself (Lev. 19:18).'"

Friedman said he was surprised that he earned a Unity Achievement Award. He was aware that a past president of the synagogue, Maurice de Picciotto nominated him, but he figured Union County is a big place with a lot of people doing important work.

"I am honored, but also surprised," Friedman said.

You can check out the other winners of The Union County Human Relations Commission Unity Achievement Awards here.

Have a news tip? Email remy.samuels@patch.com.