Rabbi Avidan Freedman

Avidan grew up in Montreal, Quebec. After high school, he spent two years studying in Israel at Yeshivat Har Etzion, received a BA from Yeshiva University, and an MA in Jewish Education at the Azrieli Graduate School. Avidan was active in Bnei Akiva, the Religious Zionist youth movement, working in the national office as National Programs Director and National Education Director. After receiving his semicha from YCT, Avidan taught at SAR High School for three years, and then made aliyah with his family in 2010.

Avidan has been teaching at the Hartman Institute’s boys’ high school, since 2010 and at Hevruta, Hartman’s gap year program, since 2013. Avidan founded and directs Yanshoof, an organization that advocates for moral limits on Israel’s weapon sales, and he was active in the protest movement against judicial reform.  His writing has been published in the Jewish Week, Haaretz, the Jerusalem Post, the Times of Israel, NRG, Srugim, Kipa, Makor Rishon, and Arutz Sheva.