Deborah Lynn Friedman (February 23, 1951 – January 9, 2011)Horn, Jordana
Beloved US Jewish songwriter, Debbie Friedman, dies
''

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'', January 9, 2011Fox, Margalit
Debbie Friedman, Singer of Jewish Music, Dies at 59
''

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'', January 11, 2011 was an American singer-songwriter of

religious Jewish music This article describes the principal types of religious Jewish music from the days of the Solomon's Temple, Temple to modern times. History of religious Jewish music The history of religious Jewish music is that of the Jerusalem Temples, synag ...

. She was an early pioneer of gender-sensitive language: using the feminine forms of the

Divine Divinity (from Latin ) refers to the quality, presence, or nature of that which is divine—a term that, before the rise of monotheism, evoked a broad and dynamic field of sacred power. In the ancient world, divinity was not limited to a singl ...

or altering masculine-only text references in the

Jewish Liturgy Jewish prayer (, ; plural ; , plural ; Yinglish: davening from Yiddish 'pray') is the prayer recitation that forms part of the observance of Rabbinic Judaism. These prayers, often with instructions and commentary, are found in the '' ...

to include feminine language. She is best known for her setting of " Mi Shebeirach" the prayer for Healing. Her songs are used in

Reform Reform refers to the improvement or amendment of what is wrong, corrupt, unsatisfactory, etc. The modern usage of the word emerged in the late 18th century and is believed to have originated from Christopher Wyvill's Association movement, which ...

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

, and

Orthodox Jewish Orthodox Judaism is a collective term for the traditionalist branches of contemporary Judaism. Theologically, it is chiefly defined by regarding the Torah, both Written and Oral, as literally revealed by God on Mount Sinai and faithfully tra ...

congregations.

Career

Friedman wrote many of her early songs as a song leader at the overnight camp Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute in

Oconomowoc, Wisconsin Oconomowoc ( ) is a city in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The name was derived from Coo-no-mo-wauk, the Potawatomi language, Potawatomi term for 'waterfall'. The population was 18,203 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. T ...

, in the early 1970s. Between 1971 and 2010, she recorded 22 albums. Her work was inspired by such diverse sources as

Joan Baez Joan Chandos Baez (, ; born January 9, 1941) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and activist. Her contemporary folk music often includes songs of protest and social justice. Baez has performed publicly for over 60 years, releasing mo ...

Peter, Paul and Mary Peter, Paul and Mary were an American Contemporary folk music, folk group formed in New York City in 1961 during the American folk music revival. The trio consisted of Peter Yarrow (guitar, tenor vocals), Paul Stookey (guitar, baritone vocals), ...

and a number of other

folk music Folk music is a music genre that includes #Traditional folk music, traditional folk music and the Contemporary folk music, contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be ca ...

artists. Friedman employed both English and

Hebrew Hebrew (; ''ʿÎbrit'') is a Northwest Semitic languages, Northwest Semitic language within the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family. A regional dialect of the Canaanite languages, it was natively spoken by the Israelites and ...

lyrics and wrote for all ages. Some of her songs are "The Aleph Bet Song", "Miriam's Song", and the songs "Not By Might" and "I Am A Latke". She also performed in synagogues and concert halls. In the fall of 1972, Friedman moved to

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

. Friedman was commissioned by Chicago's Temple Sinai, and Rabbi Samuel Karff invited Friedman to join his congregation as an artist in residence that fall. While Friedman was being commissioned by Chicago Sinai, she produced three large-scale works between 1972 and 1975 that reflected liberal Judaism's demographic and liturgical transitions. During her time in Chicago, Friedman enrolled in Spertus Institute (formerly Chicago College of Jewish Studies). In 2007, Friedman accepted an appointment to the faculty of

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Hebrew (; ''ʿÎbrit'') is a Northwest Semitic language within the Afroasiatic language family. A regional dialect of the Canaanite languages, it was natively spoken by the Israelites and remained in regular use as a first language until ...

's School of Sacred Music in New York (now called the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music) where she instructed both

rabbi A rabbi (; ) is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi—known as ''semikha''—following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of t ...

nic and cantorial students. She was also an honorary member of the American Conference of Cantors. In 2010, she was named to the ''Forward 50'' after the release of her 22nd album ''As You Go On Your Way: Shacharit – The Morning Prayers.'' Orthodox Jewish feminist Blu Greenberg noted: "she had a large impact nModern Orthodox shuls, women's tefillah rayer ndOrthodox feminist circles.... She was a religious bard and angel for the entire community." According to Cantor Harold Messinger of Beth Am Israel in Penn Valley, Pennsylvania, "Debbie was the first, and every contemporary

hazzan A ''hazzan'' (; , lit. Hazan) or ''chazzan'' (, plural ; ; ) is a Jewish musician or precentor trained in the vocal arts who leads the congregation in songful prayer. In English, this prayer leader is often referred to as a cantor, a term al ...

, song leader, and layperson who values these concepts is in her debt."

Personal life

The daughter of Freda and Gabriel Friedman, Friedman was born in

Utica, New York Utica () is the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The tenth-most populous city in New York, its population was 65,283 in the 2020 census. It is located on the Mohawk River in the Mohawk Valley at the foot of the Adiro ...

in 1951. From age five, she was raised in

St. Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul (often abbreviated St. Paul) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 311,527, making it Minnesota's second-most populous city a ...

