Irving Berlin (1888-1989) was one of the most iconic American composers and songwriters of the 20th century. He was born as Israel Berlin in Tyumen, Russia, to a Jewish family that fled to the United States when he was just five years old to escape pogroms. As a student at the Hebrew Union College during my cantorial studies, our professors often referenced Berlin as the exemplary American Jewish composer, one who assimilated into–and co-created–American culture and still was always influenced by his Jewish heritage. While he is best known for secular and Americana songs like White Christmas and God Bless America, his Jewish background and immigrant experience profoundly shaped his worldview and, by extension, his music.
Berlin grew up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, a bustling hub of Jewish and other immigrant communities. Growing up in poverty, his early years were undoubtedly shaped by his family’s struggles to assimilate while also maintaining their Jewish identity. And of course, Berlin’s father was a cantor, and the synagogue the birthplace of young Israel’s own love and understanding of melody and composition. He grappled deeply with his identity as the son of a cantor, firmly rooted in tradition, and as someone striving to carve out his own legacy in the New World. It’s no surprise his name was Israel—meaning “one who struggles”—a name that felt heavy enough to change as he navigated the complexities of his multifaceted identity. What truly makes Berlin such an unforgettable composer is his remarkable ability to compose at the intersection of his many identities—Russian, Jewish, and American dreamer, making his music appealing to such broad audience.
And at this time of year, we hear Berlin’s White Christmas in every store, in every secular space. And despite being written for the famous 1954 film of the same name, White Christmas focuses on many Jewish themes like nostalgia, family, and peace. Berlin paints a picture of a simple yet idealized version of the holiday, perhaps how he understood his own home back in Russia after being uprooted from there at such a young age.
For me, Irving’s incredible success in writing universally cherished music exemplifies his pure genius, something that—despite our occasional irritation at the constant flood of Christmas music at this time of year—we can all be proud of him for achieving. His work not only reflects his personal experiences, but it is also a snapshot of this era of Jewish immigration when so many of our families were fleeing to America from places of violence and trauma. Berlin’s songs are a spectacular example of Jewish contributions to American culture, something we can all celebrate.
Listen to Berlin’s God Bless America here.
–Cantor Emma Lutz