Debbie Friedman

Debbie Friedman is an American composer and singer of songs with Jewish religious content. She was born in Utica, New York but moved with her family to Minnesota at age 5. She wrote many of her early songs as a song leader at Olin-Sang-Ruby camp in Oconomowoc, WI in the early 1970s. Since her debut in 1971, she has published more than 19 albums. Her work is inspired by such diverse sources as Joan Baez, Peter, Paul and Mary, and a number of folk music artists. She uses English and Hebrew lyrics and writes for all ages. In 2006 a movie was made about Debbie by producer Ann Coppel entitled “A Journey of Spirit”. Recently Ms. Friedman accepted an appointment to the faculty of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion’s School of Sacred Music in New York where she will instruct both rabbinic and cantorial students.