William Franklin "Frank" Birnbaum (1922–2005) was a well-known 20th century

chazzan 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 ...

within

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 ...

Judaism Judaism () is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic, Monotheism, monotheistic, ethnic religion that comprises the collective spiritual, cultural, and legal traditions of the Jews, Jewish people. Religious Jews regard Judaism as their means of o ...

in the

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. Serving congregations and performing concerts across America, his music was well known for its eclectic and melodious nature. As a tenor, his voice was widely acclaimed as one of the finest cantorial tenor voices in the latter half of the 20th century.

Life

During World War II, Birnbaum fled his native home in

Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia ( ; Czech language, Czech and , ''Česko-Slovensko'') was a landlocked country in Central Europe, created in 1918, when it declared its independence from Austria-Hungary. In 1938, after the Munich Agreement, the Sudetenland beca ...

and settled in

Budapest Budapest is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns of Hungary, most populous city of Hungary. It is the List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, tenth-largest city in the European Union by popul ...

.Mattingly, Terry
"Cantor specializes in leading worship"
'' The Charlotte News'', March 15, 1983, page 11C. In 1948, he went to the United States, where he settled in New York City and began his studies at

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

. Graduating from Columbia University in 1951, Birnbaum assumed a temporary position as Assistant to the Cantor at Central Synagogue in New York City. It soon became apparent that his vocal ability warranted a more permanent position, and he was subsequently made "Associate Cantor" of the synagogue. After serving Central Synagogue from 1951–1953, he assumed the position of

at Congregation Shaare Zedek (New York City) from 1953–1957 and later Chevra Thilim in

New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...

, from 1957 to 1964. In 1959, he was inducted as a member of the Cantors Assembly of America. In 1973, he left his position as music director at a temple in Silver Springs, Maryland to join the staff at Temple Israel in

Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte ( ) is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 United ...

. In 1986, after serving 13 years at Temple Israel, Birnbaum and his wife Minna moved to Plantation, Florida where he held services at Temple Kol Ami."Religion section"
'' Fort Lauderdale News/Sun-Sentinel'', August 22, 1986, page 17. He died on September 12, 2005.

Accomplishments

Birnbaum served as President and Placement Chairman of the

Cantors Assembly Cantors Assembly is the international association of hazzanim (cantors) affiliated with Conservative Judaism. It was founded in 1947 to develop the profession of the hazzan, to foster the fellowship and welfare of hazzanim, and to establish a con ...

for the

movement. He was a proponent for the investiture of women as cantors within the

movement and an advocate for liturgical reform, which led to the printing of Siddur Sim Shalom in 1985 with his good friend Rabbi Jules Harlow.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Birnbaum, Frank 1922 births 2005 deaths Hazzans Jewish American classical composers American male classical composers American classical composers Czechoslovak Jews 20th-century American singers 20th-century American composers 20th-century American male musicians Czechoslovak expatriates in Hungary Czechoslovak emigrants to the United States 20th-century American Jews 21st-century American Jews