Yossele Rosenblatt
| Josef "Yossele" Rosenblatt | |
|---|---|
Rosenblatt in 1918
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| Background information | |
| Born |
May 9, 1882 Bila Tserkva, Ukraine |
| Died | June 19, 1933 (aged 51) Jerusalem, Mandatory Palestine |
| Genres | Jewish music |
| Occupation(s) | Cantor, hazzan, singer, composer, Conductor, actor |
| Years active | 1886–1933 |
Josef "Yossele" Rosenblatt (May 9, 1882 - June 19, 1933) was a Ukrainian-born chazzan (cantor) and composer. He is regarded as the greatest cantor to have ever lived.
Rosenblatt was born on May 9, 1882, in Bila Tserkva, Russian Empire. The scion of a long line of cantors, Rosenblatt's devoutly religious upbringing prevented him from receiving formal musical training at any of the great academies of his day. He began his career as a member of the local synagogue choir. Quickly lauded as a "wunderkind", or child prodigy, Rosenblatt's solo career was launched. At the age of 7, he moved with his family to Sadigora, Bukovina (Austria).
When he was 17 years old, Rosenblatt went to Vienna for several months, during which he officiated in the largest synagogues of the city. He informally studied with Jacob Maerz, an accomplished singer and musician as well as a wealthy merchant. Rosenblatt's stay in Vienna was followed by an extensive tour of the communities of the Austro-Hungarian empire including Budapest.
At 18 he married Taube Kaufman and accepted his first full-time position at the Chasidic community of Munkacs, Hungary. Shortly afterwards, in 1901, he relocated to Presburg Bratislava. Five years later he occupied a position in Hamburg, Germany. In 1912, he moved to Harlem to take a position at the Ohab Zedek orthodox congregation. In August 1927, he left his position at the Ohab Zedek congregation. During the following High Holy Days, he led the services in a hall in Chicago, and on Sukkot - in Detroit. During the succeeding months, he traveled throughout the United States, leading services in cities such as Minneapolis, Seattle, Indianapolis, Columbus, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. In Washington, D.C., he met with then-President Calvin Coolidge. In 1928, he signed a 10-year contract with First Congregation Anshe Sfard, located in Borough Park, Brooklyn.
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