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famous concert in Beersheba, where
the Arabs thought there was some sur-
prise military action going on. They
saw all these soldiers and activity and
mistook the concert for some sort of
military maneuver.
"But the concert was a big success,
although there were shells going off
everywhere. It was during the first
days of the nation."
Bernstein was fiercely involved with
Israel his entire life, says his daughter,
and all matters concerning Israel were
of great concern to him and to his
dad, Sam Bernstein, a deeply religious
Jew.
"They both went to Israel anytime
they could — and my father went
more often because he was frequently
invited to conduct.
"My father was raised very reli-
gious," she says. "All my grandfather

is pleased to announce the

$395
LUNCH
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Served Mon.-Sat. from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm

your choice of:
• Soup and Salad
• Sandwich and Cup of Soup
• Sandwich and Salad

for $395
Banquet Facilities Available
Saturday Afternoons, Nights and Sundays.
Whether a wedding, shower,
Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Anniversary
or any special occasion,
The Sheik would love to serve you.

Open for Lunch ono Dinner

4189 Orcharo Lthe °\oci6
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6/26
1998

84

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4 - Days

August 25, 1918, Leonard Bernstein
started taking piano lessons when he
was very young. He earned a degree
with honors from Harvard University
in 1939. In 1940, he studied at the
Boston Symphony Orchestra's newly
created summer institute, Tanglewood,
and was appointed to his first con-
ducting position in 1943, as assistant
conductor of the New York
Philharmonic.
On November 14, 1943, Bernstein
filled in for the ailing Bruno Walter at
a Carnegie Hall concert which was
broadcast on the radio. It gave him
national exposure, and shortly after,
orchestras worldwide booked him as a
guest conductor.
Herbert Couf, who lives in
Farmington Hills, remembers playing
under Bernstein as a former clarinetist
for the Pittsburgh Symphony
Orchestra in the late '40s and
early '50s. "He was a terrific talent
and a fine composer, and it was
wonderful working with him,"
says Couf, who played for the
Detroit Symphony Orchestra in
the mid-1950s. "It was a great
experience."
In 1958, Bernstein became
music director for the New York
Philharmonic, where he stayed
until 1969. Some of his best-
known compositions are Mass: A
Theater Piece for Singers, Players
and Dancers, commissioned for
the opening of the John F.
Kennedy _Center for the
Performing Arts in Washington,
D.C., and Symphony No. 3:
Kaddish, composed in 1963 and
premiered by the Israel
Philharmonic Orchestra.
His contributions to the
Broadway stage include On The
Leonard Bernstein conducting the New York
Town, Wonderful Town, West Side
City Symphony in 1945, at the beginning of Story and Candide.
his legendary career.
In addition to composing sym-
phonic masterpieces and
wanted to do was study the Talmud
Broadway blockbusters, he champi-
and hang out at the shul with his pals.
oned the works of Ives and Mahler
He had to make a living, so he had a
and, in the Young People's Concerts,
[beauty shop] business in Boston. But
shared his love of music with children.
all he really wanted to do was think
In 1989, Bernstein conducted the
about Torah — and he did that a lot.
historic Berlin Celebration Concerts
"So my father grew up going to
on both sides of the Berlin Wall as it
shul and adoring the music, which
was being dismantled. On October
had a tremendous influence on his
14,1990, he died at age 72.
own compositions. The music he
For Jamie Bernstein — who puts
heard on the radio along with every-
out a newsletter about activities relat-
thing he heard in shul got rolled up
ing to her father's music — growing
together and it came out as this
up was never boring. "The place was
unique amalgam of songs that is
jumping all the time. Nothing was
Bernstein music."
routine because my father's job meant
Born in Lawrence, Mass., on
that his life was unpredictable," she