Meir Finkelstein
Encyclopedia
Meir Finkelstein is a cantor
and composer
of contemporary Jewish liturgical music
. He has composed more than 200 settings for the liturgy, as well as scored numerous television program
s, made-for-TV movies, and documentary film
s. His tunes are sung in many Conservative
, Reform
, and Reconstructionist
congregations. He is considered one of the most popular contemporary Jewish liturgical composers in the United States.
in 1951. His father, the late Zvi Finkelstein, accepted a cantorial position in London, England
, and the family moved there in 1955.
Young Meir displayed outstanding musical talent at an early age. Together with his older brother, Aryeh, he was soon accompanying their father in concert and on radio and television. At age 14, Meir became the cantor for a small synagogue in Glasgow, Scotland
, thereby becoming the youngest cantor in Europe. The Finkelsteins went on to record two albums of original Israeli and cantorial songs.
At age 18, Meir became the cantor for one of London's most prestigious congregations, Golders Green
Synagogue. While working at this congregation, he graduated from the Royal College of Music
with an ARCM degree in voice, composition and piano.
. In 1982 he was appointed cantor of Sinai Temple
in Los Angeles, California
, a congregation he served for eighteen years.
During his tenure with Sinai Temple, Finkelstein composed more than 100 settings for the liturgy while simultaneously enjoying a successful career as a Hollywood composer/arranger. He scored numerous television shows, including episodes of Dallas
and Falcon's Crest, as well as many made-for-TV movies. He collaborated with Steven Spielberg
, composing music for the Visual History Foundation's award-winning documentary, "Survivors of the Holocaust".
Finkelstein's next cantorial position was at Congregation Beth Tzedec of Toronto
, where he worked for three years before moving to his present home, Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield, Michigan
.
Finkelstein also works as a producer and arranger, and has collaborated on many of his colleagues' albums. He was one of the "Three Cantors," along with Alberto Mizrahi and David Propis, performing in sold-out cantorial symphonic concerts in Houston, Texas
in 1995 and 1996. He also lectures on the history of Jewish liturgy as a scholar-in-residence at synagogues in the United States.
Finkelstein's contemporary Jewish music is sung in synagogues throughout the world. His song L'dor Vador (From Generation to Generation) is one of his most popular. In 1993 he composed a Jewish requiem
for victims of terror, Nishmat Tzedek (Soul of Righteousness). In 1995 he premiered an oratorio
, "Liberation: A Choral Symphony", commemorating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camps
, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
in Los Angeles. The performance featured the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Orchestra, the Los Angeles Master Chorale
, and soloists.
in the greater Detroit area. They have two children, Noah and Emily. Finkelstein also has two grown children in Los Angeles, Nadia and Adam, by his first wife, Leba Nemeth, daughter of the late Rabbi Morris Nemeth of Liverpool's Greenbank Drive and London's St Petersburg Place synagogues.
Hazzan
A hazzan or chazzan is a Jewish cantor, a musician trained in the vocal arts who helps lead the congregation in songful prayer.There are many rules relating to how a cantor should lead services, but the idea of a cantor as a paid professional does not exist in classical rabbinic sources...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
of contemporary Jewish liturgical music
Liturgical music
Liturgical music originated as a part of religious ceremony, and includes a number of traditions, both ancient and modern. Liturgical music is well known as a part of Catholic Mass, the Anglican Holy Communion service , the Lutheran Divine Service, the Orthodox liturgy and other Christian services...
. He has composed more than 200 settings for the liturgy, as well as scored numerous television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
s, made-for-TV movies, and documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
s. His tunes are sung in many Conservative
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
, Reform
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
, and Reconstructionist
Reconstructionist Judaism
Reconstructionist Judaism is a modern American-based Jewish movement based on the ideas of Mordecai Kaplan . The movement views Judaism as a progressively evolving civilization. It originated as a branch of Conservative Judaism, before it splintered...
congregations. He is considered one of the most popular contemporary Jewish liturgical composers in the United States.
Early life
Finkelstein was born in IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in 1951. His father, the late Zvi Finkelstein, accepted a cantorial position in London, England
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and the family moved there in 1955.
Young Meir displayed outstanding musical talent at an early age. Together with his older brother, Aryeh, he was soon accompanying their father in concert and on radio and television. At age 14, Meir became the cantor for a small synagogue in Glasgow, Scotland
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, thereby becoming the youngest cantor in Europe. The Finkelsteins went on to record two albums of original Israeli and cantorial songs.
