Benny Friedman (singer)

Benzion Hakohen "Benny" Friedman (Hebrew: בנציון הכהן פרידמן‎; born 1984)[1] is an American Hasidic Jewish singer and a non-pulpit rabbi. Professionally trained in voice, he rose to prominence on the contemporary Jewish religious music scene with his first album in 2009. Singing mainly in Hebrew, Friedman tours extensively and also appears in music videos. He views his music as a shlichus (outreach) tool, with the goal of drawing Jews closer to Judaism.[1][2]

This article is about the Hasidic singer. For the American football quarterback, see Benny Friedman.
Benny Friedman
Benny Friedman in 2018
Background information
Born1984 (age 36–37)
St. Paul, Minnesota
GenresContemporary Jewish religious music
Years active1998–present
Associated actsAvraham Fried, 8th Day, Ari Goldwag
Websitebennysmusic.com
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Early life and family

Benny Friedman was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, where his father, Rabbi Manis Friedman, was a Chabad shaliach.[2] He is the eleventh of fourteen children and one of ten brothers.[1][2] His uncle (his father's brother) is Orthodox Jewish singing superstar Avraham Fried; he is also the first-cousin of Shmuel and Bentzi Marcus (sons of his father's sister Ita) of the band 8th Day.[3]

At the age of twelve he was sent to learn at the Lubavitcher yeshiva in Postville, Iowa,[2] where he boarded in the home of Rabbi Sholom Rubashkin.[4] At age 15 he traveled to Israel to study in the Lubavitcher yeshiva in Safed. He earned rabbinic ordination and worked as a Chabad shaliach in Tucson, Arizona for several years.[2]

He married in 2009 and resides in Brooklyn.[2]

Music career

As a child, Friedman enjoyed singing at the family Shabbat table and listening to the CDs of Avraham Fried, Mordechai Ben David, and Moshe Yess. He was also comfortable performing in front of audiences.[2] After his bar mitzvah he began performing in Orthodox Jewish summer camps in the Catskill Mountains; later he gave concerts in the U.S., Europe, and Israel during his vacations from yeshiva.[5]

Before his marriage, Friedman trained for four years with voice coach Seth Riggs in California and later with Yacov Young in Crown Heights.[6] During that time, he created a show called "Judaism: The Song and the Story", which toured the West Coast for several years running.[5][7][8]

Friedman came to national attention with the release of his first solo album, Tammu, produced by Avi Newmark, in 2009. Afterward he began touring in concert and singing at Jewish weddings.[6] He was a guest vocalist on the 2011 album Nagila V'Nismicha, singing with the Nagilah Orchestra.[9]

His second solo album, Yesh Tikvah: Dawn of Moshiach (2012), also produced by Newmark, made a splash in the Orthodox Jewish world with its title track, "Yesh Tikvah".[10] The Hebrew-language song encouraging hope and faith[11] was co-written by Ari Goldwag and Miriam Israeli.[12] The song earned a mention in an editorial in the Yated Ne'eman Orthodox Jewish newspaper, a paper not known for music reviews.[10][13] "Yesh Tikvah" has been covered by numerous major Orthodox Jewish singers and choirs[10] and was rendered into Yiddish by the Yedidim Choir.[14]

In 2013 Friedman released his first spinoff album B'nei Heichala: A Shabbos with Benny Friedman, which includes traditional and modern Shabbat zemirot.[15] This album was produced by Sruly Meyer

In 2014, he released his third solo album, Kol Haneshama Sheli.[16]

in 2016, Friedman released a new album with 13 original songs, titled Fill The World With Light.

