Attorney
Theodore H. Friedman embarked on his career in the legal arena following the completion of his studies at Harvard Law School. Still practicing today, Friedman enjoys a reputation as one of
New York's most talented trial lawyers, a distinction he leverages outside of the courtroom to spearhead a number of commendable charitable endeavors. Throughout his career, Theodore H. Friedman has always set time aside to take on pro-bono cases, both independently and in collaboration with colleagues who sought out his assistance. Friedman's philanthropic leanings also inspired him to become involved with The North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry (NACOEJ), a grassroots non-profit entity formed in 1982 that advocates on behalf of Ethiopian Jews in Africa and Israel.
The Jewish population in Ethiopia has long faced many challenges related to social standing and deeply ingrained racism. Most of Ethiopian Jews exist at the bottom of the country's socioeconomic ladder where education and healthcare are widely unavailable. With rampant famine, disease, and violence spreading across the land in the 1980s, The North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry dispatched 18 missions to remote villages and subsequently undertook two rescue missions dubbed Operation Moses and Operation Solomon. that successfully airlifted more than 60,000 Jews out of Ethiopia and into Israel.
When Theodore H. Friedman joined The North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry, 25,000 Jews still remained in Ethiopia existing in sub-standard conditions. Determined to raise awareness of their plight, Friedman lobbied vocally on behalf of the Ethiopians at home and overseas. Encouraging the Israeli government to grant the Ethiopians amnesty, he played a vital role in facilitating the migration of 3,000 from their homeland onto Israeli soil. Theodore H. Friedman remained actively within NACOEJ for many years after. To this end, he regularly spent 20 to 30 hours each week engrossed in volunteer projects to raise the organization's public profile.
