H.R. No. 514
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The great American composer and singer Deborah Lynn
"Debbie" Friedman has been credited with creating the genre of
contemporary Jewish worship music; and
WHEREAS, Debbie Friedman composed much of her early music
while residing in Houston, Texas, from 1975 to 1984; and
WHEREAS, Her modern settings of traditional Hebrew liturgy
and original compositions are sung by congregants in Reform,
Reconstructionist, Conservative, and some Modern Orthodox Jewish
synagogues, as well as in some Christian churches; and
WHEREAS, Debbie Friedman was called "the Joan Baez of Jewish
song" by the Jewish newspaper The Forward and recorded more than 20
albums, which together sold half a million copies, and her lyrics
have appeared on Hallmark greeting cards; and
WHEREAS, Her "Mi Shebeirach" prayer for healing is used by
hundreds of congregations across America and is a central part of
the Jewish healing movement, and her "Alef Bet Song" has been
performed by Barney, the purple dinosaur, and has taught two
generations of Jewish children the Hebrew alphabet; and
WHEREAS, Deborah Lynn "Debbie" Friedman was born in Utica,
New York, to Freda and Gabriel Friedman; and
WHEREAS, Debbie moved with her family to Minnesota at age 5,
where she was a 1969 alumna of Highland Park High School in Saint
Paul and a graduate of the after-school Hebrew school program at the
Talmud Torah of St. Paul; and
WHEREAS, She wrote her earliest songs as a song leader at the
overnight camp Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute in Oconomowoc,
Wisconsin, and recorded her first album, Sing Unto God, with the
choir of her former high school in 1972; and
WHEREAS, Rabbi Samuel Karff brought Ms. Friedman to Houston
in 1975, where she taught at Temple Beth Israel and at Congregation
Beth Yeshurun while writing many of her compositions and,
coincidentally, living in the district of Representative Paul
Colbert, who was her Hebrew school classmate for nine years in St.
Paul; and
WHEREAS, After leaving her many friends in Houston, Debbie
Friedman continued to compose and performed her songs in concerts
at venues throughout the world, including her live recordings to
sold-out audiences at Carnegie Hall and the Hotel del Coronado,
despite struggling with a debilitating neurological condition; and
WHEREAS, The story of her music, as well as the challenges she
faced in living with illness, were featured in a 2004 documentary
film called A Journey of Spirit; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Friedman became a teacher at Hebrew Union
College-Jewish Institute of Religion, first in New York and later
in Los Angeles, and served on the board of the Academy for Jewish
Religion, CA; and
WHEREAS, Deborah Lynn Friedman succumbed to pneumonia on
January 9, 2011, and her memorial service on the opening day of this
legislative session was attended and watched on the Internet by
almost 10 thousand of her family, friends, and admirers; and
WHEREAS, Deborah Lynn Friedman is survived by her mother,
Freda, and her sisters Cheryl Friedman and Barbara Egli; and
WHEREAS, Debbie Friedman's songs, including "Mi Shebeirach,"
"L'chi Lach," "Miriam's Song," "Oseh Shalom," "Not By Might," "And
Thou Shalt Love," "The Alef Bet Song," "You Are the One," "This is
the Day," and many, many others, have inspired and comforted
millions and will continue to be sung and remembered as a fitting
legacy to this caring and inspiring person; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd
Legislature of the State of Texas hereby pay tribute to the life of
Deborah Lynn "Debbie" Friedman and extend sincere sympathy to the
members of her family: to her mother, Freda; to her sisters, Cheryl
and Barbara; and to her other relatives and many friends; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for her family.
Hochberg
Straus Gonzales of Williamson Morrison Straus Gonzales of Williamson Morrison
Straus Gonzales of Williamson Morrison
Aliseda Gonzalez Munoz, Jr. Aliseda Gonzalez Munoz, Jr.
Aliseda Gonzalez Munoz, Jr.
