“To My Dear Patients,
It is with mixed emotions of both anticipation for an exciting future and nostalgic feelings for a wonderful past that I write to notify you that as of September 18, 2024, I will be moving to Israel to join my children and grandchildren who are already living there…
I thank you for the privilege of caring for you over the years and wish you many good years of health and happiness together with your children and extended families.
Fondly,
Dr. Howard Friedman, Washington Avenue Pediatrics
Thus Dr. Friedman bids farewell to the Bergen County community where he has served as a dedicated pediatrician for close to 35 years. Beginning as a solo practitioner in Dumont, he expanded in 2010 to a practice of six pediatricians on Washington Avenue in Bergenfield. Leaving his partner Dr. Weiss at the helm, Friedman is confident that the care and compassion that was always extended to his patients and their families will flourish and continue for many years to come.
Throughout their many years in Teaneck, Dr. Howard and Paula Friedman and family, including three daughters and one son, were frequent travelers to Israel. Six years ago, Rachel Friedman, the oldest of their three daughters, made aliyah to Ramat Beit Shemesh with her family where she serves as a guidance counselor at the Tiferet gap year program. Following her was their second daughter Ariella Lustiger and family who works as an occupational therapist as well as founder of Camp Kesher V’Kef in Neve Dekalim. Third sister Dr. Aliza Kreitman and family joined her sisters in Ramat Beit Shemesh and practices dentistry in Efrat.
In anticipation of their move, the Friedmans purchased a lovely apartment in Baka where they have spent many of the chagim over the past five years. Asked why they are making the big move currently, Dr. Friedman explained that while he is still working and can contribute his experience and skills to Israeli society, he feels that now is the right time to be making aliyah. He is grateful for the seamless process he underwent through the MEDEX Program of Nefesh B’Nefesh. Upon his arrival in Israel as an oleh he will be granted his medical license along with his official teudat zehut, Israeli identity number.
Friedman explains that he will then be required to complete three months of observation and hatama, completion, to obtain his board certification. Over the Pesach holiday, he completed one month at the pediatric department of Shaarei Tzedek Hospital in Jerusalem where he was welcomed warmly and worked closely with Dr. Yechiel Shlesinger, head of the pediatric division, as well as Drs. Moti Erlichman and Giora Weiser. He looks forward to two additional months during which he hopes to become familiar with the Israeli methods of pediatric practice.
As part of his future Israeli practice, Friedman also hopes to serve Americans who are visiting or studying there. Over the course of the year, he also hopes to return to his Bergenfield practice for the months of January, July and August, to treat his local patients from newborn through college.
When asked for a message to the community, Dr. Friedman responded, “Many thanks to the community for all of our wonderful personal and professional experiences. We are grateful for the opportunity you granted us to serve your children and grandchildren. Making aliyah is always a challenge but should always be a goal. We wish our community here in Teaneck to always make Israel a priority in their lives regardless of where they reside.”