In 2019, he released Kulanu Nelech – a studio album featuring 13 tracks. The music was executive produced by Benny Friedman, co-produced by Avraham Zamist and written by a wide range of composers, including: Ari Goldwag, Udi Damari, Moshe and Yitzy Waldner. Three tracks where recorded live with the Budapest Art Orchestra, Hungary, including orchestral arrangements by Frederic Bernard, Gershon Freishtat and Elchanan Elchadad.[17]

In 2020, he released his first a cappella album, Whispers of the Heart. The album was conceived and recorded over one week, during the COVID-19 pandemic.[18]

Benefit performances

Friedman has performed on three fund-raising singles: "Chasoif", a free download supporting the rebuilding of the Chabad house damaged in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and families of the victims;[19] "Unity", a production by 30 top Orthodox Jewish performers to benefit the legal defense of Sholom Rubashkin;[20] and "Berachamim", whose proceeds were earmarked for the medical expenses of Ilan Tocker, a Cedarhurst man who suffered a traumatic brain injury.[21] In 2014 Friedman sang on the album Shir (Song), a collection of 18 songs composed by Shlomo Rechnitz and performed by the leading musical artists in the Orthodox Jewish world. The artists all donated their talents, and proceeds from album sales will benefit the Keren Shviis Fund, which supports Israeli farmers keeping the laws of Shmita.[22]

Friedman was a headliner at HASC 24, "A Time for Duets" (2011), singing both solo and in duets with his uncle, Avraham Fried;[23] HASC 26 (2013);[24] and HASC 27 (2014).[25]

Friedman frequently performs at Chabad events.[8][26][27][28] In 2009 he was the guest vocalist at the first anniversary memorial for the Chabad shluchim murdered in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.[8] In 2013 he sang for both adults and youth at the annual Kinus HaShluchim Conference in New York City.[29] In December 2013 he sang the national anthem of the US at the first Jewish Heritage Night at a Brooklyn Nets game.[30]

In 2014 he performed at a Chasdei Soul II Soul concert to benefit special-needs students in Crown Heights.[31]

Musical style

Friedman's music is categorized as pop Jewish music.[2] He mainly sings in Hebrew.[32]

Music videos

Friedman appears in music videos to promote his songs. The 2012 "Yesh Tikvah" music video has him singing against a nighttime cityscape and then moving to a sunny field to the accompaniment of a chorus of children.[33] In the 2013 music video for "Maaleh Ani", Friedman sings by the Malibu, California coastline while a guitarist, bass guitarist, and drummer play underwater in a swimming pool.[34][35] Friedman eventually jumps into the pool fully clothed in his trademark black dress suit, white shirt, and tie – clapping, drumming, and playing air guitar with the band.[35]

Discography

Solo albums
  • Taamu (2009)
  • Yesh Tikvah – Dawn of Moshiach (2012)
  • Kol Haneshama Sheli – With All My Soul (2014)
  • Fill The World With Light (2016)[36]
  • Kulanu Nelech (2019)

Spinoffs
  • Nagila V'Nismicha with the Nagilah Orchestra (2011)
  • B'nei Heichala – A Shabbos with Benny Friedman (2013)
  • Whispers of the Heart – A Cappella Inspiration for Sefira & The 3 Weeks (2020)

Singles
  • Chasoif - with Yitzy Spinner and Yisroel Werdyger (2008)
  • Berachamim - with Ari Goldwag (2010) (also featured on Yesh Tikvah)
  • Mi Shemaamin (2011)
  • Light One Candle (2013)
  • Kulam Sharim (2016) (also featured on Fill The World With Light)
  • B'sefer Chaim (2016) (also featured on Fill The World With Light)
  • V'haarev Na - with Baruch Levine (2018)
  • Lichtig un Varem (2018)
  • No Time Like Now (2018)
  • My Dear Rebbe - with Yitzy Waldner (2019)
  • Hareini Mekabel (2019) (also featured on Kulanu Nelech)
  • Vzakeini - with Baruch Levine (2020)
  • B'Shir - with Sruly Green (2020)
  • Ich Bin Dans - with Dovy Meisels (2020)
  • 25,000 Candles (2021)

