Debbie Friedman performs Mourning Into Dancing

[@marksusskind1260]

Oh God, my God, forever I will thank you. Odeka!

[@JudyGit]

Several years ago, when Debbie taught this to the CAJE Chorale, I was struck by the line, "And I have cried to you to heal me, and you have answered all my prayers." She was so much healthier than when I first met her! And now - now I turn to this song in the hope that it will have the power to turn my own mourning into dancing, because I know this is what she would have wanted for all of us.

[@TommyTooter]

Such an understatement! Debbie modernized the melodies of the entire Reform Union Prayer Book's liturgy and many conservative and orthodox congregations use them as well. I was blessed to be a few years behind her in the NFTY Great Lakes Region when she was the song leader at the Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute in Oconomowoc, WI, developing her first album, Sing Unto God on a cassette deck. Debbie was a highly outspoken advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights who, in her lifetime probably composed more Jewish folk music than anybody other than King David. The Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music is dedicated to her memory. My generation is the generation that said Reform Jews had become too assimilated and insisted that a lot of ritual and prayer be brought back, establishing the Reconstructionist Reform movement. Debbie and a lot of other very talented people set the beat.

[@irajayrosen4792]

I had the privilege of meeting her at my synagogue, quite by surprise. The son of her good friends is a talented young singer, and as a Bar Mitzvah gift, she wrote a song for him, which they sang as a duet for his D'var Tosh. And of course, we all sang along.

[@tammymormino75]

Beautiful Song

[@davidescelsi6235]

She captured the essence of this David psalm I still love this

[@urthsong]

I also thank you for posting this - what a blessed way to share her with the community at this time. She has touched so many, and will continue to do so as long as human voices rise in praise and joy, that is, forever!

[@psychicryan]

May your memory be for a Blessing. I love you Debbie and there is a hole in my soul without you!

[@LaurieHanan]

RIP Debbie. Your music will live on in hearts forever. We love you.

[@2010facethemusic]

thanks for this posting. her music is wonderful when simple, clear.

[@ellenlewitt]

Thank you Debbie... Shabbat Shalom

[@cherrieann8623]

Inspiring, beautiful, touching

[@stephaniedykes4157]

What a great song!

[@Mimiheart9]

As students all across the U.S. sang "Not By Might" this morning, we lost an amazing songwriter and singer. Baruch Dayan Emet.

[@1cultural]

RIP Debbie. This came from a documentary about Debbie Friedman. This is the conclusion of the film. She passed on from Pneumonia, as well as MS.

[@BeckyDellenbaugh]

This is beautiful. Very lovely.

[@jweiss2015]

I miss you!

[@EmunaSarah]

Rest rest rest in peace sweet singer...

[@LauraTenora]

Beautiful. Thank you.

[@SebastianMeyer79]

god bless you!

[@elielevin]

ברוך דין האמת Debbie's memory shall be for a blessing.

[@amooshify]

so weird, i just read this (JudyGit) and had a faint memory of singing at CAJE with her. A completely forgotten memory, as I have not been involved in Judaism in so long. It must have been 15 years ago at least.

[@lindawaltzman2401]

Come back. Try it again. The door is always open to you.

[@Zephaniah3verse17]

Love this - Psalm 30 has been very much my experience recently. Praise the Lord! (Was there not a faster, rockier version of this song posted on KZbin, with a lovely picture of the big hands holding the dancer's hands? What happened to it?)

[@cpetersky]

I appreciate the chance to hear Debbie on this day of her transition - thank you for posting. (Quibble - this is not really "light rock")