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

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

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. 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. He died on September 12, 2005.

Accomplishments Birnbaum served as President and Placement Chairman of the Cantors Assembly for the Conservative movement. 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.