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Biography
Hazzan Avraham Alpert
Originally from Chandler, Arizona,
Hazzan Avraham Alpert is the
cantor
for Mosaic Law Congregation
of Sacramento. He has
been
tirelessly engaged in avodat
hakodesh with Rabbi
Reuven
Taff,
since 2001.
Previously,
Avraham
served as
hazzan sheini,
baal koreh,
and as
director of
the community
wide
hevra kadisha
at
Congregation
Anshei Israel of
Tucson, Arizona.
Recently, after rigorous testing, Avraham Alpert was certified as a hazzan by the Cantors Assembly. In 2005, our cantor was blessed with the opportunity to polish his skills in hazzanut and vocal technique with world renowned cantor and piano virtuoso, Hazzan Daniel Gildar of Philadelphia. In Seattle, Hazzan Alpert expanded his understanding of Jewish music through Sefardic Hazzanim Isaac Azose and Aryeh Greenberg. Beginning in 1996, Avraham studied intensively, in Tucson, for five years, with Hazzan Ivor Lichterman of Congregation Anshei Israel, son of the late Jakub Lichterman z''l - the last cantor of the Great Nozyk Shul, in Warsaw. In Israel, Hazzan Alpert was a student of Elli Jaffe, the director and conductor of the Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir. In Tucson, Professor Grayson Hirst of the University of Arizona coached him in voice. Avraham holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the Herberger College of Arizona State University and taught instrumental and vocal music in Phoenix’s Osborn School District.
In addition to representing the congregation through leading weekday, shabbat and holiday services, Hazzan Alpert can be found training our congregation's b'nai mitzvah students, compiling and editing contemporary siddurim, developing music programs, training sh’lihei-tsibur, teaching sacred music, instructing religious school and high school students, participating in adult education, sharing pastoral duties, sitting as a dayan on Mosaic Law’s Beit Din, and officiating at life cycle events.
Our hazzan is known equally for his fervor and commitment to Judaism, traditional prayer and for his rich voice ranging from deep baritone to coloraturas and seamless falsettos. Avraham Alpert prefers helping others to connect with Hashem through soulful davening over stage performances. He recorded and produced a CD with Rabbi Taff inspired by Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, Yakar, and Shira Hadasha synagogues in Jerusalem. Their recording, entitled Friday Night Live, was mailed to the entire synagogue membership, as a tool toward fluency in prayer. Hazzan Alpert published a Friday night and festival prayerbook, Siddur Leiv Moshe. He is currently collaborating with mystical linguist and long-time friend, David Schafer, to create a complete siddur.
Hazzan Alpert studies Torah with many of Sacramento's rabbis and scholars, continuing the learning he began with Rabbi Barton Lee at ASU Hillel and cultivated at the Yeshiva of Conservative Judaism in Jerusalem. Avraham Alpert uses his voice along with his resources to support the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. In addition, Avraham is actively involved in building bridges with the Christian community. He is a dear friend of Pastor Victor Styrsky, the California director of Christians United for Israel. Our cantor even sings as a guest vocalist in Victor's band, Wild Branches, including appearances in San Diego and Phoenix's Symphony Hall. He currently is coached weekly, in voice, by Sacramento's Sharon Erman.
When our cantor has time away from the shul, he is with his dear wife Kamala and their delicious children, Ezra and Maiella.