Our beloved Cantor Baruch Blum has been at Temple Beth Israel for 31 years. Born in Israel, he studied music with Israel’s renowned music teacher, Daniel Sambourski while attending Yeshiva. After serving in the Army, he migrated with his family to Canada. There he continued the study of voice, music, and dance in Vancouver. In 1967 he came to New York on a scholarship with American Ballet Theatre. Within a year he was performing in Broadway shows and National companies, such as George M and Fiddler on the Roof. One of his singing jobs – with famed Choir director Oscar Julius – introduced him to the world of Chazanut (the leadership of Jewish services using traditional melodies). He met and auditioned for Zvee Aroni, and was accepted to the Manhattan School for Cantors, from which he graduated in 1975. During this time he also became the leading young man of the Yiddish theater, where he worked with such legends as Jacob Jacobs, Ben Bonus, Mina Bern, Leo Fuchs, and Pesach Burstein. A member of the Cantors Assembly, Cantor Blum has served but two Congregations in his long career: Cong. B’nai Israel of Staten Island, for two years, and as a leading pillar of our clergy here at Temple Beth Israel in Port Washington where he remains a constant source of love, pride and devotion to our congregation and community. |
|