Hidden sounds of Hazzanut in Montreal. A relic of the past? Irrelevant to today’s jewish experience? listen again.
From the early 20th century to this day, montreal has one of the highest numbers of professional cantors in the world. What was it about the jewish community in montreal, sizeable, but not nearly as large as other jewish centres like tel aviv, new york, london, and buenos aires that made this possible? What in turn, does the community’s love affair with hazzanut reveal about montreal jews?
This tour tells the story of montreal hazzanim who sang at “downtown” synagogues from 1934 to 1965.