The Only Thing Missing Was the Marshmallows

Last night was like going to a Jewish campfire sing-along. Singer, songwriter Debbie Friedman did a concert at Temple Micah to a sell-out crowd of people from all over the DC metropolitan area.

It was interesting to see the bimah reconfigured as a stage, even though the torahs were there in the background in their little wooden houses, as if guardians of the bimah. The eternal flame burned on overhead.

There was a big industrial-strength sound system, the likes of which that sanctuary has never before seen. For once everyone could hear, no matter where he was sitting.

We sang all the old standards – like Mi Sheberach (the healing prayer) and Miriam’s Dance. She has this unique quality of intermingling the Hebrew and English words that is so helpful to those of us who are not fluent in Hebrew. Then there were new songs which she taught to the audience in the old “I’ll sing it and then you sing it” style. She played her guitar with an incredible level of energy and her back-up band was right there with her.

Toward the end she was joined by some local Jewish great voices and the effect was resounding and uplifting. Debbie Friedman has taken modern Jewish music to a new level, although her appeal is probably limited to Reform Jews, who comprise about 40% of the Jews in the US.

It was an evening to remember!

You can hear a clip of her music on David's Blog about this concert.