In the Beginning

This journey began, unbeknownst to me, at a very early age. I always used to sing around the house as a child, and thought nothing of it. I recall my grandmother telling me that I should be an opera singer when I was only 8 years old, but never really thought much of that idea.

What I did like were the albums she used to listen to of the old cantors. For some reason I was attracted to vocals in Hebrew and the melodic voices of the hazzanim.

Even as a young child I felt a yearning to go to Israel, even to live there. I was taught that Israel is our home. I firmly believed that then, and still believe it is true today.

As I grew, I continued singing and joined the youth choir at our synanogue as well as the choir in school. I recall walking to services and singing in the choir for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. It brought me great joy to be able to do that.

Over the years, as with many of our young, I moved away from synagogue life. Many years later I would "rediscover" my roots and my love of singing in the choir.

I joined a synagogue and their adult choir, relishing in the experience. While at that synagogue I was fortunate enough to receive training as a lay hazzan from the cantor, and was taught to lead the weekday Mincha/Maariv as well as Friday night and Saturday Morning services. This allowed me to feel a much stronger connection to and appreciation of Hashem.

I had the opportunity to visit Israel with my wife a number of years ago, and to have a bar Mitzvah for our oldest son at the Kotel the following year. Both of these visits stirred in me deep feelings for Israel, strengthened my desire to learn more of my People, infused me with a higher level of spirituality and re-awakened in me the memories of the albums I used to hear as a child.

As time went on I began to feel that Hashem had given me a gift and that I should use it in His honor. I have stopped singing songs in English and mostly when I sing now, it is in prayer.

For many years I have been in a different industry, and for the last several years had my own company. The current economic conditions caused all of my customers to "go away". I look at this situation as a gift and a clear message from Hashem. It has given me the opportunity to pursue what has been a life-long dream --- to study in Israel --- and to study to become a hazzan.

I was sitting at my computer one evening when my wife came in and asked if I would be interrested in a six-month program in Israel. She had found a school there. My immediate response was "YES". After looking into the school it was clear that this would provide me with the education and skills that I had been wanting for many years. Further discussion with people from the school made it clear that I should be prepared to spend a year to complete my studies.

I would be terribly remiss if I did not give credit to my wife at this point. It was her discovery of the school and her support for my journey that has made this possible.