Ben Friedman

A mensch of love, laughter, and learning, Ben Friedman's soul returned to G-d on Nov. 19th, 2014, on Mr. Friedman's 90th Birthday. Preceded in heaven by wife, Phyllis Friedman, and son Michael Friedman, Ben was a beloved father of Linda Pravda and husband Ralph Burdett, Janet Friedman and significant other Raymond Haynes, and Alice Friedman; and grandfather of Wendy Pravda and husband Dave Rosen, and Bryan Pravda. Ben was a loving father, an accomplished man, living a life of meaning, cherishing every moment to fulfill his purpose.

Born on the Lower East Side of NYC to Jean & Irving Friedman, and raised in Brooklyn, where he graduated from Boys High School in 1943, Ben earned his BBA in Accounting from CCNY in 1948; he immediately relocated to Houston to launch his business career. In the 1950's, he became a CPA and the VP/ General Manager of Superior Furniture Manufacturing Co., which grew from 25 to 140 employees and gained notoriety for briefly employing chimpanzees to construct furniture. In the '60's, Ben built 2,000 apartments in Houston and undertook several other real estate and banking ventures, and spearheaded the creation of Chabad of Texas. In the '70's, Ben shut down all business activities to research and study, so to devote his time to stopping the spread of Anti-Semitism; he authored and published “The Anguish of Father Rafti”, used in many theological seminaries. In the '80's, he moved to L.A. & founded the Committee of Concerned Christians, endorsed by 3,000 ministers & priests, who pledged to give a sermon on the Holocaust at least once a year; and, with the help of a grant, he distributed more than 500,000 copies of “The Diary of Anne Frank” to all middle schools in California, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, & Utah. Throughout his life, Ben was a distinguished interfaith pioneer, promoting the ideals of ecumenism and brotherhood. Of innumerable achievements to note, he founded 2 new Zionist organizations in the '50's, taught interfaith classes to non-Jews at Beth Yeshurun and confirmation classes to Jewish teens, originated and organized volunteers to visit the VA and other Houston Hospitals on Christmas Day, so that Jews could assume necessary duties to allow Christians to spend the day with their families, initiated visitations to Jewish inmates, established the Israel Day Festival in Houston, helped arrange Jewish Heritage Days at MLB Ballparks, spoke to more than 300 Christian groups on interfaith dialogue, assisted in finding jobs for new legal immigrants and was the only non-Catholic appointed by Pope John Paul II to a Papal Committee on Interfaith Relations. He received many awards, including the CCNY Insignium Award for forming 4 new organizations on campus, being named B'nai B'rith's 1971 Man of the Year, the CCNY Alumni Award for forming the South Texas Alumni where the served as President for 15 years, the Beverly Hills Lodge B'nai B'rith Akiba Award, and was named the 1997 Boys High School of NY Man of the Year. In addition to being a man of action and achievement, Friedman was well known for his positive attitude, levity, and humor. He always made funny comments and jokes, while greeting you with a smile, hug, and kiss.

In his book, Ben wrote, "...let your Neshuma (soul) be the real inspiration. You have a soul, you have a spirit, don't lock it in a box and forget it... Let's make this a better world... We dare not assume that the next century will have less hatred or murders than the past centuries. How can we? Are the weapons of tomorrow less harmful? Are the leaders more dependable? Are our peace treaties more durable? Are our ethics more honorable? Time is running out... We must hurry." In Deuteronomy 31:1-2, Moses declares, "Today my days and years were fulfilled; on this day I was born, and on this day I shall die." Rashi comments, "This is to teach us that G-d fulfills the years of the righteous to the day and to the month, as it is written (Exodus 23:26): 'I shall fulfill the number of your days.'" Ben Friedman was, indeed, a righteous and spiritual man, returning to G-d on the same day as his birth. May his memory be a blessing. In lieu of flowers, his family requests donations be made to the Jewish Federation of Houston,the Zionist Organization of America/ Hadassah, the Hebrew Free Loan Association, the Alzheimer's Foundation, or a charity of your choosing.

Please join us in honoring the life of Ben Friedman. Funeral services will be held at the Beth Yeshurun Post Oak Cemetery, 1037 N. Post Oak, off 610 & I-10, on Friday, November. 21 at 10AM. Rabbi Jack Segal and Rabbi Marcy Greene officiating.