‘Cantor Dan’ leads entertaining lecture at Temple Beth Am of Bellmore and Merrick

The Chai Society of Temple Beth Am of Merrick and Bellmore held its annual End of Year Brunch on June 30. Following a feast of bagels, lox, salads, and pastries, Cantor Daniel Rosenfeld gave an informative and entertaining lecture on the role of Jews in American music. This was a wonderful way to welcome the summer months.

Rosenfeld, who’s known around Beth Am as Cantor Dan, has served as the cantor of Temple Beth Am since the fall of 2004. Prior to that, he served various congregations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He received his master’s degree in sacred music and was ordained at Hebrew Union College in 1996. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Hamilton College in 1982.

Rosenfeld served on the faculty of the American Seminary for Contemporary Judaism in Baldwin, where he instructed cantorial and rabbinic students in music theory and the history of Reform Jewish worship. His performance experience includes roles in the Thomas Cultice Summer Opera’s production of “Dido and Aeneas,” performed at Mannes School of Music, and in the original off-Broadway production “Trilogy of Poe,” composed by Vittorio Furgeri and performed at the Harry Warren Theater in Brooklyn. As a solo vocalist, he has focused on classics of the Yiddish theater, opera, oratorio, the Romantic era, and contemporary art song. He has also composed and arranged settings of the prayers sung in Jewish worship.

Jeff Newman, president of the Chai Society, promised a year filled with outstanding events for both members of the society and guests.