by Susie Grama

The Jewish Messenger

September, 1996

Tirtza Singer has come home. Her journey has been long and adventurous, with many detours on the way. But she made it; from Riverdale to Ramot, from assimilation to Torah commitment, from darkness to light, from searching to fulfillment.

“I was one of those left-over 60’s hippies who was very interested in alternative healing, healing with crystals, healing this way and that way not realizing that the true refuah was in coming home to my tradition, to my background, to my Jewish roots. I was kind of searching for a long time until I realized where the emes was.”

Tirtza grew up in Riverdale, a member of a Reform, assimilated family. Her total connection to Judaism was the annual visit to temple on the high holy days. Musically inclined, she was given piano lessons since she was four years old. However, she never learned how to read music because through all the years, she learned all the pieces by heart very quickly and fooled her teacher.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t have a very good teacher,” she says. though she was accepted at the High School of Music and Art as a piano major, she was put in the chorus, so she studied voice. In college, she took up education, following her parents’ suggestion that she learn something that would enable her to earn a living. She went to the New England Conservatory of Music for her M.A., where she pursued her musical education. There, she apprenticed in the children’s department with Lisa Parker, a wonderful teacher who became her mentor while she was in Boston and who piqued Tirtza’s interest in combining her work with children and music. In fact, in later years, after her marriage and move to Stamford, Connecticut, she ran mother and child music programs for many years.

Encouraged by her mentor, Tirtza continued her musical education at teh Delcroze School. She feels that there is where she really learned what music is truly about. She studied improvisation, eurhythmics (rudiments of music, using the body as an instrument), and the real components of music. She learned with Hilda Schuster, the director of the school, whom she credits for awakening her musical talent. At Dalcroze, she really learned how to read music and sight read and she gained great musical insight. She also studied at the Manhattan School of Music and took private lessons in composition.

She met and married her husband, Reuven Singer, in the 70’s and lived in New York for several years. In 1981, due to a job change, they moved to Stamford. They bought a big, old farmhouse with a large garden, which Tirtza really loved. Not having any feeling for Yiddishkeit at that time, she didn’t mind the isolation. In 1984, they took a trip to Israel. That trip aroused in her husband a desire to search for his Jewish roots and he chose to become more observant. Although a spiritual person, Tirtza still was not impressed with ‘organized Judaism’. Much of her musical career had been in areas that had spiritual quality, but she was still not interested in delving further into her own religious heritage.

Her husband had belonged to a Reform chavura and was involved with arranging events. Once, he organized a debate between a woman Reform rabbi (his own rabbi) and an Orthodox one, Rabbi Kenneth Auman - now rabbi of the Young Israel of Flatbush. Singer was so impressed by Rabbi Auman that his total outlook changed. Rabbi Auman became his mentor and guide. As her husband became more religious and observant, she went along with him on a superficial level, trying to maintain a kosher home and keep the Sabbath, but the commitment was not there and she made many mistakes. Rabbi Auman advised Reuven not to preach, but to be an example. Her husband was patient with her, and as predicted by Rabbi Auman, Tirtza’s attitude changed.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for my husband”, she says, and she felt that if his convictions about Judaism were so strong, there must be something to it. Still a bit recalcitrant, she felt only the restrictions that religious observance placed upon her. Then she realized that one of the factors that was inhibiting her spiritual growth was the lack of connection to the community. She invited Shabbos guests to her home, but that did not solve the problem of their isolation, nor did it give their children the type of environment they needed in order to develop religiously. She was also inspired in her beliefs and desire to observe mitzvos by the Chabad rebbetzin in Stamford, Aviva Deren, with whom she studied the Torah Portion of the Week. Her meetings with the Lubavitcher Rebbe had a profound impact on her, opening her soul to the prospect of greater Torah observance.

Becoming more involved in the Orthodox world, Tirtza channeled her musical talents in that direction. She gave up opportunities to perform in front of a mixed audience, wanting, by now, to conform as well as she could, to the halacha. In 1991, combining her love of music with her love of Yiddishkeit, she gave her first concert for women, and she shared the billing with the well-known singer, Ruthie Navon. She uses music as her vehicle for transmitting her message to women, especially Orthodox women.

The idea of living in Israel took hold in Reuven’s mind. As he grew in commitment and learning, so did the thought of aliya. There were many incidents that took place in their lives which, Tirtza feels, indicated to her that aliya was meant to be for them. Her reluctance diminished and she acceded to her husband’s wishes. They moved to Israel in July, 1993. they are very happy living in Israel. Her only problem is one that is shared by many olim that of leaving one’s parents. But she truly believes that she has come out of the darkness - a journey that started in her youth, as she always felt a spiritual void, to a place where her soul could develop and she could realize her true mission in life.

Most of the music she sings is original. She composes the music, and the lyrics are written by her collaborator, Paul Solomon. Her themes are based largely on religious texts as well as issues close to women’s hearts, such as home, family, spiritual growth. Her inspiration usually comes from her reaction to the lyrics.

“I feel like the music is for every Jewish woman - every woman who wants spiritual nourishment, that wants to feel simcha, that somehow the feeling from my heart can reach her heart. There’s so much we can share as Jewish women. There’s a common thread that binds us from the experiences we have, from birth to child-rearing, dealing with birth and infertility.”

These themes are pertinent to all women, but since so much of her music is based on the ancient Jewish texts, she feels that it is especially relevant to Jewish women who are looking for that connection to G-d.

In her home in Ramot, she actualized her dream of reaching Jewish women on a spiritual level by hosting monthly Rosh Chodesh concerts, the proceeds of which go towards raising funds to establish a shelter for Orthodox abused women in Jerusalem. She combines her singing with presentations by guest speakers, many of them internationally known. The response has been beautiful. Besides having a nice evening out, the women leave the concerts emotionally enriched. Tirtza believes that with all the obligations of marriage, children, and home, women still need something to nourish themselves spiritually.

She also uses her music for kiruv work in Israel, focusing on, among others, young women on the college campus. She has recently put out an audio tape, “Wings of the Spirit” - Canfei Ruach, and a tape and CD, called “Come Home”. The incredibly lovely, lyrical quality of her voice makes one feel as if one were on a cloud. I have had the pleasure of meeting Tirtza personally, and the beautiful sound of her singing revives in my mind her traits of warmth and sincerity.

The positive reaction Tirtza gets have encouraged her to concertize in the United States. she is planning a November tour. She will be here to reach out with her message of support andencouragement. She will be available for concerts from November 11 to December 3. For information, call 908-352-7209. Women, she says, should empower themselves to actualize their potential within a Torah framework.

For mail orders of the tapes and CD and concert inquiries, contact Sheila Nashofer, Coordinator, 725 Bailey Ave., Elizabeth, NJ 07208; telephone: (908)352-7209.