Barry Freundel

Who is Barry Freundel?

Bernard Freundel is the rabbi of Kesher Israel congregation in Washington DC, and a leading rabbi in the Modern Orthodox Jewish world. He is Vice-President of the Vaad of Washington and head of the conversion committee of the Rabbinical Council of America. Rabbi Freundel is regarded as a resource and authority on eruvim, and has assisted in their construction in a number of cities, including Washington.

A writer and lecturer, Rabbi Freundel addresses topics ranging from environmentalism to Jewish medical ethics. Popular among collegiates, he has served as a visiting scholar at Princeton, Yale and Cornell and guest lecturer at Columbia, University of Chicago and other universities. He is also an adjunct professor at several universities. Due to his congregation's proximity to The George Washington University, he has taught at and visited that institution with particular frequency. Similarly, his proximity to Capitol Hill has facilitated his participation in governmental affairs as a consultant and commentator.