Debbie

It's impossible to say how much certain people affect you. Debbie Friedman died today, and I am trying to think when I first became aware of her. I think it was in 1993, when I was working at Carnegie Hall and one of my co-workers said I would probably enjoy the concert that night. He said it was "Debbie somebody," and that she always sold out the Hall. I stuck around for the first half of the concert before I had to get to the other concert that I was monitoring. Joyous it was. I was aware that every single person in that hall knew Debbie and loved Debbie. On some songs you could hardly hear her, because everyone wanted to sing along! That concert was a precursor to the famous 2-disk recording, "Debbie Friedman: Live at Carnegie Hall." (1997)

Years later, when I was very involved at B'nai Jeshurun in New York, someone came up to me after I chanted a haftarah and said it was beautiful, and I said thanks. A friend asked, "What did Debbie say to you?" And I asked "Debbie who?" That's how clueless I was.

In years to come I would learn from Debbie, sing with Debbie, schmooze with Debbie, and even introduce her at a concert in New Jersey. I sang with a choir that accompanied Debbie just last year. I was delighted to see her again, and she was absolutely wonderful, pouring her whole self into every song. It's impossible to say how much Debbie has meant to millions of Jews - some who don't even know her name. The memory will last for as long as kids learn their aleph-bet. Zichronah le-shirah v-liv'rachah. May her memory be for a song and a blessing.