Rachel Joy Hyman

1982 -

Rachel Hyman, a mezzo-soprano, specializes in performing music from the Hebrew tradition. A convert to Christianity from Judaism, she initially witnessed by working as a literature evangelist selling Christian literature and then expanded her ministry to become a Bible worker and present concerts that feature heartfelt testimonies about her experience and lively renditions of music from her Jewish heritage.

Rachel was born and raised in a secular Jewish family, one that is aware of its heritage but does not attend services at a synagogue. Her grandparents and other members of her expanded family, however, were practicing Jews who provided her and a twin brother with an awareness of and experience in Jewish traditions, services, and holidays. She fondly remembers the reverent, quiet atmosphere that prevailed in services conducted in the synagogue.

Other than her grandmother, who had played background music on the piano for silent movies, Rachel is the only member of her family who has been a musician. Like other Jews, she viewed the coming of the Messiah as a future event. Her conversion to Christianity started with trips with a family to some Sunday services and a happenstance experience at a Starbucks coffeehouse, where she heard a singer performing secular music.

Not a shy person, Rachel joined with him in singing, became acquainted with him, and attended a service at his church, where she was deeply moved by the intensity of a young person singing about her faith. She began to question her own biases about Christians and their belief in the Messiah.

Rachel subsequently met a Seventh-day Adventist girl of her own age at school and out of that friendship, that friend's and family's knowledge about the Bible, their Sabbath observance, and a vivid born-again experience after praying about anxieties she was experiencing, she gave her heart to Christ and then joined the Adventist church. From the first, when her father had learned of her interest in Christianity and she had left home, he, the family, and her Jewish friends were very angry and in some instances became punitive.

Inspired by her new experience as a Christian, Rachel wanted to share both her conversion story and her musical gift and heritage. She attended Southwestern Adventist University for a semester and then was recruited to participate in an evangelistic program located in Florida. She began to sell Christian literature and has spent several years successfully witnessing through that type of work, an experience she thoroughly enjoys.

Additionally, she has now been a Bible worker for several years. Just recently she agreed to work for a year in the Michigan Conference as a Bible worker at Michigan State University. The University SDA church hosts outreach programs for MSU's 45 thousand students.

Hyman's concerts both inform and inspire audiences and provide what for many is their first exposure to the Middle Eastern, highly rhythmic, and soulful quality of Hebrew music. The path that led to her giving concerts started with a homemade CD titled He Faithfully Leads, that featured Christian classics such as The Holy City. Evangelist Mark Finley heard it and asked her to sing for a series of meetings he was holding. She enjoyed that way of witnessing and began to sing more frequently.

A second CD, Hebrew Psalms of Light, released in 2008, has been hugely popular and, along with other soundtracks she has recorded, has been used in outreach to those of the Jewish faith and for worship by Christian Jews. The success of that CD, and the enthusiasm she encountered in concerts led her to believe that this could be her unique way to witness about her faith and inform the Christian church about Jewish culture. In 2010, she gave 80 concerts in the U.S. and six other countries including Ireland, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Germany, and Ukraine.

Hyman is now preparing a third album, To Remember, which will feature songs familiar to Jewish people. She recently spoke about this CD, which is scheduled for released in August 2011:

It is a Judaic music CD with words in both Hebrew and English, songs that are sung at Jewish summer camps and celebrations and in synagogue services. This album is being recorded specifically to help remind Jewish people about their roots and to encourage them to renew a relationship with a loving God.

Many Jews found it difficult after World War II and the Holocaust to believe in God. The first step, I think, is about bringing God back into their lives. The album will also serve to help Christians remember their Jewish roots.

Her music has been described as "full of the joy of the Eternal One" and music that "spiritually calms" and "brings uplifting happiness." Listeners have been cautioned by one who attended her concerts to "Bring your dancing shoes, you will want to use them."

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Additional information about Rachel Hyman, her music, and CD's is available at www.RachelHyman.org.

Sources: An interview with Rachel Hyman by Claus Nybo, director, Lifestyle TV, 26 April 2009, vimeo.com; Morning Song Concerts website; Conversation with Rachel Hyman, 9 February 2011; other online sites.