Rabbi Rob Friedman
Rabbi Rob Friedman
Rabbi Rob (he/him) seeks to bring the vast and varied traditions of Judaism into the modern world. He works privately with individuals and families, and visits communities as a guest speaker, teacher, and ritual innovator.
Ritual Creator, Spiritual Counselor, Teacher
About Me
Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, I am a proud product of the Reform Movement. Over the course of my life, I have lived across the country and in Israel, attending college at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, graduate school in New York, and rabbinical school in Los Angeles. I have served at Congregation Beth Jacob in El Centro, CA, Temple Beth Torah in Ridgecrest, CA, and Beit T'Shuvah and Hillel 818 in LA. After being ordained in 2019, I proudly served as a Navy Chaplain in Great Lakes, IL.
I am an avid and lifelong baseball fan (Go Reds!!) and love to spend much of my free time with my wife and our wonderful dog, watching baseball, and visiting family.
![BF739B1B-7495-4C40-ACC7-CAA98572C26F04-29-2023 [Wedding] Lenette + Michael-1678.jpeg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/78ccaf_96a8c02e20024402bdfbdc4b6fd06c1a~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_457,h_450,fp_0.46_0.32,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/BF739B1B-7495-4C40-ACC7-CAA98572C26F04-29-2023%20%5BWedding%5D%20Lenette%20%2B%20Michael-1678.jpeg)
Rabbinic Offerings
CUSTOM RITUALS: We create ritual for times of transition. Whether it be our standard moments of the Jewish Life Cycle (weddings, baby namings, bet mitzvah, funerals, etc.) or because you are marking some other major transition in life, I would love to craft a ritual tailored specifically to your needs and desires. I have a long history of creating Jewishly-rooted rituals for specific moments, including the various events marking the life cycle of the military.
SPIRITUAL COUNSELING: Sometimes, life simply gets out of hand and we need to take some time to reflect and process what is going on. The teachings traditions of Judaism, though centuries or even millennia old, are filled with deep and rich concepts that are still applicable even in the 21st century. If you need to take a moment and process, I am hear to listen and see if there is anything our religion might be able to share. I am a skilled chaplain and counselor with thousands of hours of experience and would be blessed and honored to sit with you.
GUEST RABBI: If you are a synagogue or community that is looking for a Guest Rabbi to come and lead services, preach, or more, I would love to come and visit your community. Please contact me below to inquire on his availability.
TEACHING: I am able to speak and teach on addiction, Teshuvah/repentance, the intersecting history of Jews and Judaism, and other topics. For a full list of topics, please reach out down below.
RABBINIC/SERMON EDITING: I am a talented writer, thinker, and editor who brings an expert perspective to editing and sermon-writing. Whether you are looking for a grammatical-based proofread, a conversation on how your sermon flows, or something in between or more, I am happy to work with you on whatever it is you need.
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Life Cycles and Rituals
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Spiritual Counseling
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Other Services
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Guest Rabbi
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Teacher
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Sermon Editing
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For a list of full offerings and prices, click here
We feel incredibly fortunate to have met Rabbi Rob Friedman. Our journey to finding the right person to marry us was not without its challenges, and we spoke to three other rabbis before meeting Rob. None of them seemed to fully grasp or appreciate the complexities and beauty of our mixed religion marriage. But from the moment we connected with Rob, we knew we had found someone special.
Over the course of six months, Rob dedicated his time to truly getting to know us. Every month, he sat down with us to understand our story and help us build the kind of foundation that would strengthen our marriage. His approach was filled with empathy, patience, and sincerity. Rob took his role as our rabbi with the utmost seriousness while also creating a safe space where both Adela and I felt heard, respected, and supported.
His guidance was more than just spiritual—it was personal. Rob’s dedication to us, and his thoughtful work, helped us prepare for marriage in ways we didn’t even know we needed. We are both deeply grateful for how he has helped us begin our journey together, and we truly feel that his influence has laid the groundwork for a stronger and more meaningful marriage.
We couldn’t imagine this milestone without him, and now we can’t imagine our lives without him either. We look forward to keeping Rob close to us, not only as our rabbi but as a lifelong friend and confidant.
William and Adela
I cannot recommend Rob more highly as a sermon editor. Rob’s feedback has significantly strengthened and sharpened my sermons for several years without losing my authentic voice. He has a keen eye for structure and patterns, tone, what to omit or add in order to serve a strong message. Rob’s collaborative and encouraging style along with his attention to detail made me feel like I had an invested partner in my writing. Last year, I delivered the best sermons of my career, and Rob undoubtedly played a significant role.
Rabbi Lenette Goldman
Rabbi Rob Friedman is everything one could hope for in a rabbi and more. Kind, caring, empathetic, and deeply insightful, he has been a guiding light for our family through some of life’s most significant moments. During the pandemic, he officiated our wedding ceremony, creating an atmosphere of love, meaning, and connection despite the challenging circumstances. His warmth and thoughtfulness turned what could have been a difficult time into a beautiful and unforgettable beginning to our marriage. Rabbi Friedman’s ability to make each moment feel deeply personal and spiritually significant is a testament to his incredible heart and dedication to his community.
He has also been a source of immense comfort and guidance during times of loss and joy. After my mother passed away, Rabbi Friedman’s support during shiva was invaluable, providing solace and compassion while helping us honor her memory with dignity. More recently, he officiated our daughter’s baby naming at her first birthday, helping us select a Hebrew name that beautifully reflects her identity and connection to our Jewish heritage. The ceremony was heartfelt and meaningful, highlighting Rabbi Friedman’s talent for making each milestone feel truly special. We feel so grateful to have him as a part of our lives and are continually inspired by his wisdom, generosity, and unwavering support.
Marlee & Zach