At age 18, Meir became the cantor for one of London's most prestigious congregations, Golders Green
Golders Green
Golders Green is an area in the London Borough of Barnet in London, England. Although having some earlier history, it is essentially a 19th century suburban development situated about 5.3 miles north west of Charing Cross and centred on the crossroads of Golders Green Road and Finchley Road.In the...
Synagogue. While working at this congregation, he graduated from the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
with an ARCM degree in voice, composition and piano.
Move to the USA
A few years later he moved to the United States to become the cantor at Beth Hillel Congregation of Wilmette, IllinoisWilmette, Illinois
Wilmette is a village in New Trier Township, Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is located north of Chicago's downtown district and has a population of 27,651. Wilmette is considered a bedroom community in the North Shore district...
. In 1982 he was appointed cantor of Sinai Temple
Sinai Temple (Los Angeles, California)
Sinai Temple in the Westwood district of Los Angeles, California is the oldest and largest Conservative congregation in the greater Los Angeles area. Architect Sidney Eisenshtat designed the current synagogue building, constructed in 1956 and expanded in 1998...
in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, a congregation he served for eighteen years.
During his tenure with Sinai Temple, Finkelstein composed more than 100 settings for the liturgy while simultaneously enjoying a successful career as a Hollywood composer/arranger. He scored numerous television shows, including episodes of Dallas
Dallas (TV series)
Dallas is an American serial drama/prime time soap opera that revolves around the Ewings, a wealthy Texas family in the oil and cattle-ranching industries. Throughout the series, Larry Hagman stars as greedy, scheming oil baron J. R. Ewing...
and Falcon's Crest, as well as many made-for-TV movies. He collaborated with Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
, composing music for the Visual History Foundation's award-winning documentary, "Survivors of the Holocaust".
Finkelstein's next cantorial position was at Congregation Beth Tzedec of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, where he worked for three years before moving to his present home, Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield, Michigan
Southfield, Michigan
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which 0.04% is water. The main branch of the River Rouge runs through Southfield. The city is bounded to the south by Eight Mile Road, its western border is Inkster Road, and to the east it is bounded by Greenfield Road...
.
Finkelstein also works as a producer and arranger, and has collaborated on many of his colleagues' albums. He was one of the "Three Cantors," along with Alberto Mizrahi and David Propis, performing in sold-out cantorial symphonic concerts in Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in 1995 and 1996. He also lectures on the history of Jewish liturgy as a scholar-in-residence at synagogues in the United States.
Musical style
According to Nick Strimple, Finkelstein's work is influenced both by his British musical training and American musical theater.Finkelstein's contemporary Jewish music is sung in synagogues throughout the world. His song L'dor Vador (From Generation to Generation) is one of his most popular. In 1993 he composed a Jewish requiem
Requiem
A Requiem or Requiem Mass, also known as Mass for the dead or Mass of the dead , is a Mass celebrated for the repose of the soul or souls of one or more deceased persons, using a particular form of the Roman Missal...
for victims of terror, Nishmat Tzedek (Soul of Righteousness). In 1995 he premiered an oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
, "Liberation: A Choral Symphony", commemorating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camps
Extermination camps in the Holocaust
Extermination camps were camps built by Nazi Germany during the Second World War to systematically kill millions by gassing and extreme work under starvation conditions. While there were victims from many groups, Jews were the main targets. This genocide of the Jewish people was the Third...
, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is one of the halls in the Los Angeles Music Center . The Music Center's other halls include the Mark Taper Forum, Ahmanson Theatre, and Walt Disney Concert Hall.The Pavilion has 3,197 seats spread over four tiers, with chandeliers, wide curving stairways and rich décor...
in Los Angeles. The performance featured the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
Orchestra, the Los Angeles Master Chorale
Los Angeles Master Chorale
The Los Angeles Master Chorale is a professional chorus in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1964 by Roger Wagner to be one of the three original resident companies of the Music Center of Los Angeles County...
, and soloists.
Family
Finkelstein's wife, Monica, is a practicing attorney at lawAttorney at law
An attorney at law in the United States is a practitioner in a court of law who is legally qualified to prosecute and defend actions in such court on the retainer of clients. Alternative terms include counselor and lawyer...
in the greater Detroit area. They have two children, Noah and Emily. Finkelstein also has two grown children in Los Angeles, Nadia and Adam, by his first wife, Leba Nemeth, daughter of the late Rabbi Morris Nemeth of Liverpool's Greenbank Drive and London's St Petersburg Place synagogues.