Sue Fishkoff
Jewish Telegraphic Agency

0

ver the weekend, as singer-
songwriter Debbie Friedman
lay dying in a hospital bed in
Southern California, the call went out to
Jewish congregations around the world to
pray for the popular musician.
But early Sunday morning Friedman,
who composed "Mi Shebeirach," a popu-
lar version of the Jewish prayer for heal-
ing, was unable to find healing herself.
Friedman died after years of suffering
from an undisclosed illness at age 59. Her
funeral was held in Santa Ana, Calif.
Friedman transformed Jewish worship
throughout North America, especially
in Reform temples, with her sing-along
style of folk-inspired music that brought
prayer home to liberal Jews who had
never felt its power.
"Were it not for Debbie, Reform and
Progressive Jews would not have discovered
the connection between prayers and heal-
ing," read a eulogy sent out by the World
Union for Progressive Judaism. "While
Reform worship was once characterized by
organs and choirs, Debbie taught us to sing
as communities and congregations. The
guitar became a sacred instrument in her
hands and she opened our hearts and souls
to the joy of communal song."
Born in Utica, N.Y., Friedman started as a

ARTHUR A. BLUMBERG, 91, of Oak
Park, died Jan. 6, 2011.
He was the founder and owner of
Kennedy Mortgage Company.
Mr. Blumberg is survived by his sons
and daughters-in-law, Stephen and Nancy
Blumberg, Elliot Blumberg and Ellie
McGovern; grandchildren, Jeremy and
Rosheen Blumberg, Rachel Blumberg,
Amy, Seth, Jessica and Nora Blumberg,
Christopher and Tiffany Grandstaff,

58

January 13 • 2011

group song leader in the
Reform movement's
Olin-Sang-Ruby Union
summer camp in
Wisconsin in the early
1970s, where she set
Jewish liturgy to her own
contemporary melodies.
Her impact has
been felt locally.
Penny Steyer, canto-
rial soloist at Temple
Shir Shalom in West
Bloomfield, was with
Friedman in June at
Hava Nashira, the
annual Jewish song
leading and music
workshop held at the
same Wisconsin camp.
"The most extraor-
dinary thing you would
take from being with Debbie at camp is that
not only was she brilliant and knowledge-
able, but she had such a wit and playfulness.
She would always find a way to make us
both laugh and cry at the same time. She
could fill that space. It was amazing. I'm very
lucky to have had that experience."

Tamarack Favorite
Frank Ellias, president of Oakland
County-based Tamarack Camps, con-
curred: "Debbie Friedman's wonderful
liturgical melodies have been a part of
Tamarack's Shabbat and Havdalah servic-
es for years. She was a unique talent who
was able to transcend denominational and
age boundaries. Her catalogue of music
will continue to inspire generations of
Jewish children for many years to come
When learning of Friedman's illness,
Ezra Drissman of Oak Park, sent a message
via Michiganshuls.com (a Jewish-based
announcement list) asking the Orthodox
community to say a Mi Shebeirach for her.
"When I was growing up at Hillel Day
School," he said, "Debbie Friedman's
music was always a great part of the
experience. I grew to further appreci-
ate her music at Tamarack. I hope the
Orthodox community can pull aspects of
her music to enhance praying in the same
ways as with Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach."
Friedman's first album Sing Unto
God was released in 1972, followed by

Matthew and Erin Grandstaff; daughter-
in-law, Michelle Blumberg; his loving
companion, Irene Astrein, and her family.
He was the beloved husband of the late
Sylvia Blumberg; the cherished father of
the late Lowell Blumberg.
Interment at Machpelah Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to a char-
ity of one's choice. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.

