Jewish Scene
The father of all cantors
Yoav Friedman
Published: 07.09.08, 07:58
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17 Talkbacks for this article
1. Remembering my grandfather
silene balassiano ,   Rio de Janeiro Brazi   (09.07.08)
I have two 78LP of the great Yossele. If someone has interest of they please contact me. I will give them.
2. Not Edison !
Charles ,   Petach Tikva   (09.07.08)
The record disc gramophone [ the "black" disc ] was invented by Berliner , a Jewish American born in Germany . Al Jolson [ also Jewish ] then played in the first talking film , the Jazz Singer .
3. "Rosenblatt uniqueness was"
Miriam ,   Israel   (09.07.08)
that he was a great Cantor and a Chassidic Jew.
4.  Unbelievable I never hear such wonderful voice
e.m Jordan is Palse ,   s.f   (09.07.08)
The infinity voice
5. Positively serene!
Talula ,   Israel   (09.07.08)
Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! His voice touched my soul. Calm down Miriam, I'm not stopping off in Bnei Brak on my way home to buy a sheitel.
6. 3 miriam talks as antisemites do
Charles ,   Petach Tikva   (09.07.08)
she wrote : if there were no Holocaust , there would have been no State of Israel . 100 % as anti Israel antisemites do . And she claims to be a "religious" woman who suffered from the Shoa . Shame on you , disgrace on your [ ? ] people
7. # 5 Talula
Sagi ,   Israel   (09.07.08)
I'll let you off with the sheitel but what about the mikve, have you been there today ? I hope your dress is from neck to toe, oh, and smells of good heimishe ghetto cooking, otherwise it 's not genuine. Have you booked your trip to Uman this year ? Don't leave it too late.
8. one of a kind! Deep, sweet, simply awesome
gabriela ben ari ,   jerusalem   (09.07.08)
9. Inspiring and awesome!
Rivkah ,   Jerusalem   (09.07.08)
His davening is unique and wonderful. Thank you. Several translation errors: 1) The first cantorial selection, the "hineni" is a very special cantorial solo and recited before the Additional Silent prayer (Amidah) on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) - nothing to do with "return." 2) Cantorial music is not "cantillation". Cantillation is the musical notation in reading of the Torah and the Haftara. Cantorial singing is more properly called "liturgy" or cantorial singing. 3) Noone stands "before a column" in a synagogue, but a cantor stands at the bimah or before a congregation. Thank you again.
10. A man of iron-clad principle
The Green Baron ,   Bethesda, MD, USA   (09.08.08)
Not only did Cantor Rosenblatt have an amazing voice, but he also was a man of iron-clad principle. He declined a highly lucrative offer to perform regularly at New York's Metropolitan Opera House. First of all, he would have had to violate Shabbat, and this he steadfastly refused to do. Secondly, he refused to have to play the role of the type of person he would not allow to cross his threshold. Such principled action is rare these days, regrettably!
11. Yossele 5765
Kerwood Derby ,   Frostbite Falls   (09.08.08)
It is said that R' Abraham Isaac Kook z"tl, warned Yossele of his death and Al Jolson got the role in the TJS only after Yossele turned it down. You can hear modern use of Yossele voice in the song "Yossele 5765" here http://www.jewishjukebox.com/RealAudio/1722/13676.ram
12. #7 Me, in a mikva?
Talula ,   Israel   (09.08.08)
HA HA HA HA HA!!!! I don't THINK so!! A mikva was thought up by men, for men. A naked women, surrounded by women, being washed by women - come on!! it's the male fantasy. And I don't want to be a part of that, Thank you! Just the thought of going near a mikvah makes me feel quite queasy.
13. Too beautiful to describe, brought tears to my eyes
Beth Landau ,   TA, Israel   (09.08.08)
14. Caruso once said...
Dorothy Friend ,   Tel Aviv   (09.10.08)
...he was glad that Rosenblatt was a cantor, because he, Rosenblatt, would have been a real rival in the opera house!
15. I just heard the recording..I have tears in my eyes...
Al   (09.11.08)
We Jews need to get back to our roots. Modern Israel is failing us. We need our religion, our tradition our Yiddishe Neshuma. Its time to get back to being Jews... Once we will be Jews than the bloody anti-semites will fear us for then the fighting Jew will emerge.
16. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Petra ,   USA   (09.12.08)
SEEMS FOREVER SINCE I'VE ASKED THAT THE MUSIC YOU DESCRIBE IS HEARD. NOTHING CAN DO THE SAME AS HEARING IT FOR YOURSELF. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE DR. ORDERED, MUSIC, BEAUTIFUL, POWERFUL MUSIC! FABULOUS VOICE FORM A MAN OF TRUE CONVISTION AND HIGHER PRINCIPLES. MORE MOOOOOOORE PLEASE. WE SHOULD HAVE LIBRARIES OF ALL OUR JEWISH HEROES, MUSIC! MUSIC! MAGICIAL MYSTICAL MUSIC! AND ESPECIALLY FROM SUCH A GIFTED CANTOR!!! EVERY POP SINGER SHOULD KNOW WHAT TRUE BRILLIANT VOICES CAN DO. THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!! SHALOM AND BRACA FROM THE USA. ABSOLUTELY MARVELLOUS, TEARS OF JOY FROM SUCH A BEAUTIFUL GOD GIVEN VOICE, AND I'M A SINGER. ( AFTER HEARING HIM MAYBE AN EX SINGER, LOL)
17. Yossele, my father's grand-uncle
David Kronish ,   Alon Shvut, Israel   (06.16.10)
My father, Herb Kronish , Z"L, had great pride in "his" grand-uncle. Dad loved to listen to the Chazzanus of Reb Yossele and to talk about him. I had been assigned a project for a course here in Michlelet Herzog. And then it hit me-make a very short video on Yossele's life , including his dilemmas stemming from his religious convictions. I began a search all over the internet and have found wonderful photos and songs of Yossele-very nostalgic for me. It brings back the spirit-the neshama -of my father.You words are a nechama for me!
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