Guest appearances
  • HASC 24 - A Time For Duets (HASC), 2011 ("Avraham Fried & Benny Friedman Medley")
  • The Music We Love (Ohel Concert), 2012 ("Taamu", "Yavducha", "One Day")
  • Kumzing 2 (Hamenganim Orchestra), 2012 ("No Lyrics", "Letova", "Kad Yasvun")
  • Simchas Hachaim 2 (Aderet Music), 2013 ("Chabad Medley")
  • The Yess Legacy (tribute to Moshe Yess), 2013 ("As A Jew")
  • Believe (Six13), 2013 ("Yesh Tikvah")
  • Chai (The Chevra), 2013 ("Ad Olam" - with Yeshiva Boys Choir)
  • HASC 26 (HASC), 2013 ("Family Medley")
  • Am Echad (Ari Goldwag), 2013 ("Min Hameitzar")
  • Simchas Hachaim 3 (Aderet Music), 2014 ("Nodeh Leshimacha", "Zeh Hayom", "Niggun Karlin", "Ashrei Mi")
  • One Day More (Maccabeats), 2014 ("Yesh Tikvah")
  • A Cappella Soul 2 (Ari Goldwag), 2014 ("Min Hameitzar")
  • Shir (Shlomo Rechnitz), 2014 ("Hinei Hinei")
  • HASC 27 (HASC), 2014 ("Dreams Come True", "Shalom Aleichem", "Hashem Melech")
  • 2nd Dance II (The A Team), 2014 ("Melech Malchei Hamlachim")
  • Simchas Hachaim 4 (Aderet Music), 2015 ("Batorah", "Hareini Mizamen", "Nigun Avod", "Habet Na", "Ze Ho'ois")
  • Simchas Hachaim 5 (Aderet Music), 2016 ("Ani Maamin", "Nishmas", "Nigun Chabad", "Teka Teka", "Uvenei")
  • A Cappella Soul 3 (Ari Goldwag), 2016 ("Lehisaneg")
  • Shirei Pinchas (Reb Pinchas Wolf), 2016 ("Torah Tziva", "Hashomayim")
  • The Rebbe's Nigunim (DVD) (Tashbar Media), 2016 ("Asader LeSeudoso")
  • Neemos Hachaim (Aderet Music), 2016
  • Heart Beats (Mishpacha Magazine), 2016
  • Shir 2 (Shlomo Rechnitz), 2016 ("B'chayachon")
  • Simchas Hachaim 7 (Aderet Music), 2016
  • Storm the World (Ruvi New), 2017 ("The Night A Soul Was Saved")
  • Uncle Moishy Volume 19 (Uncle Moishy and the Mitzvah Men), 2018 ("A Holiday")
  • Matana Tova (Shlomo Rechnitz), 2018 ("Motzi Asirim")
  • The Great Farby (Chony Milecki), 2018 ("It's Late", "Want You")
  • Ashrecha (Eitan Katz), 2018 ("B'Fi Yeshorim")
  • The Fingerprint Album (Sruli Bodansky), 2019 ("Ki Yaakov")
  • Lev El Hanishomah (Cheskie Wiesz), 2019 ("Shira")
  • Aish 3 (Abie Rotenberg & Shlomo Simcha), 2020 ("Rachamana")
  • How Aw Ya Reb Yid? (Joey Newcomb), 2020 ("Mi K'amcha Yisrael")
  • Off the Record (Baruch Levine), 2020
  • Emes (New York Boys Choir), 2020 ("Vzakeini")

