Dr. Aron Freidenreich

Dr. Aron Freidenreich, Barrack Akiba, Class of 1997
Tanakh Teacher / Jewish Studies Teacher

Doctor of Philosophy, Old Testament, Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Master of Philosophy, Old Testament, Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Master of Arts, Near Eastern and Judaic Studies and Jewish Communal Service with a concentration in Jewish Education, Brandeis University
Bachelor of Arts, Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, Brandeis University

Additional Accomplishments
Participant, Tichon Program of the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem
Committee Member, Educational Resources and Review Committee of The Society of Biblical Literature (2006 - present)
Author of Mutual Influence in Priestly and Non-Priestly Pentateuchal Narratives (Mohr Siebeck, 2024)
Presenter: Society of Biblical Literature
Presenter: Wexner Fellowship Program
Presenter: Israel Institute for Advanced Studies at Hebrew University

About Aron
Aron Freidenreich teaches Tanakh as part of the Jewish studies department, bringing extensive scholarship and a passion for Jewish education to his students. He holds a Ph.D. and M.Phil. in Old Testament from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, as well as a Joint M.A. in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies and Jewish Communal Service with a concentration in Jewish Education from Brandeis University. He also earned his B.A., summa cum laude s in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandeis. Since beginning his teaching career in 2002 at Saligman Middle School (which was incorporated into Barrack in 2013), he has dedicated himself to fostering rigorous academic inquiry and meaningful Jewish learning.

Aron deeply values Barrack’s commitment to lived Jewish values, academic rigor, critical thinking, and strong teacher-student relationships. He finds fulfillment in guiding students through meaningful text study, helping them develop skills in careful reading, critical thinking, and exploring multiple perspectives. He is passionate about helping students connect with their traditions and heritage in a way that is both intellectually engaging and personally meaningful.

In addition to his teaching, Aron is an active scholar and participant in the broader academic community. His recent book, Mutual Influence in Priestly and Non-Priestly Pentateuchal Narratives (Mohr Siebeck, 2024), reflects his deep engagement with biblical studies. He has presented multiple papers at Society of Biblical Literature conferences, the Wexner Fellowship Program, the Israel Institute for Advanced Studies at Hebrew University, and local synagogues, including his recent talk, "Why I Love Teaching Secondary Education with My Bible Ph.D., and You Could Too." His background as a graduate of Akiba/Barrack, participant in the Alexander Muss High School in Israel experience, and teacher at Camp Ramah in the Poconos all contribute to his well-rounded approach to Jewish learning.