Rabbi Manis Friedman

author, lecturer, counselor and philosopher

YouTube’s Most Popular Rabbi
Rabbi Manis Friedman is a world renowned author, lecturer, counselor and philosopher. He was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia in 1946, immigrated with his family to the United States in 1950, and received his rabbinic ordination from the Rabbinical College of Canada in 1969.
In 1971 Rabbi Friedman founded Bais Chana Institute of Jewish Studies in Minnesota, the world's first yeshiva exclusively for women, where he continues to serve as dean. From 1984-1990 he also served as real-time translator for the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s televised talks.

Rabbi Friedman’s first book, DOESN'T ANYONE BLUSH ANYMORE (Harper Collins, San Francisco 1990), has won worldwide acclaim and was translated to several languages. It is currently in its fifth printing. Rabbi Friedman is also the author of The Joy of Intimacy (It’s Good to Know Publishing, NY 2018), Who Needs You? (It’s Good to Know Publishing, NY 2020), a children’s book, and Creating a Life that Matters (It’s Good to Know Publishing NY 2021). In 2014 Rabbi Friedman together with Ricardo Adler, produced an award winning film The Lost Key, a documentary on intimacy and spirituality.

Rabbi Friedman has been featured in over 200 international print articles and interviewed on more than 50 television and radio talk shows, including CNN, A&E Reviews, PBS, BBC Worldwide, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Seventeen, Guideposts, Insight, and Publisher’s Weekly.

Rabbi Friedman’s speaking tours have taken him to every part of the United States as well as to Israel, England, The Netherlands, South Africa, Australia, Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, Canada, and Hong Kong. He is the rabbi who has the most views on YouTube, earning him the distinction of being YouTube’s most popular Rabbi.

Using both ancient wisdom and modern wit, Rabbi Friedman captivates audiences around the world. He hosted his own critically acclaimed cable television series, Torah Forum with Manis Friedman, syndicated throughout North America. Over 150,000 copies of his provocative yet entertaining tapes, both audio and video have been sold. In his very calm, yet super engaging style the Rabbi possesses the highly unique ability to simplify the most complex personal, public and political issues and bring his listeners to a place of enhanced serenity and moral clarity.

Visit Rabbi Friedman’s website www.itsgoodtoknow.org to get your questions answered and learn about ideas that change the world.