“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
So, if your friend went to heaven, it was through Christ.
The believing Jews of the Old Testament were saved because they believed in the Messiah that was to come. The Jews of the New Testament were saved because they believed that the Messiah was among them.
The Jews of now are saved just the way everybody else is. By believing in Jesus.
There aren’t “two ways” of salvation, an old way and a new way. There is one Way. There always has been.
As for your beloved friend, trust the Lord Jesus with his soul. God does not make mistakes. He doesn’t make mistakes with the Arctic people another FReeper mentioned; He doesn’t make mistakes with you or me; He is perfect. And so the exact right outcome for your friend is assured.
Jesus wept at the death of his friend Lazarus and thus we know he has compassion for you in your loss.
Have you heard of Howard Storm? he was a devout Atheist who had a NDE, he went to hell in his NDE but even as a devout Atheist he was..Jesus showed him his light of love meaning Jesus also shows himself to other’s in death...So yes I believe this Jewish Man knew Jesus in his death and followed him into the light of heaven.