Dan Frankel

Dan Frankel Bio

Dan has been a member of Beth Shalom for 10+ years. , Dan and his wife, Jodi, were married at Beth Shalom.  He has been a trustee and is presently Ritual VP.  He is also a member of the softball team, has led various services, been a regular musician at our “Rockin Shabbat”, and read the Haftarah numerous times. He also has been your friendly Gabbi Rishon for the past 4+ years. You will see him, Jodi, their children Kady, Sydney and Sarah and granddaughter, Harper at most Shabbat services, Men’s Club brunches, and other activities.

Dan Frankel’s love for Judaism and davening began very early in his life. He was 5 years old when he led his first prayer, “Yigdal”, and became a regular at other “closing” prayers including “Adon Olam”, “Ein Keylohenu”, and “Aleynu” very quickly. Dan was born in Philadelphia and moved to Cincinnati when he was 7. His father, Max Frankel, was the Director of the Bureau of Jewish Education, so the family was very involved in the Jewish community.  Dan was exposed to Jewish artists, authors, and musicians through his father’s Jewish Culture and Arts series and annual Jewish book fair. He has fond memories of meeting and attending performances from Theodore Bikel, the Parvarim, the members of the Chassidic Folk festival, the Diasporah Yeshivah Band, and many others. Dan received some choral training from Abraham Mizrachi when Abe was the chazzan at Adath Israel in Cincinnati. In High School, Dan was an active member of NCSY and learned to play guitar when his best friend suggested they start a band. This band, “Mizmor Shir”, would go on to play many youth events for NCSY in Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland Ohio. The band played classic NCSY melodies and liturgical songs to a rock beat. As an adult, Dan played with the “Mel Present Klezmer Band” in Kansas City. Finally, settling in Georgia, Dan and his friend Steve Hevenstone started Atlanta’s premier rock band, “The Moody Jews”, and performed at many synagogues, festivals, and the Atlanta Aquarium.

Dan grew up Orthodox and attended shul with his father almost every Shabbat and Yom Tov. Back in the 70’s they had the luxury of being able to walk to any of 8 neighborhood synagogues on Shabbat.  During these walks, Dan, his father, and brother would sing Hebrew songs. Hebrew/Jewish music was a big part of the Frankel household, especially after each Shabbat meal when they sung their traditional zemirot and Birkat Hamazon.  Due to diligent study for his Bar Mitzvah, Dan was able to lein Parsha Vayechi, his Haftarah, and led the full Musaf service. Afterwards, Dan became a regular Ba’al Tefilah (mainly Musaf) and Haftarah reader. While Dan’s father taught him how to daven and live a Jewish life, Dan’s mother taught him how to have a Jewish household and how to cook (in large quantities). His favorite holiday is Pesach and regularly makes 40 quarts of chicken soup, 16 quarts of meatballs, his family charoset, chopped liver, and many other delicacies.

Dan and his younger brother attended Yavneh Day School, a secular Jewish Day school (grades K-8). After Yavneh, Dan attended and graduated from Walnut Hills High School.  Next, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Cincinnati. After college, Dan lived in various locations around the country and was an active and participating congregant in each locale. Whenever traveling in the U.S. or abroad, he likes to attend services and enjoy the varying customs and melodies. Regardless of where he was in the world (e.g. on a cruise ship, in India, or in Israel), Dan found the services to be mostly consistent with what he learned growing up.