Song Divine - Leibele Waldman Autobiography

Song Divine was published in 1941.  The editor of the book states why Cantor Leibele Waldman was chosen by the publisher to write his autobiography:

One of the youngest cantors, born and raised on the East Side, with a remarkably matured voice shaded with delicate nuances, Cantor Waldman remains the symbol of the success of Jewish ideals coupled with a new outlook in a modern world.

The entire book can be downloaded in PDF format by following this link


Thank you Usher Piller for providing the website link!

Memorial Concerts for Leibele Waldman draw 5,000 fans

LEIBELE WALDMAN
"IN OUR HEART AND SOUL, UNIQUE WITHIN HIS GENERATION"

The above concert was produced in Israel in 2001 memorializing my father (l"z). Thanks to Mordechai Sobol, in my opinion and many others, considered the authority on Chazzanut and Yiddish folk song, planned the concert, selected the soloists and led the YUVAL Orchestra and Choir. Dr Sobol invited me to attend the concert as the guest of honor which, needless to say, was quite a thrill. I even had the opportunity to address the throng of three thousand at the Mann Auditorium in Tel Aviv and two thousand more aficionados in R'nanah two days later, who came to hear four outstanding artists sing my father's popular compositions, his Yiddish folk songs and his Chassidic melodies. In addition, I also had the pleasure of meeting soloists Dudu Fisher, Chaim Eliezer Herstig, Moshe Schulhof and Ari Klein with whom I shared many interesting and humorous stories. This was an experience that I will never forget.

First Roumanian Shul at 89-91 Rivington Street

WALDMAN OFFICIATES AT THE FIRST ROUMANIAN-AMERICAN SHUL ON THE LOWER EAST SIDE WITH BEN FRIEDMAN LEADING A DOUBLE CHOIR.

The FIRST ROUMANIAN-AMERICAN CONGREGATION (Shaarey Shamoyim) was located at 89-91 Rivington Street for over 100 years.

The synagogue became famous as the "Cantor's Carnegie Hall", because of its high ceiling, good acoustics, and seating for up to 1,800 people. Yossele Rosenblatt, Moshe Koussevitzky, Zavel Kwartin, Moishe Oysher, Jan Peerce and Richard Tucker were all cantors there. My father performed here many times.

Unfortunately, on January 22, 2006 the building suffered a partial roof collapse and less than two months later, the entire structure was demolished.

Birchas Kohanim

BIRCHAS KOHANIM - all Services - (repetition of the Amidah)

"Our G-d and G-d of our Fathers, bless us with the three-fold benediction of the Torah written by the hand of Moses and spoken by Aaron and his sons..."

Al Horishonim

AL HORISHONIM - Shabbat, Festivals, and High Holidays - Shacharit
"For the first and for the last ages, your word is good and endures forever...
It is true that You are our Lord our G-d and the G-d of our fathers, our King and our Redeemer, our Deliverer and Rescuer...there is no other G-d besides You."

Ki Lekach Tov

KI  LEKACH  TOV - Chanted every Service the Torah is read and placed back into the Holy Ark. "It is a Tree of Life to them that hold fast to it. Happy is every one that upholds it..."

B'rosh Hashonah

B'ROSH HASHONAH - (Un'saneh Tokef) Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur - Musaf
"On New Year's Day, the decree is inscribed and on the Day of Atonement, it is sealed..."