Frank Birnbaum

William Franklin "Frank" Birnbaum (1922–2005) 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.

Life

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.

During World War II, Birnbaum fled his native home in Czechoslovakia and settled in Budapest.[1] In 1948, he went to the United States, where he settled in New York City and began his studies at Columbia University.[1]

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 to 1964. In 1959, he was inducted as a member of the Cantors Assembly of America.[2]

Birnbaum would go on to serve congregations in Dallas and Atlanta until he retired in 1990 from Temple Israel (Charlotte, North Carolina). In 1973, he left his position as music director at a temple in Silver Springs, Maryland to join the staff at Temple Israel in Charlotte, North Carolina.[3] In 1986, after serving 13 years at Temple Israel, Birnbaum and his wife Minna moved to Plantation, Florida where he held services at Temple Kol Ami.[4] He passed away on September 12, 2005.

Accomplishments

Birnbaum served as President and Placement Chairman of the Cantors Assembly 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.

References
  1. Mattingly, Terry. "Cantor specializes in leading worship", The Charlotte News, March 15, 1983, page 11C.
  2. "Proceedings of the Twelfth Annual Conference-Convention" (PDF). The Cantors Assembly of America and the Department of Music of the United Synagogue of America. 1959. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 8, 2013. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
  3. Barnard, Warren. "They Asked Right Questions, So Cantor Picked Charlotte", The Charlotte News, September 8, 1973, pages 1B and 20B.
  4. "Religion section", Fort Lauderdale News/Sun-Sentinel, August 22, 1986, page 17.
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