Summer weddings are back Cantor Heller, June 29, 2026June 29, 2026 At Belsize Square, the sanctuary carries its own atmosphere: the light through the windows, the familiar stillness of that space, and the sense of accumulated ceremony. Everything is in place for a chuppah. In Italy — Bari, this time — the grandeur is architectural and the air conditioning is, shall we say, optimistic, as it will be end of August. But the heat matters less than you might think. What you notice is the couple: the way they look at each other, how they’ve arrived at this moment, and what they’ve chosen to carry with them. For one of this summer’s ketubot, they asked for a Ladino song at the signing. An old melody, words worn smooth by centuries of use — it felt entirely right for the occasion. What an honour it is to be part of it!! Related Hazzanut
Hazzanut At St. Pölten Synagogue April 18, 2024April 22, 2024 By invitation of the Institute of History of Jews of Austria. I had the privilege of participating in the re-inauguration ceremony of what was once my father’s parents and family’s Synagogue in St. Pölten, Austria, which suffered from the 9th of Nov 1938 pogrom and went through several renovations. This… Read More
Hazzanut At St.Martin in the Fields March 25, 2022September 21, 2023 As guests for the interfaith first ‘Faithful Voices’ concert on 24 March St Martin-in-the-Fields. sponsored by the Zemel Choir, the Belsize Square Synagogue Professional Choir together with St. Martin’s own Chamber Choir, the West London Choir, the Zemel Choir with their soloist Cantor Robert Brody; Divyanand Caird (Saraswati Veena) and… Read More
Hazzanut Lewandowski and the Case for Communal Singing August 4, 2026 In the nineteenth century, synagogues across Europe faced a contentious question: should an organ be part of the liturgy? For many, the answer was no. The organ seemed to belong to the Christian church, not to Jewish worship. It was seen as a symbol of assimilation, a departure from tradition…. Read More