Leaving a Legacy: Cantor Finkelstein celebrated with concert at Beth Yeshurun
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JHV: DANIEL BISSONNET
Cantor Gideon Zelermyer, Cantor Rachel Goldman, Cantor Meir Finkelstein, Cantor Azi Schwartz and Cantor Netanel Hershtik. |
An old audio recording of a 13-year-old Meir Finkelstein from his 1964 Bar Mitzvah was played on the loudspeaker inside Beth Yeshurun’s Barg Sanctuary.
Delivering his Bar Mitzvah speech from the bimah, a young Meir said when he grows up, he wishes to be a cantor just like his father.
Nearly 60 years later, more than a thousand people filled the largest Conservative synagogue in the country to celebrate those exact words – that not only came to fruition, but left a lasting impact on Jews all around the world.
“The Musical Legacy of Cantor Meir Finkelstein” took center stage at Beth Yeshurun on March 31, hitting all the high notes along the way.
“It was a very special evening and very emotional,” Cantor Finkelstein told the JHV after the concert. “The outpouring of love was overwhelming.”
Cantor Finkelstein, who will be leaving Beth Yeshurun on May 1, was joined on the bimah by future Beth Yeshurun Cantor Rachel Goldman, who will begin her tenure in Houston on July 1.
Also featured were Cantor Azi Schwartz from Park Avenue Synagogue in New York, Cantor Netanel Hershtik from The Hampton Synagogue in New York and Cantor Gideon Zelermyer from Congregation Shaar Hashomayim in Montreal, Canada.
“To share the stage with such incredible talent and friends was such a joy,” Cantor Goldman told the JHV after the concert. “It was such an enormous feeling of emotion. It was a night of l’dor v’dor [from generation to generation].
“You could peel some love off the walls. There will be love sticking around that sanctuary for a while. We all had so much fun being together.”
The program ran through nearly a dozen original compositions by Cantor Finkelstein, as well as remarks from Beth Yeshurun Rabbi Brian Strauss and synagogue president, David Stein.
Cantor Finkelstein has composed more than 100 settings of the liturgy, many of which now are part of the regular musical repertoire of synagogues around the world.
“It was an all-encompassing, emotional experience for the audience,” Cantor Finkelstein said. “And, it took them on a journey from when I was a child singing with my dad to this current moment.
“It was 35 years of music, and there was a lot of music that wasn’t included because there wasn’t enough time. We could have easily had a night 2, 3 and 4.
While the cantors’ voices soared, they were backed up by several talented musicians.
Julie Sacks served as the accompanist, while the band included David Goldstein (bass), David Lerner (drums) and Michael Wheeler (guitar).
A new, stunning Yamaha C7 piano featured in the program was underwritten by Michael and Julie Kaplan, in memory of Myra Kaplan, who loved music and Jewish life.
The Beth Yeshurun Day School choir also took part, singing with Cantor Finkelstein, who accompanied them on piano.
“It was really special to see their excitement and smiles,” Cantor Goldman said.
Stephen Glass directed the concert, while Rhona and Bruce Caress were executive producers, and Lori Herzog, Cary Hoffman and Julie Kaplan served as chairs.
“Cantor Finkelstein’s music is currently performed all over the world in Conservative, Reform and Orthodox congregations,” Glass said. “His compositions are adored by cantors, choirs and congregants.
“His deep understanding of and respect for the texts he sets, combined with his natural gift for melody and a broad and imaginative harmonic palette, have created some of the most well-known and beloved music sung in synagogues today.”
While Cantor Finkelstein will be leaving on May 1 for his new congregation in Palm Beach, Fla., his music will be permanently archived in Houston.
Working with Amanda Focke, Debra Kolah, Dara Flinn and Dr. Josh Furman, the Fondren Library at Rice University has created a complete digital and physical archive of Cantor Finkelstein’s compositions and performances.
This archive ensures the cantor’s liturgical music will be available digitally, at no cost, to any composer, cantor or member of the public who would like to access it.
The original, hand-written compositions also will be available from a repository at Rice through inter-library loan. Several private donors stepped up to fund this project, including Diane and Alan Levin.
“There’s no doubt that Cantor Finkelstein’s compositions deserve a permanent place in the music of the Jewish people,” Glass said.
Even though his legacy was celebrated, Cantor Finkelstein said his musical journey is not complete.
“I’m not done yet,” he said. “I will definitely be working on new compositions.”
Although leaving Houston is bittersweet, Cantor Finkelstein is excited for both his new chapter and Beth Yeshurun’s future.
