Naftali Herstik (Hebrew: נפתלי הרשטיק; 24 March 1947 – 1 September 2024) was a Hungarian-born Israeli chazzan (cantor) and teacher. He was born in Salgótarján, Hungary and came with his family to Israel at the age of three. Descended from a long line of cantors and Rabbis, he was recognized as a cantorial prodigy from his early childhood, singing as a teen in concerts with Cantor Moshe Koussevitzky.
Early life and education
Herstik was born on 24 March 1947. His first teacher was his father, Moshe Menachem Herstik who taught him the basics of Hazan. Subsequently, he studied with Cantors Leib Glantz and Shlomo Ravitz. He later graduated from the Royal College of Music in London.
Professional accomplishments
Cantor Herstik served as the Cantor of the Finchley United Synagogue in London while simultaneously studying at the Royal College of Music. In 1981, he was appointed the Chief Cantor of the Jerusalem Great Synagogue, a position he held up to 31 December 2008. He has performed with the London Festival Orchestra, the London Mozart Players, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, The Israel Philharmonic as well as many choirs, including the one at the Jerusalem Great Synagogue. In February 2010, Cantor Herstik led a Shabbat service at the Yeshurun Central Synagogue, Edgware, London.
Style
Cantor Herstik's style of Cantorial music bears a Western European influence, often employing the compositions of Louis Lewandowski, Moshe Kraus, Salomon Sulzer and Samuel Alman, and he has participated in concerts in Europe and Israel dedicated to their compositions. Herstik is also known for his interpretations of the works of Cantor Yossele Rosenblatt. He also has written a number of compositions.
Tel Aviv Cantorial Institute
In 1984, he was approached, together with Cantor Moshe Stern, Elli Jaffe and Tzvi Talmon, to start a school that teaches and preserves the tradition of the Cantorial arts. The school operated out of Heichal Shlomo for three years, before moving to Tel Aviv in 1987. In 1991, the school came under the auspices of the municipality of Tel Aviv, and Cantor Herstik was appointed the Artistic director, and subsequently the general director. Many of today's prominent cantors studied at the TACI, including Yitzchak Meir Helfgot, David Weinbach, Moshe Haschel, Azi Schwartz, and Gideon Zelermyer. Cantor Herstik's own sons are affiliated with the school; his son, Cantor Shraga Herstik, is on the faculty, and his son Cantor Netanel Herstik, the Cantor of the Hampton Synagogue, is a graduate. Cantor Herstik has often appeared with a choir comprising students of the institute.
Death
Herstik died on 1 September 2024, at the age of 77.
Discography
- Prayers from Jerusalem
- Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir
- Sound of Prayer (1997)
- Jerusalem of Prayer (1997)
- The Best of Naftali Herstik (1994)
- The Danzig Tradition
- The Koenigsberg Tradition
- One Family (2003)
- Shirei Yosef-Songs of Yossele (2003)
References
- "Herstik, Naftali".
- ^ "Naftali Herstik, Renowned Cantor, Dies at 77". The New York Times. 25 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- World’s foremost hazzan has died