Mordechai Hershman
Encyclopedia
Mordecai Hershman was a Russian-Jewish cantor
("hazzan
") and singer.
. Although as a child he showed musical talent at an early age, participating in several synagogue
choirs, when his father died when he was six years old his adoptive family did not encourage him to pursue his talent. At age twelve he was adopted by his grandfather, who moved with him to Solovio, where he began receiving formal training from cantor Dorfman. In 1904 he was appointed to the post of hazzan in Zhitomir, but he stayed there only a few months before he was offered a position as assistant hazzan of Vilna. After several years, the principle hazzan died and Hershman took up the position.
During World War I, Hershman was drafted into the Russian army. Legend has it that his commanding officer was so impressed by his tenor voice that he released him from duty. After the war, Hershman returned to his post in Vilna. The community granted him leave to lead the services only two Sabbath
s a month so that he could tour and concertize the rest of the time. Hershman appeared throughout Europe, singing both liturgical works and operatic arias.
In 1920, Hershman emigrated to the United States where he was took a position as chief hazzan at the Beth El Temple in Brooklyn
, New York, a position he held for 10 years. During his time at Beth El Temple and afterwards, he continued to tour throughout America, Europe and Palestine
. As was customary of noted hazzanim of the time, Hershman released several records of cantorial and Jewish folk music.
Hershman died in 1940.
selections. Many of his liturgical recordings were composed by the noted composer Yaakov (Jacob) Rapoport. Hershman himself did not compose music. In 1925, Pinchas Yasinovski composed a segment for Hershman, entitled "At the end of days" ("Vehaya Beacharit Haymim") for the inauguration of the Hebrew University campus at Mount Scopus
. The text is from the Book of Isaiah
, and the tune is based on the traditional cantillation notes. Hershman recorded the segment in the U.S., accompanied by strings and wind instruments, and it is considered one of his finest recordings.
Cantor (church)
A cantor is the chief singer employed in a church with responsibilities for the ecclesiastical choir; also called the precentor....
("hazzan
Hazzan
A hazzan or chazzan is a Jewish cantor, a musician trained in the vocal arts who helps lead the congregation in songful prayer.There are many rules relating to how a cantor should lead services, but the idea of a cantor as a paid professional does not exist in classical rabbinic sources...
") and singer.
Biography
Mordechai Hershman (1888–1940) was born in Chernigov in the UkraineUkraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. Although as a child he showed musical talent at an early age, participating in several synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
choirs, when his father died when he was six years old his adoptive family did not encourage him to pursue his talent. At age twelve he was adopted by his grandfather, who moved with him to Solovio, where he began receiving formal training from cantor Dorfman. In 1904 he was appointed to the post of hazzan in Zhitomir, but he stayed there only a few months before he was offered a position as assistant hazzan of Vilna. After several years, the principle hazzan died and Hershman took up the position.
During World War I, Hershman was drafted into the Russian army. Legend has it that his commanding officer was so impressed by his tenor voice that he released him from duty. After the war, Hershman returned to his post in Vilna. The community granted him leave to lead the services only two Sabbath
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
s a month so that he could tour and concertize the rest of the time. Hershman appeared throughout Europe, singing both liturgical works and operatic arias.
In 1920, Hershman emigrated to the United States where he was took a position as chief hazzan at the Beth El Temple in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York, a position he held for 10 years. During his time at Beth El Temple and afterwards, he continued to tour throughout America, Europe and Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
. As was customary of noted hazzanim of the time, Hershman released several records of cantorial and Jewish folk music.
Hershman died in 1940.
Hershman's voice
Hershman ranks among the great cantors of the golden age of Jewish cantorial music at the start of the 20th century. His mellow tenor voice thrilled his audiences, and his cantorial arias have become classics of the Ashkenazic cantorial repertoire. Some of his most famous melodies are: "Aylu Devarim", "Akavia ben Mahalael" and "Modim Anachnu Lecha". In addition to liturgical material, Hershman also recorded Yiddish songs as well as operaOpera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
selections. Many of his liturgical recordings were composed by the noted composer Yaakov (Jacob) Rapoport. Hershman himself did not compose music. In 1925, Pinchas Yasinovski composed a segment for Hershman, entitled "At the end of days" ("Vehaya Beacharit Haymim") for the inauguration of the Hebrew University campus at Mount Scopus
Mount Scopus
Mount Scopus , جبل المشهد , جبل الصوانة) is a mountain in northeast Jerusalem. In the wake of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Mount Scopus became a UN protected Jewish exclave within Jordanian-occupied territory until the Six-Day War in 1967...
. The text is from the Book of Isaiah
Isaiah
Isaiah ; Greek: ', Ēsaïās ; "Yahu is salvation") was a prophet in the 8th-century BC Kingdom of Judah.Jews and Christians consider the Book of Isaiah a part of their Biblical canon; he is the first listed of the neviim akharonim, the later prophets. Many of the New Testament teachings of Jesus...
, and the tune is based on the traditional cantillation notes. Hershman recorded the segment in the U.S., accompanied by strings and wind instruments, and it is considered one of his finest recordings.
External sources
- Biography at the site of the Hebrew University
- http://www.chazzanut.com/articles/hershman.html