Jacob Biderman

Jacob Biderman is the head Chabad emissary to Austria since 1981. Has founded a variety of Jewish educational institutions, community centers and a university of applied sciences in Vienna.
Biography
Early Life and Studies
Jacob was born in 1957 in Jerusalem, Israel to Rabbi David Biderman son of the great Rabbi Moshe Mordechai of Lelov and Esther nee Parshan. He completed his elementary school studies in Tel Aviv and then continued his high school studies in Montreal.
In the years of 1975-1978 studied in Burnoy, France, in the Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim. After graduating his studies in France in 1978 continued Jacob Biderman with Rabbinical studies in the central Lubavitch Yeshiva in New York where he received a rabbinic ordination by Rabbi Israel Isaac Pikarski and Rabbi Mordechai Mantlik, as well as a Rabbinical ordination by the Union of Orthodox Rabbis headed by Rabbi Moshe Feinstein.
Nomination for Chabad Emissary
In 1979 took part in establishing the Yeshiva "Or Elchanan-Chabad" in Los Angeles.
in 1980 married his wife Edla née Gurevitch, shortly after he was nominated by the Lubavitche Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson of blessed memory to be the head Chabad emissary to Austria. thereafter they moved to Vienna in order to fulfill their mission and establish Chabad institutions in Austria.
Chabad Lubavitch Austria (1981- today)
Since then is Jacob Biderman involved in writing essays and articles on relevant Jewish topics and lecturing on Jewish subjects.
In 1982, Jacob Biderman established for Jewish immigrant children an after-school center and a day camp program and opened the first Chabad kindergarten, thereafter one of nine in Vienna.
In 1985, receives the title Doctor of philosophy for a comparative thesis on the sources of Baruch Spinoza in the writings of Rabbi Hasdai Crescas and the respective pantheistic alternative perception in the Kabbalah and Hasidic literature.
During the 80's Biderman was involved with helping to form the Bukharian and Georgian Jewish communities in Vienna by providing them with various religious needs and founding a "Sepharadic center" offering two synagogues, a hall and a youth center for these communities.
In 1986 he established the Chabad Synagogue "Heichal Menachem" in the ninth district of Vienna, where he serves as Rabbi.
In 1992, established a daycare center called "Neue Welt" in the Prater park in Vienna, with the help of a generous donation by Mr. Alexander Kahane, wile the Viennese municipality provided the land.
Continuing his contribution to Jewish education in Vienna, Jacob Biderman founded in the years of 1984-1994 an elementary and middle school and eventually in the year 2000 established the Jewish gymnasium high school, all concentrated in the "Lauder Chabad Campus" which was build thanks to a generous donation by Ambassador Ronald Steven Lauder and is located in the Augarten park in Vienna. The ground braking of this Campus took place in 1999 and was attended by famous personalities from all over the world, among them Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, then Prime Minister of Israel. The school is part of the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation school network headed By its President Ronald S. Lauder.
In 1999 Rabbi Jacob Biderman is involved in founding the "Rabbinical Center Of Europe" based at the EU headquarters in Brussels and is since then a member of its executive board.

In 2001, founded the "Jewish Teachers Seminary" in Vienna in cooperation with the Austrian and the Israeli ministries of education. the opening ceremony of this institution was attended by more than one hundred Rabbis from all over Europe, Austrian and Israeli government officials, as well as Mr. Romano Prodi, then the President of the European Commission. Thereafter Biderman received the title of Professor and was appointed as Dean of the institution.
In 2003 Jacob Biderman opened with the support of the Lauder Foundation a "University of Applied Sciences" the "Lauder Business School". This unique university combines undergraduate program in International Business Administration,as well as graduate programs in Banking, finance and Compliance with academic Jewish studies. The University is aimed at Jewish students from all over the world, in order to offer them a high quality academic education as well as Jewish social life and values. Ambassador Ronald Lauder is President and Jacob Biderman is chairman of the University
the Lauder Business School is located in the "Maria-Theresien-Schlössel" which was provided by the municipality of Vienna under the leadership of Mayor Michael Häupl.
In 2006 initiates the community center "Beit Halevi- Chabad" with the financial support of Mr. Lev Leviev. This center provides the community with social activities, integration projects, Torah classes and a prayer room and offers programs for women and youth.
In 2010, Jacob Biderman was nominated as vice president of the "Lauder Foundation" for educational affairs.
In 2011 was awarded the "Max M. Fisher prize for Jewish education in the diaspora" by the L.A. Pincus Fund.
In 2012, Biderman takes part in establishing the "Jewish Education House" in the 19th district of Vienna in memory of Chaim and Sarah Schlaff and donated by their son Martin Schlaff.
In 2013, established the Chabad House in the second district of Vienna. The Chabad House as an integration center provides in cooperation with affiliated organisations a synagogue, a student center named "K Space", the "Jewish Children's club", as well as a "welcome service" for Jewish tourist visiting Austria.
In addition, Jacob Biderman was involved in the foundation of Chabad centers in Salzburg, Munich, Frankfurt and Budapest.
Over the years he had initiated various Jewish publications and translations to the German Language.

In his function as Chabad emissary to Austria Jacob Biderman established a close relationships to Austrian leaders and renowned personalities in the country, among them Dr. Viktor Frankl founder of Logotherapy, Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal and Ambassador Ronald Steven Lauder, former US ambassador to Austria and president of the World Jewish Congress.
Family
Sons:
Rabbi Araham Biderman, Rabbi of Chabad synagogue in the 2nd district of Vienna, married to Debora née Deutsch.
Moshe Mordechai Biderman, activist at Chabad House Vienna.
daughters:
Mussia married to Rabbi Mordechay Segal, heading the Central Chabad House in Vienna
Mina married to Rabbi Yechiel Mechel Butman, Chabad activities coordinator in Vienna
Nechama married to Rabbi Israel Arie Leib Wolosov, Yeshivat Torath Emet, Jerusalem

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