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C omm u n i t y new s
The Great Neck News, Friday, June 17, 2016
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Temple Israel to honor cantor Frieder
Cantor Raphael Frieder
Temple Israel of Great Neck honored its cantor, Raphael Frieder, for 25 years of service to the congregation with a gala journal dinner dance attended by more than 300 congregants and admirers earlier this month. In addition, a number of noted cantors joined him in staging a concert in his honor before the dinner. “When Cantor Frieder was told he would be the dinner honoree, he decided to show his appreciation by inviting outstanding cantors from other congregations—his closest colleagues and friends—to join him in this outstanding concert,” said Sam Husney, who chaired the concert portion of the program. The concert featured cantors Magda Fishman of Temple Beth El of Stamford, Connecticut, Dov Keren of New York’s Sutton Place Synagogue, Henry Rosenblum of the Forest Hills Jewish Center, Elizabeth Shammash of Tiferet Bet Israel in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and Sol Zim of the Hollis Hills Jewish Center. The performers were joined by Cantor Lauren Phillips, who grew up at Temple Israel and received training from Cantor Frieder, is a graduate of the Temple Israel schools, and now serves as the cantor for Congregation Sinai in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Also joining them was Daniel Frankel, another graduate of the congregation’s schools, who has performed in many Temple
Cantor Frieder said: “What was Israel play productions. Frieder said the concert fea- the main thing that made it all so tured “the important music in rewarding throughout these 25 my life.” years? I quickly realized the obHe said he selected the mu- vious answer. It’s the people! It’s sic based on items that have all of you! You have opened your something to do with his his- hearts to me, and allowed me to tory, music that has inspired him be part of your lives. You did it through the years and has had by being with me at services and an impact on his career. holidays, and joining in the jourThe program included a ney of prayer by singing with me wide range of music including a the tunes that we sing together, combination of light chazanut, and by silently singing along opera and Broadway music. with your heart the prayers that Because the concert was on I chant out loud by myself. You Yom Yerushalayim, an Israeli did it by trusting me to teach holiday marking the reunifica- your children, preparing them tion of Jerusalem, Israeli music for their Bar or Bat Mitzvah, or was also an important part of working with them in the chilthe program. dren’s choir. And then, of course, The cantor was born in Israel there were lifecycle events. I’ve and studied singing and choral enjoyed singing at hundreds of conducting in Tel Aviv. weddings, and mourned the loss He served as a paratrooper of beloved family members with with the Israeli Army before so many of you. …I thank you turning to a career in Jewish all.” music. The dinner dance, the conHe has performed with the gregation’s 51st annual celebraNew Israeli Opera as well as with tion, was chaired by Susan and all of Israel’s major orchestras. Bob Lopatkin and Rebecca and Frieder has toured exten- Sassan Sassouni, who were sively in Israel, Europe, and the joined by a large number of conUnited States, and has worked gregants in planning the event. with some of the world’s leading Temple Israel of Great Neck, conductors. the region’s largest Conservative He has served as the can- Jewish congregation, is an egalitor at Temple Israel since 1991 tarian synagogue located at 108 and also teaches chazzanut at Old Mill Road. the H.L. Miller Cantorial School It offers a wide range of proof the Jewish Theological Semi- grams and events for all ages nary, New York. and operates a nursery school, Speaking to the overflow religious school and the Waxman crowd of admirers at the dinner, High School and Youth House.
Kindred Soul to make Plaza concert series debut The Village of Great Neck Plaza announces that local Great Neck band, Kindred Soul, will be making their VGNP Summer Concert Series debut on June 21, as part of the 2016 Village of Great Neck Plaza Summer Concert Series. Familiar faces to many in the Great Neck community, Kindred Soul has packed many venues on the North Shore and around Long Island with their setlist of classic rock and pop, sprinkling in a mix of today’s hits as well. “Kindred Soul plays that feel good classic rock and pop that will make you think of the golden era of music and the endless summers of our youth,” Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean Celender said. “We are very excited for Kindred Soul to make their debut and hope you will join us in welcoming to our concert series.” Made up of five Great Neckers, the members of Kindred Soul have numerous decades of musical experience between them. During the late 60s, Gary Mandell, the band leader and guitarist, was a member of the popular Great Neck Band,
Cisum 5, who released a single with Epic Records. Bass player, Frank Ciluffo, is a familiar face to many in Firefighters Park and the other parks in Great Neck, serving as a commissioner on the Great Neck Park District board. Rounding out the band, lead vocalist, Steve Hoffman, and drummer, Marshall Bluth, serve as practicing lawyers, and keyboard player, Jed Berman, is an accomplished and professional musician. In the case of inclement weather, the concert performance will be moved to the Great Neck Social Center at 80 Grace Avenue. Check with village staff at Village Hall on the day of the concert, or call our voicemail after 5 p.m. at 516-482 - 4500. The village will have a recorded message if the day’s scheduled concert has been moved from Firefighters’ Park to the Social Center. The village will also post an announcement on our Village website, www.greatneckplaza.net, if the concert is moved indoors.
Kindred Soul Additionally, village officials thank the growing list of support from the business community of this year’s concert series, which includes Emanuel Entertainment Services/David Emanuel, Mindy Greenberg Realtor, Metropolitan Commercial Bank, Daruma of Tokyo, Richland
Management, The Andrew Hotel, Great Neck Diner, Mumbai Grill Inc., Nemat Development Group, North Shore Farms, Aura Salon & Style Lounge, Best Bagel/ Bagel Hut, Flowering Lotus, Little Neck Car Wash, Radson Development and Ronald Fatoullah & Associates.