References
  1. Besser, Yisroel. "On the Mic: Benny Friedman". Mishpacha Special Supplement: "Heart Beats", Sukkos 5777 (Fall 2016), pp. 43–46.
  2. Bensoussan, Barbara. "Speaking to the Soul: Rabbis Manis and Benny Friedman use their talents to awaken the pintele Yid". Mishpacha Special Supplement: "A Father to Follow". Pesach 5771 (Spring 2011), pp. 18–25.
  3. Besser, Yisroel. "On the Wings of a Song". Mishpacha, March 20, 2013, pp. 84–101.
  4. Vogel, Chani. "A Hometown Concert for Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin". Ami, April 6, 2016, pp. 60-62.
  5. "Benny Friedman". All Jewish Digital. 16 April 2012. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  6. "About". bennysmusic.com. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  7. "[Audio] Now in Stores! B'nei Heichala – A Shabbos With Benny Friedman". Conejo Jewish Academy. 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  8. "March concert unites Benny Friedman and Michael Allen Harrison on Salem stage". Oregon Jewish Life. March 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-10-25. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  9. "Nagila V'nismicha Review". Jewish Music Report. 28 March 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  10. Hisiger, Rabbi Yitzchok (16 February 2013). "The Phenomenon of 'Yesh Tikva'". Yated Ne'eman. COLLive. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  11. "Benny Friedman: Yesh Tikvah". Jewish Music Report. 28 December 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  12. Hirsch, Ari (26 November 2013). "Ari Goldwag's 'Am Echad' is Lighting Up the Charts". The Vues. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  13. Lipschutz, Rabbi Pinchos (7 February 2013). "Yesh Tikvah". matzav.com. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  14. "Yedidim Choir Release Yiddish Version of Yesh Tikvah". Jewish Insights. July 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  15. "[Audio] Now in Stores! B'nei Heichala – A Shabbos with Benny Friedman". Jewish Music Report. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  16. "Benny Friedman To Release New Album". Jewish Music Report. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  17. "Kulanu Nelech - Booklet (English)". Scribd. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  18. https://collive.com/coronavirus-propelled-benny-friedmans-new-acapella-album/
  19. "Chasoif: A Tribute to Mumbai". Jewish Music Report. 18 November 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  20. "Video: Rubashkin Unity Song Released". matzav.com. 7 October 2010. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  21. Eller, Sandy (3 November 2010). "Long Island, NY – Song Released to Benefit Cedarhurst Man". Vosizneias. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  22. "Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz Releases Album To Raise Funds For Keren Hashviis 'SHIR'". Yiddish Music. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  23. "FINAL HASC DUET ANNOUNCED – Avraham Fried & Benny Friedman". Jewish Music Report. 21 November 2010. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  24. "HASC 26 Now Available on CD & DVD". Jewish Insights. June 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  25. "HASC 27: 40 Pictures by Stan Weiss to Celebrate 40 Years of Camp HASC". Jewish Insights. January 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  26. "Chanukah Celebration at City Walk – Hollywood, California, USA". chabad.org. 12 December 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  27. "Benny Friedman at Chabad of South Broward (video)". chabad.org. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  28. "A Slam Dunk for CTeens at Barclays Center". chabad.org. 5 December 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  29. "Benny Friedman Sings at Chabad Shluchim Conference". gruntig.net. 4 November 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  30. "Benny, Maccabeats to Sing at Barclays". shturem.org. 19 November 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  31. Wolfe, Yedida (January 2014). "No Child Left Behind". N'shei Chabad Newsletter. ISBN 978-1311826992. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  32. Wittenberg, Ed (29 July 2014). "Friedman Ready to Inspire Following Tisha B'Av". Cleveland Jewish News. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  33. "Benney Friedman's New Music Video "Yesh Tikvah!"". crownheights.ch. 19 November 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  34. Eller, Sandy (27 January 2013). "Watch: Behind the Scenes and Underwater – a Jewish Video Hit". The Jewish Press. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  35. "New York – Behind the Scene: Chasidic Singer Shoots Underwater Music Video (photo-video)". Vosizneias. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  36. קורן, שירה (27 November 2016). "אלבום רביעי לבני פרידמן: "מלאו את העולם באור!" | כל הזמן". www.kolhazman.co.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 27 November 2016.
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