'A special evening': Show tune- singing cantors to perform Thursday in Palm Beach

A one-of-a-kind event at Temple Emanu-El of Palm Beach Thursday will bring together three show tune-singing cantors for an evening of music and reflection.

"Cantors in Concert," which begins at 7 p.m., will feature solo and joint performances by Cantor Meir Finkelstein, of Temple Emanu-El; Cantor Gideon Zelermyer, of Congregation Shaar Hashomayim in Montreal, Canada; and Cantor Chayim Frenkel, of Kehillat Israel in Los Angeles.

They will perform musical pieces from diverse genres including Broadway, American classics, and Israeli melodies, Finkelstein told the Daily News.

The concert also will include a tribute to the Israel Defense Forces, which is the national military of the state of Israel.

"Our plan is to have a varied program, with mostly musical medleys of different styles of music," Finkelstein told the Daily News. "For instance, we'll go from a Sinatra melody to a well-known Israeli song medley to inspiration songs like 'You Never Walk Alone' and 'The Impossible Dream,' from Broadway. We will also have a segment, which will pay tribute to the Israel Defense Forces. It's good music with three good voices. It'll be very enjoyable."

All three cantors have rich musical backgrounds.

Finkelstein, who joined Temple Emanu-El of Palm Beach in 2022, is an accomplished singer and composer who specializes in contemporary Jewish liturgical music.

His 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.

Finkelstein also enjoyed a successful career in Hollywood as a composer and arranger, scoring numerous television shows, including episodes of "Dallas" and "Falcon Crest."

Zelermyer is recognized for illuminating the liturgy through a blend of traditional prayer modes and a modern harmonic palate, Finkelstein said. As the featured soloist at Congregation Shaar Hashomayim, he has toured globally, performed with renowned orchestras, and contributed to Leonard Cohen's Grammy Award-winning song "You Want It Darker."

Frenkel, a tenor, has made significant contributions to modern Jewish music. Commissioning and producing recordings, including "Nishmat Tzedek," he has played a pivotal role in commemorating historical events and promoting healing through music, Finkelstein said.

As co-chair of the Cantors Assembly’s celebration in honor of the State of Israel’s 50th anniversary in 1998, Frenkel performed at Carnegie Hall and produced a concert in New York’s Central Park.

Finkelstein has known Zelermyer and Frenkel for many years, and they occasionally perform together.

"We've known each other for a long time," he said. "They've been big supporters of my music."

The cantors will be backed by a band that includes a piano, bass, guitar, drums and woodwinds.

Reservations are required for the event, which includes a post-concert party that will include dessert and an opportunity to meet the cantors. Admission is $50 for general seating. Reserved and preferred seats are available.

To reserve a spot, call the temple's office at 561-832-0804. Temple Emanu-El of Palm Beach is at 190 N. County Road.

"This will be a special evening with three major cantorial voices," Finkelstein said.

For information on Temple Emanu-El, visit www.tepb.org.

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: Show tune-singing cantors to perform Thursday in Palm Beach