Cantor Deborah Katchko-Gray

Spirited and Soulful

Quotes and Inspirations

Learning

Shabbat made the Shtetl what it was.
I miss the Shabbat the most- it can never be replicated.Boston University class, “ The Jewish Response to Jewish Persecution Nov. 16, 1976
The solution is not with diplomats.
It is with prophets, writers, philosophers, poets.Boston University class “ The Jewish Response to Jewish Persecution Sept. 13, 1976
Don’t identify with all, identify with one
If everyone of us could live with one of then it would be a victory.Boston University class, “ The Jewish Response to Jewish Persecution Nov. 16, 1976
Respect the other for the mystery the other contains.
Respect the other for what they understand and for what they don’t understand.Boston University lecture, final words, “ Legends of Our Times” Nov. 2, 2010
Collaborating with evil is evil itself.Boston University class, “ The Jewish Response to Jewish Persecution Sept. 28, 1976
There comes a moment when there are no words
Words can diminish the weight of the experience
Silence is as important as the words.92nd St Y lecture, “ Faith and Power” Oct, 30, 2006

Holocaust and Memory

When you read these stories if you cry…
Cry not only for those who did or didn’t survive
Cry also for G-d who is the source of all tears and all joy.Boston University class, “ Hassidic Tales of the Holocaust with Yaffa Eliach” Oct. 30, 2007
There is no answer to include in the story.
We have our wounded memory which God alone can, and must answer.Boston University lecture, “ Rebbe of Ger, Tragedy in Hasidism” Nov,1, 2010
The opposite of love is not hate, it is indifferenceBoston University lecture, “ Rebbe of Ger, Tragedy in Hasidism” Nov. 1, 2010
After liberation, the first thing I did was say Kaddish. I then felt not alone- the moment you know the other exists, you’re not alone.Boston University lecture, “ Legends of Our Times” Nov. 2, 2010
The worst enemy is indifference

Despair is not the end but the beginning
It is not the answer, but the question

When you meet a survivor, think and feel.
Try to understand him or her

Studying the Holocaust can open up a thirst for humanity.
If you see suffering- you will do something
Not be indifferent

If there was such inhumanity – now can one not be human?

Descend into another dimension of an experience that should become yours.

The world betrayed us
The betrayal was total
The victims never became the killers
Elie Wiesel is afraid of telling the tale

A civilization that has seen, witnessed, survived these scenes is doomed unless we redeem it.Boston University class, “ The Jewish Response to Jewish Persecution Nov. 16, 1976
Why eyes? I always write about eyes. During the war Jews were recognized by informers by their eyes. Sad, Jewish eyes, deep suffering penetrates them.
Eyes do not remain the same after absorbing these words.
Nothing will be the same.Boston University class, “ The Jewish Response to Jewish Persecution Oct. 19, 1976

Hope

Prayer is a link of fire, an offering
It brings you back to the beginning92nd St Y lecture, “ Personal Thoughts” April 18, 2002
The world has always been in some kind of crisis
since Adam and Eve and their children92nd St Y lecture, “ A World in Crisis” April 15, 2010
Jewish solidarity prevailed, the moment they found themselves among themselves they rebuilt a community on ashes. A Jewish fire began to burn.Boston University class, “ The Jewish Response to Jewish Persecution Oct. 5, 1976
What can be our answer? Despair?
Never an answer!
Despair is only a question.92nd St Y lecture, “ Maiden of Ludmir April 9, 2007
I don’t believe in numbers. A people that survived 2000 years in exile and 2000 years before that can survive. I am an optimist.Boston University final class lecture Dec. 11, 2007
I don’t have the right to live in despair.
No one lives alone.
Everyone is my hope. Especially my students.Boston University final class lecture Dec. 11, 2007

Faith and Belief

We can’t understand it but we have no choice but to accept God.
God gave us freedom to choose
Man chose to ignore us
A cultural Jew looks at the Holocaust and asks, not,
“ Where was God?” but asks “ Where was Man?”Boston University class, “ The Jewish Response to Jewish Persecution Nov. 16, 1976
Oh God I no longer ask for happiness or paradise
Only to listen and rest; not to close me to gratitude
In friendship and loveClosing words 92nd St Y lecture, “ Why Pray?” April 14, 2015
I want only to understand
I am no longer seeking truth
All I want is to understandBoston University class, “ The Jewish Response to Jewish Persecution Nov. 16, 1976
The killer’s diaries tell of meals and gaiety
They and we do not belong to the same species
We experienced the same things, saw the same thingsBoston University class, “ The Jewish Response to Jewish Persecution Nov. 16, 1976
Why Remember?
A person without a past is lost
You can always build a future but a past is lost unless you remember it.