Allen Gooden Murphy Allen Gooden Murphy
Allen Gooden Murphy
Alonzo Guillen Naishtat Alonzo Guillen Naishtat
Alonzo Guillen Naishtat
Alvarado Gutierrez Nash Alvarado Gutierrez Nash
Alvarado Gutierrez Nash
Anchia Hamilton Oliveira Anchia Hamilton Oliveira
Anchia Hamilton Oliveira
Anderson of Dallas Hancock Orr Anderson of Dallas Hancock Orr
Anderson of Dallas Hancock Orr
Anderson of McLennan Hardcastle Otto Anderson of McLennan Hardcastle Otto
Anderson of McLennan Hardcastle Otto
Aycock Harless Parker Aycock Harless Parker
Aycock Harless Parker
Beck Harper-Brown Patrick Beck Harper-Brown Patrick
Beck Harper-Brown Patrick
Berman Hartnett Paxton Berman Hartnett Paxton
Berman Hartnett Paxton
Bohac Hernandez Luna Pena Bohac Hernandez Luna Pena
Bohac Hernandez Luna Pena
Bonnen Hilderbran Perry Bonnen Hilderbran Perry
Bonnen Hilderbran Perry
Branch Hochberg Phillips Branch Hochberg Phillips
Branch Hochberg Phillips
Brown Hopson Pickett Brown Hopson Pickett
Brown Hopson Pickett
Burkett Howard of Fort Bend Pitts Burkett Howard of Fort Bend Pitts
Burkett Howard of Fort Bend Pitts
Burnam Howard of Travis Price Burnam Howard of Travis Price
Burnam Howard of Travis Price
Button Huberty Quintanilla Button Huberty Quintanilla
Button Huberty Quintanilla
Cain Hughes Raymond Cain Hughes Raymond
Cain Hughes Raymond
Callegari Hunter Reynolds Callegari Hunter Reynolds
Callegari Hunter Reynolds
Carter Isaac Riddle Carter Isaac Riddle
Carter Isaac Riddle
Castro Jackson Ritter Castro Jackson Ritter
Castro Jackson Ritter
Chisum Johnson Rodriguez Chisum Johnson Rodriguez
Chisum Johnson Rodriguez
Christian Keffer Schwertner Christian Keffer Schwertner
Christian Keffer Schwertner
Coleman King of Parker Scott Coleman King of Parker Scott
Coleman King of Parker Scott
Cook King of Taylor Sheets Cook King of Taylor Sheets
Cook King of Taylor Sheets
Craddick King of Zavala Sheffield Craddick King of Zavala Sheffield
Craddick King of Zavala Sheffield
Creighton Kleinschmidt Shelton Creighton Kleinschmidt Shelton
Creighton Kleinschmidt Shelton
Crownover Kolkhorst Simpson Crownover Kolkhorst Simpson
Crownover Kolkhorst Simpson
Darby Kuempel Smith of Harris Darby Kuempel Smith of Harris
Darby Kuempel Smith of Harris
Davis of Dallas Landtroop Smith of Tarrant Davis of Dallas Landtroop Smith of Tarrant
Davis of Dallas Landtroop Smith of Tarrant
J. Davis of Harris Larson Smithee J. Davis of Harris Larson Smithee
J. Davis of Harris Larson Smithee
S. Davis of Harris Laubenberg Solomons S. Davis of Harris Laubenberg Solomons
S. Davis of Harris Laubenberg Solomons
Deshotel Lavender Strama Deshotel Lavender Strama
Deshotel Lavender Strama
Driver Legler Taylor of Collin Driver Legler Taylor of Collin
Driver Legler Taylor of Collin
Dukes Lewis Taylor of Galveston Dukes Lewis Taylor of Galveston
Dukes Lewis Taylor of Galveston
Dutton Lozano Thompson Dutton Lozano Thompson
Dutton Lozano Thompson
Eiland Lucio III Torres Eiland Lucio III Torres
Eiland Lucio III Torres
Eissler Lyne Truitt Eissler Lyne Truitt
Eissler Lyne Truitt
Elkins Madden Turner Elkins Madden Turner
Elkins Madden Turner
Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey
Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey
Farrar Margo Villarreal Farrar Margo Villarreal
Farrar Margo Villarreal
Fletcher Marquez Vo Fletcher Marquez Vo
Fletcher Marquez Vo
Flynn Martinez Walle Flynn Martinez Walle
Flynn Martinez Walle
Frullo Martinez Fischer Weber Frullo Martinez Fischer Weber
Frullo Martinez Fischer Weber
Gallego McClendon White Gallego McClendon White
Gallego McClendon White
Garza Menendez Woolley Garza Menendez Woolley
Garza Menendez Woolley
Geren Miles Workman Geren Miles Workman
Geren Miles Workman
Giddings Miller of Comal Zedler Giddings Miller of Comal Zedler
Giddings Miller of Comal Zedler
Gonzales of Hidalgo Miller of Erath Zerwas Gonzales of Hidalgo Miller of Erath Zerwas
Gonzales of Hidalgo Miller of Erath Zerwas
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 514 was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote of the House on February 23, 2011.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Straus Gonzales of Williamson Morrison
Aliseda Gonzalez Munoz, Jr.
Allen Gooden Murphy
Alonzo Guillen Naishtat
Alvarado Gutierrez Nash
Anchia Hamilton Oliveira
Anderson of Dallas Hancock Orr
Anderson of McLennan Hardcastle Otto
Aycock Harless Parker
Beck Harper-Brown Patrick
Berman Hartnett Paxton
Bohac Hernandez Luna Pena
Bonnen Hilderbran Perry
Branch Hochberg Phillips
Brown Hopson Pickett
Burkett Howard of Fort Bend Pitts
Burnam Howard of Travis Price
Button Huberty Quintanilla
Cain Hughes Raymond
Callegari Hunter Reynolds
Carter Isaac Riddle
Castro Jackson Ritter
Chisum Johnson Rodriguez
Christian Keffer Schwertner
Coleman King of Parker Scott
Cook King of Taylor Sheets
Craddick King of Zavala Sheffield
Creighton Kleinschmidt Shelton
Crownover Kolkhorst Simpson
Darby Kuempel Smith of Harris
Davis of Dallas Landtroop Smith of Tarrant
J. Davis of Harris Larson Smithee
S. Davis of Harris Laubenberg Solomons
Deshotel Lavender Strama
Driver Legler Taylor of Collin
Dukes Lewis Taylor of Galveston
Dutton Lozano Thompson
Eiland Lucio III Torres
Eissler Lyne Truitt
Elkins Madden Turner
Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey
Farrar Margo Villarreal
Fletcher Marquez Vo
Flynn Martinez Walle
Frullo Martinez Fischer Weber
Gallego McClendon White
Garza Menendez Woolley
Geren Miles Workman
Giddings Miller of Comal Zedler
Gonzales of Hidalgo Miller of Erath Zerwas