The son of immigrant parents, Friedman was born in New Haven, CT, in 1918. His strong and simple credo of loving Jews and taking care of them was driven home to him since infancy. When WWII broke out, the newly ordained Rabbi Friedman jumped at his chance to help, and enlisted as a Jewish Army Chaplain. Serving on the European theatre, Friedman sifted through the mud, cold and destruction of the war to console Jewish fighters. As the war ended, Friedman put his considerable skills and energy towards helping the terrorized survivors of Hitler's war against the Jews by influencing Generals to grant visas and supplies for the ""illegal immigration"" of Jews to Palestine. Upon his return to the United States, Friedman set the foundling and struggling new State of Israel in his sites. Serving as the CEO of the United Jewish Appeal, Rabbi Friedman utilized the resources of the UJA to set new standards for giving and to open new horizons for Jewish education. The dollars he generated gave desperate relief to Israel's immigration and social-welfare programs, while his educational programs formed the base for generations of dedicated and enlightened Jewish youth.