Remember, go back, if you remember Abraham, Noah, Adam to God, you remember God.

Once you start forgetting, you forget you are human.Boston University class, “ Holocaust: Memory and Conscience Oct. 10, 1977
I confess
I am not satisfied by my own words
There are no words92nd St Y lecture, “ Anniversary of the Tragedy of the St. Louis April 8, 2010

Cantor Deborah Katchko-Gray
Congregation Shir Shalom
46 Peaceable Street
Ridgefield, CT 06877
203-438-5609 (study)
203-482-1726 (cell)

Testimonials

Hazzan Deborah Katchko-Gray supported by flutist Mattan Klein and Seeds of Sun…just rocked the house and blew the roof off of Beth Judah for almost two hours. A mix between Mid-East, Israeli, Jewish pop, cantorial, Yiddish and kid-family friendly favorites..add to that a rather hot Israeli jazz trio and you have an explosive, energetic reaction. Everyone was clicking on all cylinders and the crowd ate it up.

Debbie is the real deal and can deliver it all. She has a powerful and sweet voice that works well in various styles and involved us locals nicely.

Hazzan Alan Smolen

Thank YOU Cantor Debbie!

You were a tremendous part of the event. Your guitar was very exciting and your song selections so uplifting. The moms loved your performance…It was a truly fun and inspiring time with you in the Sukkah.

Tracy Daniels
Director Women’s Philanthropy / Program Manager, PJ Library / UJA Greenwich, CT
One of our most successful Scholar – In – Residence programs ever ! She brings an accomplished voice, and a lively spirit that will fill your synagogue with music and joy. Cantor Debbie led Friday night and Shabbat morning services and a sing-along program for children and adults on Sunday morning. Her music, voice and personality enchanted all of our members.
Rabbi Martin I. Sandberg
Thank-you again for a wonderful concert- Inspiring, beautiful and fun!
Alan Feld
I find you to be a first-rate hazzan and a consummate artist…your cds are a shining example of what we should aim to emulate.
Cantor Pinchas Spiro (of blessed memory)
Katchko-Gray can reproduce “ that old sound” by calling on melodies she received personally in true oral tradition.
Scales Out of Shul May 2007
Connecticut based Cantor Deborah Katchko has wide appeal. With a strong and soulful voice, she covers a broad range of songs in several languages, exposing us to Jewish culture from various times and places.
Boston University Alumni Magazine

Our Wedding Ceremony was PERFECT!

Derek and I want to thank you! The wedding ceremony was perfect! We got so many compliments on the ceremony! They loved the songs you sang, the Jewish traditions and how it was personalized for Derek and I.

Thank you so much for everything! We really appreciate everything you have done for us leading up to as well as on the wedding day.

