A Golden Voice Sings Of The City Of Gold,Naomi Klass Mauer

There are some events of which it can truly be said, "It doesn't get better than this." I experienced one on Sunday March 11 at the stately Park East Synagogue in Manhattan. Founded in 1890 and run as an Orthodox congregation ever since, it was designated a historic landmark in 1981 and restored in 1988.

The elegance of the shul provided a perfect setting for prayer and a cantorial concert featuring world-renowned Cantor Yitzchak Meir Helfgot. Not surprisingly he sang to a sold-out audience.

Helfgot's golden voice and the power behind it brings to mind the great chazzanim of the past who brought tears to the eyes of their listeners and left them breathless and eager for more. Members of the audience rose from their seats and showered Helfgot with thunderous applause, hoping for just one more song. No one wanted this magical evening to end.

Chazzan Helfgot was accompanied by the Park East Synagogue choir under the direction of the young but very talented Cantor Azi Schwartz.

The concert was titled, "Return to Jerusalem," marking the forthcoming 40th anniversary of the Six-Day War when, indeed, we returned to Jerusalem.

It was also a pre-Pesach concert commemorating one of the three holidays when Jews would go up to Jerusalem in biblical days. In keeping with this theme Cantor Azi Schwartz, whose charm matches his sweet voice, sang a Jerusalem medley with which the audience sang along.

Chazzan Helfgot also sang about Jerusalem, as it is mentioned in our prayers. But two of the most moving selections were the prayers for the soldiers of Israel and for the State of Israel.

The prayer for the soldiers was only recently set to music by Israeli conductor Dr. Mordechai Sobol, and was performed for the first time in Israel last month by Chazzan Helfgot, and now for the second time at Park East. It will very likely become a song, regularly sung in this shul and many others.

The final piece of the evening was the prayer for Israel. No matter how many times one has heard it, hearing Chazzan Helfgot sing it is an uplifting experience.

Dr. Ruth Westheimer, who was in the audience remarked to me, "These days when there is so much unhappiness between different segments of Jews, I was moved by the new melody of the prayer for soldiers. I was thinking of the kidnapped soldiers, but I also realized what an amazing thing it was for all of us, Jews of every kind, to be sitting together and hearing this prayer.

"Perhaps it had special meaning for me because I was in the Hagannah from 1947 through 1948, and on June 4 1948 a cannon exploded in the girls' residence in Jerusalem where I lived. Some of the girls were killed and I was badly wounded in my legs. It was only thanks to a brilliant surgeon that my legs were saved.

"But I think that everyone hearing Cantor Helfgot sing that prayer appreciated it. I am also very saddened by some of the hatred coming from some of our own Jewish people. These two prayers gave me hope for the future."

This review would not be complete without mentioning the scholarly Rabbi Arthur Schneier. When he speaks it is from the heart, and his love of Jews and of Israel is readily apparent. He has been the rabbi of Park East Synagogue for 45 years and it is to his credit that the shul thrives.

Mention must also be made of Dr. Michael Reich, chairman of the evening, who introduced each selection with a little story. Co-chairs were Mr. Marvin Jacob and Dr. Daniel Roses. Raymond Goldstein was the pianist.

As Dr. Ruth put it, "We need more such evenings and I would hope that they can be accessible to young people as well."

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