Jewish Film Festival

A Cantor’s Tale

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. “Jackie,” as he is affectionately called by everyone, explores the American roots of “hazzanut”( 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. 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. This feature-length 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!

“Delightful docu A CANTOR’S TALE casts a fond eye…Crowd-pleasing item from helmer Erik Anjou will be a must for Jewish and music-oriented festivals…”

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VARIETY