Jessica (Moll) and Derek Sanderoff
We are all indebted to Deborah Katchko Gray for this new publication which will preserve her grandfather’s music, complete with modern innovations, for generations to come to grateful practitioners of the art of HAZZANUT.
Hazzan Jacob Ben Zion Mendelson
Deborah Katchko is such a wonderful gift to our festival!
Berna Hayden
National Children’s Choir Director
Just this morning, we were privileged to have our colleague, Deborah Katchko-Gray, as our guest artist/scholar at my temple in Amenia, New York. In addition to her co-officiation with me at the worship service, she presented the program, “Gems of my Grandfather: Music, Ideas, and Visions of Cantor Adolph Katchko,.” as part of our adult education. Although almost all of us have been deeply influenced by the music of Adolph Katchko, Deborah added a dimension of insight, examples I have never heard before, and even a duet of “Adonai Malach” which was truly inspiring. I would wholeheartedly urge you to consider Deborah as a scholar-in-residence or a guest lecturer. The congregation could not have been more moved or appreciative of this excellent program.
Rabbi/Cantor Jon Haddon
If a teacher had but one student- you- it would be Dayenu!……your songs bring joy to my heart!
Elie Wiesel
Impressively eclectic, Deborah Katchko – another pioneer female cantor puts a refreshing, colorful spin on quintessentially Jewish songs and stories. Drawing upon Middle East rock, Country Western and traditional and contemporary Jewish melodies, Katchko’s powerful voice can sound both sensual and spiritual.
Hadassah Magazine
Finding Family Through Song”- A Story – The presentation given by Cantor Katchko-Gray of Temple Shearith Israel of Ridgefield, CT on Thursday October 29th, 2009 was a remarkable presentation. This was an inspiring and moving story of music, faith and family beautifully told. We think it was definately one of the very best programs that the Mary Brewster Fund has offered!
Zayne McFarlane
In telling her story of living history and astonishing discovery, Cantor Deborah Katchko-Gray brings to life the love and faithfulness of holocaust survivors and the generations who remember them. People of faith will be embraced by Cantor Debbie’s generous spirit, learn first hand about the important of remembrance and rekindle their hope for a peaceful world.
Reverend Marc Delcuze
This edition marks one of the most innovative, important, and creative blending of guitar and Jewish music. It surely will not take away from those Cantors who wish to chant either capella, or with piano or organ, but for those Cantors skilled in playing guitar, this will be a loving and long lasting companion which, I am sure, will touch the hears and souls of the next generation of Jews to hear this incredible music.
Rabbi/Cantor Jon Haddon
I am almost without words to say how much I enjoyed your concert at Beth El on Saturday night. You are so multi-talented and you have a beautiful radiant quality that truly glows and really touched me. I was impressed with your story telling and also with the way you shared your personal experiences and your family with us. I hope I have the opportunity to see you and hear you again! WOW-thank you !
Susan Pomerantz

Best Day Ever!

Thank-you for being such a special part of our wedding weekend!

Your music and spirit helped make it truly the best day…ever!

Ari and Darren Leva
I’ve listened to a lot of traditional Jewish holiday song recordings and most, for one reason or another should not have been made. But, this one is significantly different. First, Deborah Katchko has a warm, rich voice. Second, she sings honestly. What do I mean? There are no tricks to this recording, just Deborah and her guitar and she’s making music. Third, she includes 25 ethnic songs full of information and history. This is a Hanukkah gift for the entire family.
Washington Parent
If your tastes run to such classics as Yerushalayim Shel Zahav and you enjoy everything from Sephardic to Yiddish to contemporary pop, Katchko’s soprano renditions and acoustic rhythms are the perfect musical menu for you. Her inspiring version of , ” The Place Where I Belong” will have you singing along.
Hadassah Magazine
Your American Jewish Songbook selections were a perfect blend of English, Yiddish and Hebrew-appreciated by all. Your stage presence and hamische introductions of hte band and the songs added and extra measure of charm to the beauty of your voice and the wonderful sounds of your group. Your lead guitarist David, and the pianist were particularly outstanding……we were all blown away by the warmth and family feeling you created on our stage/bimah.!!
Steve Stein, MD

Your Wonderful CDs

I received the CDs yesterday. They are both great! Your voice is fantastic and the kids sound delightful. I also really enjoyed the instrumental arrangements. You did a marvelous job of singing, The First Candle We Light On Hanuukah. The flute was really cool. I loved it. And the instrumetnal version of Shabbat Means with the saxophone was inspired.

Thank you so much for recording these songs and for sending me the CDs. Good luck with the sales!

Regarding Shabbat Jam and Hanukkah Songs of Light and Hope
Larry S. Kaplan ( ASCAP)
Nurturing our family’s Jewish identity is an art, rather than a science. Fortunately people like Deborah Katchko can help. Her three cds offer a rich array of traditional and contemporary Jewish music suffused with her warm and welcoming spirit.
Jewish Woman Magazine

Cantor-in-Residence – Wonderful Musical Weekend!

We were fortunate to have Cantor Deborah Katchko-Gray at Temple B’nai Abraham as our Cantor-In-Residence for a wonderful musical weekend. Debbie led some of our services, had us singing new songs and melodies, and taught some wonderful holiday song parodies to our students, who then performed them for us at a Sunday Brunch. Oh…and we learned about her Cantorial heritage and heard some real Gems of her Grandfather’s Music. It was a homecoming of sorts as years ago, she became a Bat Mitzvah at our synagogue and her father had been one of our Cantors. Debbie connected with our members, young and old, and two of our students even asked after her Friday evening service if we could do this every month.

Rabbi Michael G. Kohn
Temple B’nai Abraham / Meriden, CT