Israel’s top cantor wows Joburg Jewish community

Well-known Israeli cantor Shai Abramson held the community enthralled with an evening of music at the Yeshiva Mizrachi Shul in Glenhazel on 13 February.

The Shai Abramson Concert was a collaboration between the South African Zionist Federation, You Realty, Yeshiva Mizrachi Community, Mizrachi SA, and Yeshiva College schools.

Accompanied by pianist and music-arranger Raymond Goldstein, Abramson’s wide repertoire of songs included cantorial and classical music, Hebrew, and Israeli songs, even popular and rock music.

Abramson was born in Jerusalem, and was exposed to the world of cantorial music from a young age. In 2008, he was appointed chief cantor of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Abramson serves as the representative cantor of the state of Israel, and participates in this capacity on formal state occasions and ceremonies.

“The night was well attended,” says Spencer Swartz, the owner of You Realty. “Shai had a standing ovation a couple of times, which was amazing.”

“He sang a number of popular songs including Frank Sinatra’s My Way, as well as the prayer for the state of Israel, and concluded the evening with Hatikvah. It was definitely a celebration of the 75 years of Israel.” Swartz says.

Over the past few years, Abramson has presented his cantorial repertoire to numerous Jewish communities in the United States, Canada, South America, Australia, and Europe, with the intention of strengthening ties with Jewish communities around the world and intensifying connections with Israel and the IDF.

“I’m thrilled to perform once again in front of the Jewish communities in Johannesburg and Cape Town. It’s a great pleasure and honour to salute the state of Israel for its 75th anniversary,” he says.

Abramson has produced two CDs that include recordings of Israeli music and songs derived from Jewish sources, together with symphonic arrangements of classical cantorial and liturgical selections.