After serving as cantor and director of the Emanu-El Temple in Palm Beach since 1986, David Feuer will be leaving this spring.
Feuer, 76, has prayed faithfully in the synagogue for 35 years. Like his baritone voice, he established a “deep and rich” musical history and created a religious holiday for the congregation, said Dr. Steven Horowitz, the synagogue’s president.
“As much as a component of the temple’s existence, (Feuer) has been an integral component of prayer at temple Emanu-El,” horowitz said, noting that the worship position will turn 60 this year.
Originally from Argentina, Feuer told the Daily News on Wednesday that he was not fluent in English when he began his duties as a cantor at the synagogue. The synagogue’s former president, Dr. Richard Lynn, confided to him, however, that the language barrier would not obstruct his service or obstruct his musical talents.
And that’s not the case.
Over the years, Feuer said he has noticed that the worship space is gaining popularity and attracting other people from all over the country.
“I brought another sample of cantorial that had a Latin flavor. People can just participate. They were dancing. It was a normal experience,” said Feuer, who noted that, even masked, he can notice the congregation smiling as they enjoyed. music promoted through Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela.
“The congregation opened up to any new concept I brought, and I enjoyed every second. “
His day as cantor of the Emanu-El Temple is April 30. Singer Meir Finkelstein will take his place.
“I’m leaving now after 35 years. I leave happy. I don’t want to leave for a moment and pass my pulpit to a wonderful, wonderful singer and composer. “
Horowitz believed that divine intervention had blessed the congregation in transition.
Earlier this month, Finkelstein, who had already been invited to the synagogue, learned of the holiday and contacted Feuer for more information. His appointment was announced last week.
“Although the quality of their voices is not the same, their musical delight and the non-secular way they lead a congregation is similar to that of other singers in the country,” Horowitz said.
Looking Back: A Brief History of Emanu-El Temple
Over the Decades: Highlights of Palm Beach’s Early Years
When he was just 14, Finkelstein became the youngest singer in Europe and since then has one of the most prominent singers and songwriters of Jewish liturgical music in the world, Horowitz said.
Prior to his re-election, Finkelstein, 70, a singer at several major synagogues across the country, the most recent being Congregation Beth Yeshurun in Houston.
Born in Israel, he grew up in England, where he graduated from the Royal College of Music with a degree in singing, composition and piano. His late father, Zvi Finkelstein, who was a singer in England.
Meir Finkelstein has served as a cantor at Congregation Beth Hillel in Wilmette, Illinois, Temple Sinai in Los Angeles, Congregation Beth Tzedec in Toronto, and Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield, Michigan.
Today, Finkelstein’s series of more than 150 compositions takes place in temples around the world, and the Emanu-El Temple is added, where his most outstanding pieces, “L’Dor Vader” and “V’al Kulam”, are sung weekly.
Finkelstein’s paintings have appeared in television shows, films and documentaries such as “Dallas,” “The Magic Flute” and “Holocaust Survivors. “
“We can all breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the position is progressing with one of the country’s top professional and experienced champions,” Horowitz said.
The new appointment does not mean that Feuer will be “out of sight, out of mind. “Rather, he will be the synagogue’s cantor emeritus and help Finkelstein with the facilities over the next year, Horowitz said.
Feuer said he plans to spend more time with a circle of family and friends in California, Israel and Argentina.
Perhaps, he says, he will be informed of the photograph or sign up for a choir, as he first did at age 4.
“[It’s good] to be part of a group. I’m a conductor before I became a singer, and I know the joys of making a song with 20, 30 or a hundred people,” he said. “It’s essentially my life. Music, circle of family and friends. “
rharper@pbpost. com
@rachida_harper