"Jackie," as he is affectionately called by everyone, explores the American roots of "khazzanut"( Jewish liturgical music) while taking us on a musical voyage that spans the Atlantic, originating in his birthplace of Boro Park, Brooklyn and reaching all the way to Jerusalem. There’s music in the air, everywhere. The experience of hearing the world’s most renowned cantors in the synagogue was part of a lifestyle that provided American Jewry with a rich cultural heirloom. This 2006 documentary provides a nostalgic journey through family, neighborhood, and tradition. It also treats us to appearances by renowned cantors and aficionados Joseph Malovany, Ben-Zion Miller, Alberto Mizrahi, Matthew Lazar, Neil Shicoff, Jackie Mason and Alan Dershowitz. A Cantor’s Tale is very much like "Levy’s Real Jewish Rye", you don’t have to be Jewish to love it! 90 min., Color, $39.95
A Cantor’s Tale
Legendary Voices: Cantors of Yesteryear
It is Cantor Mendelson’s mission to insure that this legacy is passed on to this and the next generation and generations to come, in a way that is both true to its origins and relevant to the modern world. He therefore takes us on a journey to a time when cantors were like movie stars in their communities. Jews would go to synagogue to hear the great cantors, just as others would go to the opera or movie-houses just to see the giants of the day. With the advent of sound motion pictures, Jewish audiences of the Thirties demanded to see and hear the great cantors of their day. In this unique compilation of cantorial greats, Jack introduces us to memorable film recordings of the outstanding voices of Hershman, Roitman, Katchko, Malavsky, Shlisky, Waldman, Oysher and Rosenblatt. A DVD treasure. 2011, 78 min., Color and B&W. $29.95
The tradition of Eastern European Jewish cantorial music is alive and well in modern America in no small part thanks to the efforts of Brooklyn-born Cantor Jacob Mendelson.
Distributed by Ergo Media Inc.
For information on how you can show this film in your community, contact us at info@acantorstale.com