New cantor at Temple Emanu-El of Palm Beach worked with Spielberg, wrote music for 'Dallas,' 'Falcon Crest'

From London to Los Angeles, Meir Finkelstein's cantorial career has spanned more than five decades and thousands of miles.

The new cantor at Temple Emanu-El of Palm Beach, Finkelstein has served congregations on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, starting in his native United Kingdom at age 14 and continuing in Illinois, California, Michigan and Texas.

Finkelstein arrived at the synagogue at 190 N. County Road in May after serving eight years at Congregation Beth Yeshurun in Houston.

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He takes over for Cantor David Feuer, who retired this spring after serving 36 years at the temple.

"There's a lot of activity here," said Finkelstein, who sings, writes and records contemporary Jewish liturgical music in addition to performing his cantorial duties.

"Musically, it's a nice place for me to be because I can add to whatever history they've had musically with what I do. I'm a cantor/composer — one of the few. Most cantors don't compose material. I've been doing that for 35 years."

Much of Finkelstein's music is published and sung at congregations around the world, including at Temple Emanu-El, where his most famous pieces, "L'Dor Vador" and "V'al Kulam," are sung weekly.

Palm Beach cantor scored music for 'Dallas,' 'Falcon Crest'; worked with Spielberg

A graduate of the Royal College of Music in London, Finkelstein, 70, enjoyed a successful career in Hollywood as a composer and arranger, scoring numerous television shows, including episodes of "Dallas" and "Falcon Crest."

He also collaborated with director Steven Spielberg on the Visual History Foundation’s Emmy Award-winning documentary, "Survivors of the Holocaust," for which he was nominated for a Cable Ace Award.

His Jewish liturgical music has been performed by the the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Detroit Symphony orchestras, and he has composed, arranged and produced numerous original recordings, including the Passover Seder rock musical, "Matzah Do About Nothing."

"I've had an interesting career," Finkelstein said.

He looks forward to continuing it at Temple Emanu-El, which will celebrate its 60th anniversary next year.

Finkelstein, who lives in Palm Beach Gardens, has big plans for the synagogue and its 400 families.

"I want to get more of the congregants involved in participating with me," he said. "I realized when I came here that they were thirsting for that. They would love to be part of the services on Shabbat and also on the holidays. I'm going to start a congregational choir to sing with me on the High Holidays this year."

Additional plans include hosting classes on reading from the Torah, presenting concerts at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, and composing new music for Temple Emanu-El's anniversary next year.

The youngest cantor in Europe

Music has been a big part of Finkelstein's life since he was boy growing up in England and Scotland, and it has played a big role in his 55-year career as a cantor.

When he was just 14, Finkelstein became the youngest cantor in Europe and, since then, he has become one of the world’s most prominent cantors and composers of contemporary Jewish liturgical music, said Dr. Steven Horowitz, Temple Emanu-El's president.

“I think we can all take a sigh of relief knowing that the position is moving forward with one of the most qualified, experienced cantors in the country," Horowitz told the Daily News in January.

Feuer, who remains in the area, has moved into the role of cantor emeritus at the temple, and he will help Finkelstein with services over the next year.

Finkelstein said he first met Feuer five years ago when he performed a concert at Temple Emanu-El, and he has continued to keep in touch.

"We're going to continue our friendship, which we've had for a long time," Finkelstein said. "Possibly, he'll be included at some point in some of the concerts."

Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: New cantor at Temple Emanu-El of Palm Beach has Hollywood past