About Rabbi Shoshana
Shoshana Meira Friedman is a late-diagnosed Autistic rabbi, writer, coach, activist, and passionate creative. (Note that her CV below reflects many years of high-achievement, and does not tell the hidden struggles of masking her Autism. For that story, see her writing, My Story section, & Instagram posts.)
Current Work
In addition to unschooling* her child full time, she is a public speaker for Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action and runs a private coaching practice supporting the Autistic and PDA communities. She also directs The Artist Beit Midrash of Hebrew College & JArts.
Her neurodivergent-affirming posts on Autism and PDA (Pervasive Drive for Autonomy/Pathological Demand Avoidance) have gained over 17K followers on Instagram @rabbishoshana.
*Unschooling refers to radically child-led homeschool.
Writing
Rabbi Shoshana’s writing on parenting, the climate crisis, and Autistic identity has been published in many venues, including The New York Times, Tablet Magazine, YES! Magazine, WBUR’s Cognoscenti, and JewishBoston.com, as well as in the books Rooted & Rising: Voices of Courage in a Time of Climate Crisis (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019) and The Sacred Earth: Jewish Perspectives on Our Planet. (See "Climate" and "Jewish" pages for links).
Her first picture book, The Tide Is Rising, So Are We: A Climate Movement Anthem is forthcoming from Beaming Books in 2025.
Music & Art
Rabbi Shoshana’s music has spread around the world through her climate anthem, “The Tide Is Rising,” co-written with her husband, Yotam Schachter. Her original album Guesthouse is available on most streaming platforms. Search "Guesthouse Shoshana Meira Friedman" to listen.
A lifelong amateur visual artist, she has an ongoing wild love affair with alcohol paints. You can see some of her work in the logo and background images on this website.
Climate
Rabbi Shoshana spent a decade taking leadership on climate movement campaigns. Highlights include organizing the largest interfaith clergy act of civil disobedience in Massachusetts history; organizing to pass renewable energy legislation in Massachusetts; consulting on the founding of Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action; and raising over $100,000 for Sunrise Movement.
Education
Rabbi Shoshana was ordained by Hebrew College in Newton, MA, and is an alumna of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship, JOIN For Justice, and Oberlin College where she graduated with High Honors in Environmental Studies, and was also a Henry David Thoreau Scholar.
Employment
Rabbi Shoshana has served rabbinic roles at Hebrew College, Temple Sinai of Brookline, Shirat HaYam of the North Shore, Temple Beth of Portland, and the Jewish Community Day School of Greater Boston.
Family
Shoshana grew up in a musical family in Newton, MA., daughter of Rabbi Lev Friedman and Joyce Friedman, sister of Ari & Mia Friedman of the band Ari & Mia. She currently lives in Boston, MA with her husband Yotam Schachter and their son. Her son's special interest is Minecraft. He would like to point you to the following resources:
-
Autcraft, a Minecraft server for Autistics and family members that our whole family plays on!