Melbourne – Founder of the Spotlight retail group and leading community benefactor Ruben Fried, 63, died on Tuesday morning after a long battle with cancer.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
An active member of the community, along with his brother Morry Fraid, the Fried and Fraid families support many Jewish and non-Jewish causes, most notably Hatzolah, Yeshivah-Beth Rivkah Colleges, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon, officiated by Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Groner at the Lyndhurst Chevra Kadisha cemetery.
Fried, along with his brother Fraid, (they say the different surnames was the result of a teacher’s spelling mistake during their school years) began selling fabrics at discounted prices from their parents stall at the Queen Victoria Market.
Today, the Spotlight group is one of Australia’s most successful retail businesses, employing more than 6000 staff in stores across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong. Fried remained active in the business until his premature passing. The company has more than 100 stores and annual revenue of around $800 million.
Spotlight’s Steven Carey said: “Ruben provided leadership, creative vision and a straightforward approach to business with an entrepreneurial style second to none.
“Ruben was a mentor to many, employer to thousands, generous philanthropist and friend to everyone.”
Fried is survived by his wife Vivienne, three children and seven grandchildren.
Hashem yirachem the 2nd baal tzedakah in Australia this month. Hashem wants us to do tsheuvah
Its a huge loss to australian jewish community. I knew him well. He was the sweetest human being one could find .He gave not only money but time and advice to everybody who approached him. He leaves behind a lovely wife, and three wonderful children who will surely continue to carry on his legacy.
Rueben was a real mentch and had a heart of gold. He was a grandson of the famous chassidishe Raziminski family.
He always had a good word to say to everyone and was a big bal Tzedoka. His 2nd son Noach is a talmid of Ner Yisroel Baltimore. Ruben was close to the Roshei Yeshiva.
He may have been loaded but he was very approachable and had a good word for everyone. He left behind a beautiful mishpacha 3 married children and einiklach too. One of his top priorities was education. If anyone needed help with that regard he would say “Every Jewish child deserves a Yiddishe Education”. Let us pray that Hashem give his wife and family the Koach to endure this hardship and may we be zoiche to moshiach now.