[Geraldine Auerbach]

Dear Colleagues and Friends

I am starting a topic on ‘Synagogue Music’  that I hope will stimulate discussion and infomation from those involved with Synagogue music of all descriptions.

This posting is a report on the launching of Michael Jolles’s long awaited and hugely informative and inclusive  Encyclopaedia of the British Cantorate from 1656 to the present day. It also gives information on how you can download a free copy of this book.

“The Jolles Encyclopaedia is an astounding accomplishment and one I will be referring to for decades, I expect. I’ve barely cracked the surface and am already floored by the beautiful devotion of your research endeavour”. Dr Jeremiah Lockwood, New York.

The European Cantors Association (ECA) was honoured to launch Dr Michael Jolles’s Encyclopaedia of British Jewish Cantors, Chazanim, Ministers and Synagogue Musicians: their history and culture on 6 October 2021.

Up to now cantors have been largely ignored by historians. At last, we have, in Jolles Encyclopaedia, a dedicated and comprehensive introduction to cantors and cantorial music, as well as documentation of over 2000 members of the profession who have served in the UK from 1656 to the present day. This compilation, ten years in the making, includes not only the great chazanim in the UK, such as the Kusevitskys and Mombachs that people have heard of, but also includes all those who have served – and those who still serve in this capacity – up and down the country in synagogues large and small.  In its over 870 pages, Dr Michael Jolles, the  independent researcher and eminent Jewish historian has compiled fascinating  information not available anywhere else. The work is continually being revised and added to as readers write in with additional information. From time-to-time updated versions will be posted for download.

To download a copy of the Encyclopaedia email: DownloadJollesEncyclopaedia@cantors.eu

and to write to the editors suggesting additional material, amendments, photographs, discographies, references to academic sources, and links to appropriate websites email EditorialJollesEncyclopaedia@cantors.eu.

Guest speakers from around the world at the launch event on Wednesday 6 October spoke of its uniqueness and wealth of information. They included Professor Mark Kligman of UCLA, Dr Alexander Knapp Research Associate, SOAS, University of London; Michael Goldstein President of the United Synagogue, UK; Dr Amalia Kedem, Senior Archivist of the National Library of Israel, Jerusalem; Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum Dean of the London School of Jewish Studies; Cantor Robert Kieval, Past President of the Cantors Assembly USA; Cantor Matt Austerklein Halle-Wittenberg University; David Prager of London and Cantor Yehuda Marx of Manchester, (of the editorial team); and Dr Michael Jolles himself.

ECA welcomes this focus on cantors and the cantorate – especially at a time when cantors continue to be disregarded in the orthodox synagogues of the United Kingdom. There is a real danger of their profession collapsing altogether, for lack of standards required, training, and employment conditions.

(You can see and listen to this launch event again on the ECA YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilbPfCkxR0Y

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[Geraldine Auerbach]

Dear Colleagues and Friends
we are happy to announce the 14th ECA Cantors Convention, 2022 that will take place at the Rumbach Street Synagogue, Budapest
Wednesday 2 November (13:00) – Monday 7 November (13:00)
Re-invigorating Nusach for the 21st Century
Faculty includes
Asher Hainovitz (Jerusalem), Benny Rogosnitzky (New York) Beny Maissner (Montreal) Faith Steinsnyder (New York) Jeremiah Lockwood (New York)
Mark Kligman (Los Angeles) Natan Baram (Los Angeles)
Highlights: teaching sessions and masterclasses at the highest levels; Gala Concerts and open mic opportunities by our visiting cantors and choirs (male and mixed) from the UK, Europe and USA; an inspirational Shabbat of choral and cantorial beauty and a tour of Jewish Budapest. Daily minyanim will be held as desired by the group – all taking place in the newly refurbished beautiful Rumbach Street Synagogue, Budapest see attached:
Convention fees for all delegates £245 (£145 for students)
to include all sessions, concerts and all meals.
Choir members and accompanying guests joining for all meals and concerts £125 Accommodation is not included. Recommended hotels will be listed on the website.
Apply now on the registration form attached below (or on the website http://www.cantors.eu)
attached is the poister and the registration form

Supported by the Jewish community of Hungary, The Lowell Milken Center for Music of American Jewish Experience UCLA, and the Jewish Music Institute SOAS University of London

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