Albert Hoschander FriedlanderOBE (10 May 1927 – 8 July 2004) was a German-Americanrabbi and professor who became the Rabbi Emeritus of theWestminster Synagogue in London.

Friedlander was born in Berlin. He and his family escaped Germany afterKristallnacht sailing toCuba on the last boat to land before theMSSt. Louis. He graduated from theUniversity of Chicago and entered theHebrew Union College in Cincinnati. He was ordained as a rabbi in 1952. From 1956 to 1961, he served as Rabbi for Temple B'nai B'rith, inWilkes-Barre,Pennsylvania.^[1] He also taught part-time atWilkes College. Friedlander then earned his Ph.D. in theology fromColumbia University^[2][3] and became involved in thecivil rights movement.^[4] In 1966, he moved to London, and became the rabbi of Wembley Liberal Synagogue while also lecturing atLeo Baeck College. In 1971, he became the rabbi forWestminster Synagogue. He became the Director of Studies at Leo Baeck from 1971 to 1982 and then served as Dean from 1982 to 2004. From 1975 to 1995, he was the Vice President for theWorld Union for Progressive Judaism.

Friedlander returned to Germany as a guest lecturer and speaker. In 1993, he was awarded the GermanBundesverdienstkreuz First Class (Order of Merit) and, in 2001, he became the first overseas-born Rabbi to be appointed by the Queen to theOrder of the British Empire (OBE).^[5]

Albert Friedlander was born on 10 May 1927 inBerlin, the son of a textile broker, Alex Friedlander (d. 1956) and Sali Friedlander (d. 1965).

Friedlander and his family remained in Germany until 1939, spendingKristallnacht hiding in the home of Christian friends in the suburbs.^[6] The family sailed toCuba, and were on the last boat allowed to land before theMSSt. Louis was sent away.^[7] The three Friedlander children: Albert, his twin Charles, and their sister Dorrit, were sent to separate foster homes in Mississippi. Their parents had to remain in Cuba until their visa numbers came up in the quota system. Eventually the family was reunited inVicksburg, Mississippi.^[7]

Friedlander graduated from Carr Central High School, Vicksburg in 1944, at the age of 16, and was accepted immediately by theUniversity of Chicago. While studying at college, he was also gaining a reputation as a long-distance runner.^[7] He had been a champion in Mississippi, and was able to run the mile in 4 minutes 30 seconds.^[8] The U of C coach suggested that he try out for the 1948 Olympic team, but he decided to concentrate on his studies instead, having made up his mind to enter rabbinic school upon gaining his bachelor's degree.^[9] At the age of 18, Friedlander graduated from college and enteredHebrew Union College in Cincinnati to begin his path to the rabbinate. He was ordained with the class of 1952. While still at rabbinical school, he was part of the first group of students that took part in theNational Federation of Temple Youth camps in Wisconsin, and remained committed to NFTY throughout his career.

From 1956 to 1961, he served as Rabbi for Temple B'nai B'rith, a Reform synagogue founded in 1845 and located inWilkes-Barre,Pennsylvania.^[1] During his tenure there he also served as a part-time faculty member forWilkes College (now university).

He then left for a position as advisor to Jewish students atColumbia University in New York City, where he gained a Ph.D. in theology, writing on the work of RabbiLeo Baeck.^[2][3] He also became very involved in the fight forcivil rights, taking his students down to Memphis to march with Dr.Martin Luther King Jr.^[4]

In 1966, he moved with his family to London, to become the rabbi of Wembley Liberal Synagogue. In 1971, he was invited to follow Rabbi Harold Reinhart and serve theWestminster Synagogue inKnightsbridge, London. He remained there until his retirement, upon which he was created Rabbi Emeritus.

He was also a lecturer at theLeo Baeck College from 1967 to 1971, before becoming Director of Studies from 1971 to 1982 and then Dean from 1982 to 2004. From 1975 to 1995 he was the Vice President for theWorld Union for Progressive Judaism. He was chairman of the British branch of theWorld Conference of Religions for Peace (1990–94), committed to theThree Faiths Forum, and a president of theCouncil of Christians and Jews.^[10]

Friedlander was involved in many interfaith dialogues, both nationally and internationally.^[5] He returned to Germany a number of times, as a guest professor at many German universities, as a speaker and teacher at theEvangelischen Kirchentage andKatholikentage and he also appeared regularly in various German media.

In 1993, he was awarded theBundesverdienstkreuz First Class (the Order of Merit) from the German government and, in 2001, he became the first overseas-born Rabbi to be appointed to theOrder of the British Empire (OBE).^[5]

In 1961, he married Evelyn Friedlander and had three children: Ariel (who also became a rabbi),^[11]Michal, and Noam. His sister, Dorrit Friedlander, died 11 years after his death and lies buried in Appleton, Wisconsin. His wife, Evelyn, died in October in 2019, after a long illness.^[12]

He died on 8 July 2004 in London, and is buried in theWest London cemetery at Hoop Lane, Golders Green, surrounded by friends and congregants.

• "Never Trust A God Over 30" (1967)^[13][14]
• Leo Baeck: Teacher Of Theresienstadt (1968), 1991,ISBN 0-87951-393-4^[15][16]
• Out Of The Whirlwind: A Reader Of Holocaust Literature (1968)^[17]
• The Six Days Of Destruction (withElie Wiesel, 1988)^[18]
• A Thread Of Gold: Journeys Towards Reconciliation (1990)^[19]
• Riders Towards The Dawn: From Ultimate Suffering To Tempered Hope (1993)^[20]
• The Five Scrolls: (with Herbert N Bronstein, 1984)^[21]

• Independent obituary by Rabbi Lionel Blue
• Guardian obituary
• Guardian appreciation by Hella Pick
• The Times obituary^{[dead link]}
• European Judaism obituary by Rabbi Jonathan Magonet

• 1927 births
• 2004 deaths
• 20th-century American rabbis
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• Honorary officers of the Order of the British Empire
• Jewish emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United States
• Emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United States
• Officers Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
• Officers of the Order of the British Empire
• People associated with Leo Baeck College
• Rabbis from Berlin
• Rabbis from Cincinnati
• Rabbis from London
• Wilkes University faculty
• University of Chicago alumni

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