, where she received choral training with her high school's chamber choir and song-leading lessons with her NoFTY youth group. In 1969, Friedman graduated from Highland Park High School in

Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul (often abbreviated St. Paul) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County, Minnesota, Ramsey County. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, ...

. She was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 1999. In the 1990s, Friedman began suffering from a neurological condition with symptoms apparently similar to

multiple sclerosis Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease resulting in damage to myelinthe insulating covers of nerve cellsin the brain and spinal cord. As a demyelinating disease, MS disrupts the nervous system's ability to Action potential, transmit ...

. The story of her music, as well as the challenges she faced in living with illness, were featured in a 2004 documentary film about Friedman called ''A Journey of Spirit'', produced by Ann Coppel, which followed her from 1997 to 2002. Friedman was a

lesbian A lesbian is a homosexual woman or girl. The word is also used for women in relation to their sexual identity or sexual behavior, regardless of sexual orientation, or as an adjective to characterize or associate nouns with female homosexu ...

, but did not talk about it in public. Her obituary in ''

'' was the first place her sexual identity was publicized.

Death and legacy

Friedman was admitted to a

Mission Viejo, California Mission Viejo ( ; language change, corruption of ; ) is a Commuter town, commuter city in the Saddleback Valley in Orange County, California, United States. Mission Viejo is considered one of the largest Planned community, master-planned commu ...

Hospital in January 2011, where she died on January 9, 2011, from

pneumonia Pneumonia is an Inflammation, inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as Pulmonary alveolus, alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of Cough#Classification, productive or dry cough, ches ...

. Rabbi David Ellenson, then-President of

Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion The Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (also known as HUC, HUC-JIR, and The College-Institute) is a Jewish seminary with three locations in the United States and one location in Jerusalem. It is the oldest extant Jewish semi ...

, announced on January 27, 2011, that the college's School of Sacred Music would be renamed the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music. On December 7, 2011, it was officially renamed as such. In 2014, the book ''Sing Unto God: The Debbie Friedman Anthology'' was published, featuring a comprehensive collection of her music. Despite the central role that music played in her career and life, members of Friedman's family argued that Friedman herself may have found the collection problematic in some ways, preferring oral communication to the written word. Among her music that remains the most sung in North American Jewish communities include her Mi Shebeirach (co-written with her partner Drorah Setel), "Miriam's Song" and her ''

Havdalah Havdalah (, ) is a Judaism, Jewish religious ceremony that marks the symbolic end of Shabbat and ushers in the new week. The ritual involves lighting a special candle with several wicks, blessing a cup of wine, and smelling sweet spices (). Shab ...

'' melody. Throughout her remarkable career of songleading and writing, Friedman always sought to empower Jewish communities to bring their own voices and experiences to Jewish worship in an evolving and constantly changing period for the religion.

Discography

Studio albums

* ''Sing Unto God'' (1972) * ''Not by Might Not by Power'' (1974) * ''Ani Ma-Amin'' (1976) * ''If Not Now, When?'' (1980) * ''...And The Youth Shall See Visions'' (1981) * ''And You Shall Be a Blessing....'' (1989) * ''Debbie Friedman: Live at the Del'' (1990) * ''The World of Your Dreams'' (1993) * ''Miracles & Wonders'' (1995) * ''Shirim Al Galgalim: Songs on Wheels'' (1995) * ''Shanah Tovah: A Good Year'' (1996) * ''Renewal of Spirit'' (1997) * ''The Journey Continues: Ma'yan Passover Haggadah In Song'' (1997) * ''It's You'' (1998) * ''The Alef Bet'' (2001) * ''The Water in the Well'' (2001) * ''Light These Lights: Debbie Friedman Sings Chanukah Songs For The Whole Family'' (2003) * ''One People'' (2006) * ''As You Go On Your Way: Shacharit – The Morning Prayers'' (2008)

Live albums

* ''Debbie Friedman: Live at the Del'' (1990) * ''At Carnegie Hall'' (1996)

Compilations

* ''In The Beginning'' (1994) * ''Songs of the Spirit - The Debbie Friedman Anthology'' (2005)

References

External links

Debbie Friedman websiteJewish Women and the Feminist Revolution
from the Jewish Women's Archive
''A Journey of Spirit''Debbie Friedman Tributes Page (URJ)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Friedman, Debbie 1951 births 2011 deaths American women singer-songwriters American feminist musicians Deaths from pneumonia in California Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion faculty Jewish American songwriters American lesbian musicians American LGBTQ singers American LGBTQ songwriters LGBTQ people from Minnesota Lesbian singers Lesbian songwriters Musicians from Utica, New York Musicians from Saint Paul, Minnesota People from Mission Viejo, California Lesbian Jews Jewish folk singers American women academics 20th-century American LGBTQ people 21st-century American LGBTQ people 21st-century American Jews 21st-century American women singers 21st-century American singer-songwriters Singer-songwriters from New York (state) Singer-songwriters from California Singer-songwriters from Minnesota American lesbian writers Jewish women musicians Jewish women singers