Harvard Hillel Places Orthodox Rabbi and Educator on Administrative Leave | News

Harvard Hillel’s Orthodox rabbi, Ethan S.H. Fried ’16, and his wife, Bella Fried, were placed on administrative leave Friday pending an investigation, according to messages obtained by The Crimson — a move that surprised many Orthodox Jewish students and leaves Hillel without a designated Orthodox rabbi.

The decision was announced less than four hours before the start of Shabbat in a Hillel WhatsApp chat for Orthodox students, without advance notice. Hillel leadership did not disclose the reason for the leave, which took effect immediately.

Jason B. Rubenstein ’04, executive director of Harvard Hillel, confirmed both had been placed on leave and said law enforcement was not involved “at present,” but declined to comment further, citing personnel matters.

In an emailed statement, Rubenstein wrote that “Harvard Hillel is unwaveringly committed to supporting Orthodox students and Harvard’s Orthodox community.”

“I hope students know that my top priority right now is to support them through this difficult moment, including doing everything in my power to arrange for Orthodox Rabbinic leadership at Harvard Hillel in the coming semester and beyond,” he wrote.

Ethan and Bella Fried’s leave leaves Hillel’s Orthodox Jewish students without a designated rabbi, though other staff members — including an Orthodox female educator — remain available.

The husband-wife duo was hired in August to fill a vacancy created when the previous Orthodox rabbi, Noah Marlowe, departed for another position. Ethan Fried served as a teacher, worship leader, and advisor to Orthodox students, while Bella Fried advised students in a part-time role.

Though the couple was placed on administrative leave simultaneously, they were employed by Hillel in separate roles.

Ethan and Bella Fried did not respond to repeated requests for comment about their leave. According to two people familiar with the matter — who were granted anonymity to discuss confidential proceedings — Ethan Fried may pursue legal action against Hillel, though no lawsuit had been filed as of Monday morning.

Multiple students said that they were surprised by the decision to place the Frieds on leave.

Abraham N. “Abe” Kohl ’28, who is the Hillel social chair, said he was frustrated that students had not been consulted in advance.

“When he sent the text in our chat, my immediate response was, ‘why weren’t the students notified about this?’” he said, referring to Rubenstein.

Rubenstein wrote in a statement that he told a small group of students Friday night that he was balancing several priorities, including continuity of staff, transparency, student involvement, and coordinating staff transitions with the academic calendar.

But he added that Hillel would forgo one or more of those priorities only if “presented with a situation of such urgency and acuity that immediate, decisive action was required.”

Rubenstein declined to elaborate on the decision-making behind his thinking.

In the weeks leading up to the decision, there had been disagreements between the Frieds and Hillel leadership, according to people familiar with the situation.

Three people said Rubenstein reviewed and edited sermons that Ethan Fried delivered during Orthodox Shabbat services, including removing references related to Israel.

A Hillel affiliate said that there had also been tension between the Frieds and Hillel leadership over Bella Fried’s time commitment and compensation.

It remains unclear whether either issue directly prompted the surprise decision to place both Frieds on leave Friday.

When asked by one student in the group chat after the announcement whether the decision was related to Zionism, Rubenstein replied that it was not, according to messages obtained by The Crimson.

Several students said the Frieds were deeply embedded in Orthodox student life at Hillel.

Kohl said Ethan Fried regularly reached out to students to provide spiritual and emotional guidance.

“I get this outpour of amazing, kind, caring messages from people that have a Reform or Conservative or unaffiliated background, or even Orthodox, that are just expressing how they’re so happy that there’s someone like Ethan on campus,” he said.

Kohl added that in the Frieds’ absence, he and several other Hillel affiliates chose to observe Shabbat at Harvard Chabad instead, a Jewish student organization that follows Orthodox law.

Samuel Colchamiro ’28, an undergraduate who regularly visits Hillel, said that the Frieds played an outsized role in shaping Orthodox life at Hillel.

“He’s the reason I go to Hillel these days,” he said.

In his statement, Rubenstein emphasized his personal connection to the Orthodox community at Harvard, writing that Hillel’s Orthodox minyan “was a cherished home for me as an undergraduate.” He acknowledged in the group chat that students were likely to be frustrated by the sudden announcement.

“I get that a lack of information makes sudden transitions like this difficult, especially since many of you have close relationships with both of them,” he wrote.

He added that Hillel would work through the end of the fall semester and over winter break to ensure that Orthodox students have access to rabbinic leadership in the future, including resources to hold regular prayer, gatherings, and study.

Sarah F. Silverman ’28 — Hillel Shabbat chair and a former Crimson News Editor — said she felt supported by Hillel staff as an Orthodox student both before and after the Frieds were placed on leave. She added that the absence of an Orthodox rabbi was “not great,” but said she believed Hillel was working quickly to find rabbinical support.

“I genuinely know nothing about what happened,” she said. “But I do feel supported by Hillel.”

—Staff writer Sebastian B. Connolly can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X @SebastianC4784.

—Staff writer Summer E. Rose can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on X @summerellenrose.