Former Millionaire from Savion Shares Harrowing Journey from Prison to Family Law Advocate
Azriel Friedenberg, a former millionaire from Savion, opened up in a revealing podcast interview about his tumultuous life journey marked by extreme highs and devastating lows. Born and raised in Petah Tikva in a religious family, Friedenberg served as a combat medic in the 1973 Yom Kippur War, experiencing traumatic battles at the Chinese Farm. Afterward, he studied computer science and business at Bar-Ilan University before shifting to diamond polishing and trading, eventually relocating to Belgium.
In Sierra Leone, Friedenberg became the right-hand man to the country's de facto ruler, Said Mohamed, managing diamond and cash trades and infrastructure projects. By age 27, he was a millionaire, but a military coup forced him to flee. A violent confrontation in Antwerp over diamond control led to his arrest and conviction for attempted murder and robbery, resulting in a 17-year sentence, later reduced to 11 years. Friedenberg described prison as "hell on earth," especially the pain of dragging his family into his downfall.
After release, Friedenberg rebuilt his life from scratch, initially running cigarette vending machines on Israeli military bases. At 50, he pursued law studies, overcame the challenges of his criminal past to become a licensed attorney, and gained prominence as a criminal defense lawyer. However, a professional misconduct case involving smuggling prohibited items into prison led to a second incarceration and a six-year suspension from practicing law.
Despite these setbacks, Friedenberg maintained close spiritual ties with leading Haredi rabbis, who accepted him without judgment. Today, he focuses on family law, representing mostly women in crisis, viewing this work as his personal redemption. He credits his resilience to a philosophy akin to the Japanese art of Kintsugi, turning life's broken pieces into something stronger and more valuable. Friedenberg's story is one of relentless determination to transform profound personal failures into meaningful repair and hope.
