A number of years ago, I was listening to some Cantorial music in the car, and Shaya said to me, “He sounds like he wants his Abba!” I can think of no better description for the Chazzanut and tefilla of the person I was listening to- Yossele Rosenblatt (1882-1933), the legendary Chazzan whose 88th yahrtzeit will be observed this Shabbat, the 25th of Sivan. For an excellent biographical article about his remarkable career, please readthis excellent piece by David Olivestone that appeared in the fall 2003 edition of Jewish Action magazine.
It is especially appropriate that Yossele Rosenblatt’s yahrtzeit is observed on the Shabbat of Parshat Shelach. The narrative of the meragelim, the spies sent by Moshe to perform reconnaissance over the land of Israel, is viewed as a cautionary tale about the importance of loving and speaking positively about the land of Israel. It was Yossele Rosenblatt’s dream to settle in Israel, and he spent several weeks there in May and June of 1933 to lay the groundwork for making aliyah. During that trip, he filmed a movie titled “Dream of my People,” in which he sang original compositions, setting biblical texts to music and singing those songs at the biblical sites the text describes. On what was supposed to be the final Shabbat of his trip to the land of Israel, he led davening at the legendary Churvah Shul in the Old City of Jerusalem. It was so packed, people were climbing the walls from the outside to be able to listen through the windows! That evening, he spent Seudah Shlishit with Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook, the Chief Rabbi of the Land of Israel. The next day, he suffered a fatal heart attack and died, at the age of 51. His final Shabbat in Israel turned out to be his final Shabbat on earth, and he never left his beloved land. Rav Kook delivered the eulogy and 5,000 mourners attended his funeral on Har Hazeitim.
In honor of Parshat Shelach, I would like to share with you a few selections from Yossele Rosenblatt’s repertoire whose words speak about Yerushalaim or of Eretz Yisrael; I think he is at his most poignant and eloquent when he sings these words.
Tikanto Shabbos- From Shabbat Mussaf; closes with the prayer “May it be your will, Our God and the God of our Forefather, that you return us with joy to our land, and implant us within its borders, and there we will offer daily sacrifices according to their order, and additional sacrifices according to their specific laws.”
Tisgadal Vesiskadash- taken from the Kedusha of Shabbat morning Shacharit: “May you be exalted and sanctified amidst your city Jerusalem, for every generation and for eternity. May our eyes see your dominion, as is said in the songs of your might, by the hands of David, your anointed one.”
Shir Hama’alot- This tune for Shir Hamaalot before Birkat Hamazon is ubiquitous throughout the Jewish world. Whether it was composed by Rosenblatt or another famous Chazzan, Pinchas Minkowsky, is the subject of some debate, but it certainly was sung widely by Rosenblatt. Chaim Nachman Bialik reportedly felt it should be the anthem of the Jewish State. The yearning for the return to Zion is felt in every syllable; note that it is sung in a slower tempo in the original than most people sing it.
In a more upbeat vein, Hallelu is Yossele’s exuberant setting of the first paragraph of Hallel, in honor of Rosh Chodesh Tammuz, which will be on Thursday and Friday.
Hakarat HaTov
A special Hakarat HaTov to the members of the youth committee for their hard work in identifying and interviewing candidates for the position of youth director. We are excited to welcome Joseph Hamaoui and his family this weekend, which has been orchestrated by the committee. Please take the opportunity to get to know him, and please thank Lydia Belzer, Jimmy Davis, Merissa Kogutt and Jacques Ohayon for their hard work.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky
Congregation Shaare Tefilla 6131 Churchill Way Dallas, TX 75230
