Cantor Berele Zaltsman

חזן ברלה זלצמן

9 songs 1 album

Chazan Berele Zaltsman was born in 1936 in Russia, to a cantorial, musical family. As a youngster, his musical talent was soon evident, and in the underground Synagogue where the family prayed, a great future was predicted for him. When he grew up, he was also renowned as a popular and classical singer on the Soviet radio. Chazan Zaltsman's beautiful voice and knowledge of the Services helped to bring Russian youth closer to their heritage. For fourteen years, Chazan Zaltsman prayed in "underground" Synagogues. During his last three years in Russia, he was the Chief Chazan of a Synagogue in one of Russia's largest cities. Although he was invited to be the Chief Chazan of the Great Synagogue in Moscow, he declined, fearing that this would hinder his endeavours to get to Israel. After five years of struggle, he was permitted in 1971 to leave, fulfilling his lifelong wish of going to Israel, together with his wife and six children who, despite great emotional hardships and mental strain, were educated as God-fearing Jews. In Rosh Hashana of that year he visited the Lubavitcher Rebbe in Brooklyn, having been a Chabadnik even while in Russia. His Mussaf Prayers in the Lubavitcher Synagogue in Brooklyn was an unforgettable experience bringing tears to the eyes of the more than 3,000 worshippers there. Chazan Zaltsman toured the United States and Canada, where he gave concerts, and though was invited to remain as Chazan in large communities, declined all offers, for the Rebbe had told him to live in the Holy Land, in Nachlat Har Chabad. This was in accordance with Chazan Zaltzman's lifelong wish to live in Israel, where he presently resides.