Obituaries

19 more over the next three decades.
Her most well-known composition, "Mi
Shebeirach," a Hebrew-English version
of the prayer for healing, is sung in syna-
gogues around the world, often by those
who don't realize she wrote it.
"The issue is whether we're reaching
people and helping them pray,' Friedman
told JTA in 2007. "Whatever we can do to
facilitate their worship experience and spir-
itual self-exploration, we're obligated to do."
"Musically, she was untrained; her
genius was intuitive and expressive said
Cantor Jeff Klepper, a friend and fellow
musician who first met Friedman at the
Reform movement's Camp Kutz in New
York in 1969. "She understood prayer and
was able to teach it in a way you could
understand. Singing with her was exhila-
rating in ways that words cannot express."
Friedman was an early pioneer for
gender-sensitive language, unafraid to
use feminine forms of the Divine or alter
masculine-only text references years
before the liberal streams deemed it
acceptable. She took Moses' sister Miriam
as her prophetess, raising her voice to
the unknown Jewish women throughout
time, whose wisdom and patience she felt
formed the bedrock of Jewish community
"It is significant that she died during the
week of Parshat Beshalach, which features
the song and dance of Miriam at Yam Suf
[after crossing the Red Sea]," said Tamaracks
Ellias."I remember the girls at the camp
singing and dancing to (Miriam's Song."
Friedman influenced a new generation
of liberal rabbis and cantors who came
of age with her music and have brought it
with them into their congregations.
Rabbi Jason Miller of Congregation
T'chiyah in Oak Park first heard her per-
form at a healing service at the Jewish
Theological Seminary, where he was a
rabbinical student in the 1990s.
"She stood at the front of the seminary's
synagogue with her guitar while everyone
danced around the room singing enthusi-
astically;' he told JTA. "The seminary was
not known as a very spiritual place at the
time, but Debbie Friedman's captivating
music and her aura created so much ruach
[spiritual energy] that day."
Cantor Daniel Gross of Adat Shalom
Synagogue in Farmington Hills noted, "Her
vast compositional output is a small repre-

IRENE BLUTH, 92, of Southfield, former-
ly of Sunny Isles, Fla., and Brooklyn, N.Y.,
died Jan. 3, 2011.
She is survived by her sons and daugh-
ters-in-law, Lawrence N. Bluth and Nancy
Bechek-Bluth of Bloomfield Hills, Dr.
Edward and Elissa Bluth of New Orleans,
La.; grandchildren, Jennifer Bluth and
Peter Falk, Michael and Ellen Bluth, David
and Beth Bluth, Rachel Bluth and Derek
Smith, Jonathan and Katherine Bluth,

sentation of the effect her music has had,
and will continue to have. She wrote music
for the people not only of her generation,
but for countless generations to come."

Friend, Mentor
To Rabbi Norman T. Roman of Temple Kol
Ami in West Bloomfield, Friedman was
a family friend. She had advised his and
wife Lynne's son Benjamin on his guitar
playing and was a mentor to his daughter
Caryn Roman of New York, a song leader
and informal Jewish educator. Caryn served
several times as an assistant to Friedman
at concerts and did so at her final perfor-
mance in London two weeks before her
death. Friedman was to have been the guest
artist in May at a celebration marking Rabbi
Roman's 25th anniversary at Kol Ami.
"Debbie was the primary factor in
moving the Reform movement away
from performance music by a cantor and
choir to having everyone singing along:'
said Rabbi Roman. "Her first song 'Sing
Unto God' was a message — that we all
should be singing unto God."
At Congregation Shaarey Zedek in
Southfield, Rabbi Joseph H. Krakoff said
a tribute is planned for this Shabbat
morning service.
"There is no question that Debbie
Friedman was a modern-day legend;' he
said. "Debbie helped us give voice musi-
cally to the innermost prayers of our
heart. Her songs not only helped us cele-
brate the joy of Jewish living, but she also
gave us the gift of heartfelt prayers for
facing uncertain times, offering strength
to those who are sick and recognizing the
power and vision of our youngsters.
"Her enthusiasm and precious spirit
was a gift to the entire Jewish world.
May her memory be for a blessing."
A note Friedman posted on her web-
site captures the spirit in her that so
many found inspiring.
"Remember, out of what emerges
from life's painful challenges will come
our healing. And ultimately, our greatest
healing will come when we use our suf-
fering to heal another's pain — 'to release
another from their confinement."'

JN's Senior Copy Editor David Sachs, Senior

Writer Shelli Liebman Dorfman and Special

Writer Don Cohen contributed to this report.

Marjorie and Dr. Adrian Elfersy; great-
grandchildren, Brooke Falk, Benjamin and
Alex Bluth, Jaiden Bluth, Asher, Graham
and Simon Smith, Jackson Bluth.
Mrs. Bluth was the beloved wife of the
late Abraham Bluth; loving mother-in-law
of the late Beverly Bluth; dear sister of
the late Al Weinreb and the late Temmie
Andacht.
Interment in Farmingdale, N.Y.
Contributions may be made to