“I’m very proud that I had the opportunity of introducing Rachel to the congregation,” he said. “I’m very proud of her and wish her the best. Beth Yeshurun will be in very good hands.”
See all the photos in the print and E-editions of the Jewish Herald-Voice. To make sure you are not missing out, subscribe to the print edition or subscribe to and read the E-edition right now.
Delivering his Bar Mitzvah speech from the bimah, a young Meir said when he grows up, he wishes to be a cantor just like his father.
Nearly 60 years later, more than a thousand people filled the largest Conservative synagogue in the country to celebrate those exact words – that not only came to fruition, but left a lasting impact on Jews all around the world.
“The Musical Legacy of Cantor Meir Finkelstein” took center stage at Beth Yeshurun on March 31, hitting all the high notes along the way.
“It was a very special evening and very emotional,” Cantor Finkelstein told the JHV after the concert. “The outpouring of love was overwhelming.”
Cantor Finkelstein, who will be leaving Beth Yeshurun on May 1, was joined on the bimah by future Beth Yeshurun Cantor Rachel Goldman, who will begin her tenure in Houston on July 1.
Also featured were Cantor Azi Schwartz from Park Avenue Synagogue in New York, Cantor Netanel Hershtik from The Hampton Synagogue in New York and Cantor Gideon Zelermyer from Congregation Shaar Hashomayim in Montreal, Canada.
“To share the stage with such incredible talent and friends was such a joy,” Cantor Goldman told the JHV after the concert. “It was such an enormous feeling of emotion. It was a night of l’dor v’dor [from generation to generation].
“You could peel some love off the walls. There will be love sticking around that sanctuary for a while. We all had so much fun being together.”
The program ran through nearly a dozen original compositions by Cantor Finkelstein, as well as remarks from Beth Yeshurun Rabbi Brian Strauss and synagogue president, David Stein.
Cantor Finkelstein has composed more than 100 settings of the liturgy, many of which now are part of the regular musical repertoire of synagogues around the world.
“It was an all-encompassing, emotional experience for the audience,” Cantor Finkelstein said. “And, it took them on a journey from when I was a child singing with my dad to this current moment.
“It was 35 years of music, and there was a lot of music that wasn’t included because there wasn’t enough time. We could have easily had a night 2, 3 and 4.
While the cantors’ voices soared, they were backed up by several talented musicians.
Julie Sacks served as the accompanist, while the band included David Goldstein (bass), David Lerner (drums) and Michael Wheeler (guitar).
A new, stunning Yamaha C7 piano featured in the program was underwritten by Michael and Julie Kaplan, in memory of Myra Kaplan, who loved music and Jewish life.
The Beth Yeshurun Day School choir also took part, singing with Cantor Finkelstein, who accompanied them on piano.
“It was really special to see their excitement and smiles,” Cantor Goldman said.
Stephen Glass directed the concert, while Rhona and Bruce Caress were executive producers, and Lori Herzog, Cary Hoffman and Julie Kaplan served as chairs.
“Cantor Finkelstein’s music is currently performed all over the world in Conservative, Reform and Orthodox congregations,” Glass said. “His compositions are adored by cantors, choirs and congregants.
“His deep understanding of and respect for the texts he sets, combined with his natural gift for melody and a broad and imaginative harmonic palette, have created some of the most well-known and beloved music sung in synagogues today.”
While Cantor Finkelstein will be leaving on May 1 for his new congregation in Palm Beach, Fla., his music will be permanently archived in Houston.
Working with Amanda Focke, Debra Kolah, Dara Flinn and Dr. Josh Furman, the Fondren Library at Rice University has created a complete digital and physical archive of Cantor Finkelstein’s compositions and performances.
This archive ensures the cantor’s liturgical music will be available digitally, at no cost, to any composer, cantor or member of the public who would like to access it.
The original, hand-written compositions also will be available from a repository at Rice through inter-library loan. Several private donors stepped up to fund this project, including Diane and Alan Levin.
“There’s no doubt that Cantor Finkelstein’s compositions deserve a permanent place in the music of the Jewish people,” Glass said.
Even though his legacy was celebrated, Cantor Finkelstein said his musical journey is not complete.
“I’m not done yet,” he said. “I will definitely be working on new compositions.”
Although leaving Houston is bittersweet, Cantor Finkelstein is excited for both his new chapter and Beth Yeshurun’s future.
“I’m very proud that I had the opportunity of introducing Rachel to the congregation,” he said. “I’m very proud of her and wish her the best. Beth Yeshurun will be in very good hands.”
See all the photos in the print and E-editions of the Jewish Herald-Voice. To make sure you are not missing out, subscribe to the print edition or subscribe to and read the E-edition right now.