Frank Birnbaum
Encyclopedia
William Franklin "Frank" Birnbaum (1922–2000) was a well-known 20th century chazzan within Conservative
Judaism
in the United States
. 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.
in 1922. The oldest of three children, Birnbaum began studying chazzanut under his father, Samuel Birnbaum, who was then chazzan of Brith Sholom Beth Israel Synagogue, the oldest Ashkenazic synagogue in continuous usage in the United States
. After serving in World War II
, Birnbaum completed his collegiate studies at Columbia University
in New York City
.
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 chazzan at Congregation Shaare Zedek (New York City)
from 1953–1957 and later Chevra Thilim in New Orleans, Louisiana
from 1957-1964. In 1959, he was inducted as a member of the Cantors Assembly of America
.
Birnbaum would go on to serve congregations in Dallas and Atlanta until he retired in 1990 from Temple Israel (Charlotte, North Carolina)
.
for the Conservative
movement. He also taught on the faculty of music at Emory University
for a number of years and was responsible for the establishment of the Southern Jewish Cantorial Festival, which each year brought world-class chazzanim to Atlanta, Georgia
. He was a proponent for the investiture of women as cantors within the Conservative
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
.
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. 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
Birnbaum was born in Charleston, South CarolinaCharleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
in 1922. The oldest of three children, Birnbaum began studying chazzanut under his father, Samuel Birnbaum, who was then chazzan of Brith Sholom Beth Israel Synagogue, the oldest Ashkenazic synagogue in continuous usage in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. After serving in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Birnbaum completed his collegiate studies at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Graduating from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1951, Birnbaum assumed a temporary position as Assistant to the Cantor at Central Synagogue
Central Synagogue
The Central Synagogue is located at 652 Lexington Avenue on the corner of 55th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York. Built in 1872 in the Moorish Revival style as a copy of Budapest's Dohány Street Synagogue, it pays homage to the Jewish existence in Moorish Spain...
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
Central Synagogue
The Central Synagogue is located at 652 Lexington Avenue on the corner of 55th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York. Built in 1872 in the Moorish Revival style as a copy of Budapest's Dohány Street Synagogue, it pays homage to the Jewish existence in Moorish Spain...
from 1951–1953, he assumed the position of chazzan at Congregation Shaare Zedek (New York City)
Congregation Shaare Zedek (New York City)
Congregation Shaare Zedek is a Conservative synagogue located on West 93rd Street in Manhattan.-History:Founded in 1837, by Polish Jews, Shaare Zedek is the third oldest Jewish congregation in New York City. The congregation originally met at 38 Henry Street on Manhattan's Lower East Side...
from 1953–1957 and later Chevra Thilim in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
from 1957-1964. In 1959, he was inducted as a member of the Cantors Assembly of America
Cantors Assembly
The Cantors Assembly is the international association of hazzanim affiliated with Conservative Judaism. The CA was founded in 1947 to develop the profession of the hazzan, to foster the fellowship and welfare of hazzanim, and to establish a conservatory for hazzanim...
.
Birnbaum would go on to serve congregations in Dallas and Atlanta until he retired in 1990 from Temple Israel (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Temple Israel (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Temple Israel located in Charlotte, North Carolina is a large, urban synagogue affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and located in the Shalom Park district of South Charlotte. As one of two major synagogues in the inner-city of Charlotte, it serves more than 1,000 member...
.
Accomplishments
Birnbaum served as President and Placement Chairman of the Cantors AssemblyCantors Assembly
The Cantors Assembly is the international association of hazzanim affiliated with Conservative Judaism. The CA was founded in 1947 to develop the profession of the hazzan, to foster the fellowship and welfare of hazzanim, and to establish a conservatory for hazzanim...
for the Conservative
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
movement. He also taught on the faculty of music at Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
for a number of years and was responsible for the establishment of the Southern Jewish Cantorial Festival, which each year brought world-class chazzanim to Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. He was a proponent for the investiture of women as cantors within the Conservative
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
movement and an advocate for liturgical reform, which led to the printing of Siddur Sim Shalom
Siddur Sim Shalom
Siddur Sim Shalom may refer to any siddur in a family of siddurim, Jewish prayerbooks, and related commentaries on these siddurim, published by the Rabbinical Assembly and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism....
in 1985 with his good friend Rabbi Jules Harlow
Jules Harlow
Jules Harlow is a rabbi and liturgist; son of Henry and Lena Lipman Harlow. He was born in Sioux City, Iowa.In 1952 at Morningside College in Sioux City he earned a B.A., and from there went to New York City to study in the Jewish Theological Seminary of America; here he became ordained as a rabbi...
.