COMMUNITY VIEWS

A Singing Tribute
To A Great Cantor

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Louis Klein was born on Shemini
ow appropriate that, as
Atzeret in Romania, the son of a chaz-
part of the installation of
zan. He began his study of the
officers of the Cantors
melodies of prayer as a young boy. He
Council of Detroit, we
was greatly influenced by the sweet
take the opportunity to honor a
- voice and singing style of his father.
founding member and past president
Cantor Klein attended yeshivot in
of this organization.
Europe before embarking on the
Chazzan Louis Klein's career as a can-
career of cantor. He studied music and
tor has been an inspiration not only to
voice at the Conservatorium in
the members of this community, which
Ostend, Belgium, and with Cantor B.
he has served, but also to his colleagues
Rabinowitz in Antwerp.
all over the United States and
In 1940, he came to Lon-
Canada, who revere him. His
don, England, where he
devotion, concern for tradition
continued his studies at the
and for people, as well as his
Guildhall School of Music.
unquestioned talent, comple-
He moved to the United
ment his quiet dignity, his
States in 1956. In 1958., he
warmth, his ability to inspire
came to Detroit and the
and, to those of us whom he
pulpit of Congregation
has allowed to know him well,
B'nai Moshe, a congregation
his unusual sense of humor..
he has served for 40 years.
Chazzan Klein, you are in
• CANTOR
Cantor Klein, with his
the ranks of those fortunate,
EARL BERRIS
melodious baritone voice,
wonderful cantors who have
Special to The
was soon recognized in
touched the hearts and souls of
Jewish News
Detroit and called upon by
everyone who has been privi-
many organizations and
leged to be in your presence.
societies for recitals. He has appeared
You have a deep, honest humility, which
many times on radio and television
helps to keep in perspective your great
and delighted audiences in many con-
talent. This is a status that chazzanim are
certs. Some of his performance high-
in constant battle trying to achieve. You
lights include singing the solo of
live that humility every day, and your
"Cantor" in the Sacred Service by
piety has sown the seeds of passion in
Ernest Bloch in a performance with
the hearts of countless Jews.
the Oak Park Symphony and the Ken-
neth Jewell Chorale.
Cantor Earl Berris delivered these
Other highlights include.his partici-
remarks in presenting Cantor Louis
pating in the premiere of the opera
Klein with the Cantors Council's Life-
long Achievement Award Oct. 27 at
Out of the Desert by Julius Chajes, and
singing the baritone solo in a festival
Adat Shalom Synagogue.

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many other congregations.
Up until the last few years,
7E, he provided the core of the
-11b'nai mitzvah training at Hil-
.2 lel Day School of Metropoli-
tan Detroit.
As well as being an active
member of the Cantors
Council of Detroit, Cantor
Klein is a member of the
Cantors Assembly of Ameri-
ca. He has been a member of
its executive council and a
Cantor Harold Orbach of Temple Israel greets
member of the editorial
Cantor Louis Klein at the Cantors Council dinner.
board of the Journal of Syna-
To Klein's left is Adat Shalom Rabbi Herbert
gogue Music. Cantor Klein
Yoskowitz.
holds an honorary fellow
degree of the Cantors' Insti-
performance of Avodat Hakodesh by
tute of the Jewish Theological Semi-
Dan Frohman and in the oratorio If
nary of America, and was a recent
Not Higher by Sholom Secunda.
recipient of an honorary doctorate
His synagogue's Chorale Ensemble
from the Jewish Theological Seminary.
performed concerts throughout
For 40 years, Cantor Klein has
Michigan and on radio and TV. The
been the prayer and musical leader
sisterhood and the men's and junior
and also a religious. inspiration at
choirs joined him to beautify the High
Congregation B'nai Moshe. For most
Holy Days and other special occa-
of his career, Cantor Klein was joined
sions. His concerts and weekly daven-
in this awesome calling of being a
ing were always of a high standard.
chazzan by his wife Sonia, of
Even more significant than his
blessed memory. Cantor Klein is
music are his pastoral and teaching
the proud father of Maurice and his
abilities. Cantor Klein has touched the
wife Sally, and zayde to Samuel, Mar-
lives of b'nai mitzvah, brides and
cus and Laurie.
bridegrooms, individuals and families
Cantor Klein was the spiritual glue
in times of joy and sorrow, with his
that kept B'nai Moshe together during
gutte neshamah, his good soul. He has
the time when the members found
prepared and coached talented young
themselves without benefit of a rabbi
men for the professional cantorate and
or building.
scores of others over the years to be
SINGING TRIBUTE on page 37
ba'aley tefil.ah, to the benefit of his and

LETTERS

dential programs, group apartments,
meals on wheels (five days weekly
delivered to shut-ins), transportation
(to and from doctors, grocery shop-
ping, etc.), family counseling to heal
rifts and greater understanding of ail-
ing parental dependency as well as
directing to appropriate use of other
Jewish and non-sectarian resources. All
this and more have been, and contin-
ue to be, practiced for 40 and more
years — the JFS is close to 80 years
old!
Without in any way deprecating
Mr. Robert Naftaly, certainly the
above programs that JFS initiated and
practiced these many years are not a
COJES creation, only an affirmation.
I have read and re-read the laudato-
ry tribute hoping to find one innova-
tive program of action. If COJES is a
replacement for what already exists in

an atmosphere of highly trained pro-
fessional, experienced, sensitively car-
ing personnel, it should be so stated
and explained.
Listing worthwhile programs, and
ignoring they already exist, is contrary
to the beautiful Jewish concept of the
anonymity of tzedekah.
I would appreciate something less
syrupy about our adoration of our
seniors; don't let them eat cake —
bread is where it it's at.
Please don't latch on to education
as an idealistic vagary; define it, please,
and enact it. It costs money and heart.
I'm sure that Mr. Naftaly, in his
three years' tenure, is sincere. I wish
him good fortune. I would hope that
he appreciates my questions raised
herein, especially if he knows the
Detroit Jewish history and commit-
ment of many years of Jewish Family

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Service. Those of us bound by action
and long memories truly care about
the facts, and still put our money
where our mouths are.

Helen Rachel
Samberg
Farmington Hills

Election Forum
A Success

Thank you for the time and effort you
gave to make the candidates forum
last week at Congregation Beth Abra-
ham Hillel Moses the success that it
was. We were able to attract an inter-
esting group of candidates and an
informed audience, assuring a mean-
ingful and worthwhile program. The
rest is now up to the electorate.
I appreciated your work in plan-

ning and presenting the forum in just
a few short weeks' time.

Allan Gale
Assistant Director
Jewish Community Council of Metro-
politan Detroit

Volunteers
Made The Day

The Jewish Family Servke Fall Fix-Up
Project took place on Nov. 1. The sec-
ond annual event assisted homebound
older adults and others in need of
cleanup and minor home repairs. This
project is held in conjunction with the
National Make A Difference Day.
I would like to publicly thank the
community for the overwhelming sup;
port that we received this year. More
than 170 enthusiastic and dedicated

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Detroit Jewish News

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