Tributes to Debbie from the Kalsman Institute event 1/23/05

You Know What Debbie, Its You Too
by Rick Lupert

Debbie, I know you're always saying It's You
or This is for you, or shut up everybody, I'm singing this for you

Speaking as a member of the you, I'd like to report that
we appreciate it.  You've convinced us that it can be us,

that we can be the vessels, the emissaries, we can share
blessings.  You've convinced us . . . It's us.

But you know what Debbie, It's YOU too.
Now don't get up and leave the room, don't try and

convince us that it's really just us, because we know it's us,
but we've figured it out, we know it's definitely you too.

Give you an example...remember that one time on Shabbat Morning
when the electricity was out, there weren't any lights

you were leading us all on your Yotzer Ohr, the prayer for light
and right in the middle of us thanking God for light, sitting in the dark

the lights came back on.  Yeah, we know somewhere some electrician
connected something to something else, maybe flipped a switch

or maybe it was God's sense of humor.  But we're pretty sure Debbie
that we wouldn't have noticed the power of light at that moment

if you hadn't showed us how.  It's you too Debbie.  It's so you.
Those melodies you pull out of the air that make so much sense the first

time we hear them.  That make us want to say "Of course this melody"
the first time we hear it.  The tears we've all shed singing your melodies

could fill the Well.  Ok so maybe we're all a little tired of Not By Might by now
but somehow those kids we sing it with aren't.  They're infected by it

and it's impossible not to catch it from them.  I've been singing Not By Might
since before I was born.  I'm not sure how that's possible but I know one thing

for sure...Not By Might...It's You; Miriam's Song, it's you; Mi Sheibeirach, it's you
Lechi Lach, it's you.  We could go on and on.  And thanks to you, we know it's our

job to go on and on.  You've given us the tools.  You've taught us, it's us.
I know I can do it because you told me once, it's me, in front of a thousand

living breathing gold mines.  We believe that it's us, we are the goldmines
But you are the miner Debbie and we have a message for you, the one

who has dug the gold out of us...a lifetime of digging gold.  Our message:
It's you . . . it's you . . . it's you . . .

January 23, 2005
13 Shevat 5765

Dr. Lewis M. Barth, Dean
HUC-JIR
3077 University Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90007-3796

Dear Lew,

It gives me great pleasure to write this letter of commendation and greeting to my friend Debbie Friedman and say how overjoyed I am that the College-Institute can confer our Sherut L'am Award upon her for her unparalleled contributions to the fields of Jewish music and worship. Her musical creativity and her sweet strong voice have touched the lives of so many and she has quite literally transformed the experience of Jewish prayer for hundreds of thousands of people. It is particularly appropriate that this award be given at a convocation of the Kalsman Institute, for her Mi Shebeirach blessing is now a standard part of Jewish liturgy in hundreds of Reform and Conservative congregations throughout the world and countless numbers of people have received comfort and support from her prayer for healing.

I am sorry that my own schedule precludes my attendance at this event. I do so wish that I could confer this award upon Debbie in person. However, I am there in spirit and know she will understand how privileged the College-Institute community and I feel to grant her such well-deserved recognition for her decades of achievement. We are delighted to honor her in this way, and are confident that she will bless us all with many more years of her musical talents and gifts.

Jackie joins me in sending our warmest best wishes and congratulations on this significant occasion.

In deepest friendship and joy, I am,

Warmly,

Rabbi David Ellenson

Excerpts from letters Debbie has received...

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