Originally from Chandler, Arizona, Cantor Avraham Alpert began his new position, in August, at Temple Beth Sholom, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He has served in harmony as the cantor for Mosaic Law Congregation of Sacramento, California, since 2001. Previously, Avraham served as hazzan sheini, ba’al koreh, and as director of the community-wide hevra kadisha at Congregation Anshei Israel of Tucson, Arizona.

After rigorous testing, Avraham Alpert was officially 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 Sephardic 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 – the last cantor of the Great Nozyk Shul, in Warsaw. In Israel, Hazzan Alpert was a student of Maestro 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 b’nai mitzvah students, compiling and editing contemporary siddurim, developing music programs, training lay-leaders, teaching sacred music, instructing religious school, day school, and high school students, participating in adult education, sharing pastoral duties, sitting as a dayan on the local Bet Din, and officiating at life cycle events.

Cantor Alpert 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 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 a variety of 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 who wrote about his relationship with Cantor Alpert in his book Honest to God. Our cantor even sings as a guest vocalist in Victor’s band, Wild Branches, including appearances in Sacramento, Reno, San Diego, and Phoenix’s Symphony Hall. He coached weekly, for many years, in voice, with Sharon Erman.

When our cantor has time away from the synagogue, he is with his dear wife Kamala and their adorable children.