Rabbi Dr. Moshe Freedman grew up in London and studied Medical Electronics at the University of Liverpool before completing his Masters and PhD from the University of Surrey University in Medical Physics, specialising in Physiological Measurement and Signal Processing. After his post-doctoral research, he moved to Israel and studied at the David Shapell College for Jewish Studies/Yeshivat Darché Noam where he completed his semicha.
He began his rabbinic career at Northwood United Synagogue in 2009 before joining the New West End in 2015. In addition, Rabbi Freedman served as the Jewish chaplain to the Canary Wharf Multifaith Chaplaincy between 2012 and 2022.
Between October 2019 and October 2022 he was appointed as co-vice-chair to the Moral and Ethical Advisory Group (MEAG) which advised the Department of Health and Social Care on ethical issues related to healthcare in the United Kingdom. This included advising the government on healthcare strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic and to communicate government policy effectively.
He also served on an expert panel together with gynaecologists, academic lawyers, and women’s rights activists to formulate an independent review into the legal, clinical, and ethical aspects of hymenoplasty as part of the government’s ‘Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls’ Strategy’. The recommendation report was produced and submitted to government ministers in November 2021, and it was later accepted into the Health and Care Act 2022 (Schedule 16) and receiving royal ascent in April 2022.
In 2023 Rabbi Freedman left community rabbonus to focus on developing Mah Shetashiv. He has written, lectured and broadcast on a variety of subjects, specialising in the conflict between science and faith, and the intersection between Ethics, Law and Religious practice.