Diego Edelberg - Tenor

Hazzan

Diego began his studies as a Jewish Cantor in Argentina at the "Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano Marshall T Meyer".

After studying for two years he was summoned to officiate for the High Holidays as the Hazzan in the "Grande Templo Israelita in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil". Since the Rio de Janeiro Community didn’t allow the participation of women singing at the services, he prepared all the services with a “cappella” four part masculine voice choir.

After High Holidays services in Brazil Diego got back to Buenos Aires and was summoned by to join the Fundación Judaica Network as the Hazzan in the first and most recognized Synagogue in Argentina: the "Congregación Israelita de la República Argentina (CIRA)", also known as "Synagogue of Libertad Street".

Diego worked for 8 years at Congregación Israelita de la República Argentina and in very close relation to the Fundación Judaica Network. During this period he articulated the model of the Shaliach Tzibbur. This model implies a paradigm shift as regards to the function that Cantors assume in most of the communities, looking not only for the esthetic - musical care of the service but also working for the assistance and humanitarian programs developing a special link with the jewish and non jewish community. This became a very important part of Diego’s role. When in 2001 the economic crisis hit Argentina and nearly 60,000 Jews were living below the poverty line because of the ravished economy, Diego joined forces with the Shabbes Tisch Program with the special help  of the URJ alongside the WUPJ and the support of Reform Jews in America. Click here to know more about it

In 2005 after studying privately he received his Cantorial Ordination from the “Instituto de Formacion Superior Shlijei Tzibur, Argentina”.

During his 8 years in Argentina Diego participated in more than 200 weddings. He prepared and participated in the bar and bat mitzvah ceremonies and sung in numerous jewish oriented and inter-religious concerts including the special Hanukkah & Christmas Holidays held at the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral. He gave classes on jewish prayer and he wrote several papers as introduction to jewish prayer based on Lawrence Hoffman’s books and articles. He was the responsible for leading Shabbat, Chagim (festivals) and High Holidays worship services and he also performed life cycle events, adult education and worked at the Bar/Bat Mitzvah program.  
In 2006 he recorded the album “Your Song is my Song” with a unique and special concept: a Shabbat Service with entirely Psalms. You can hear the album at Oysongs.com.

 

In 2008 Diego was called to direct the “Youth Program” of the Kinor Foundation. This Foundation prepared a yearly special program with prestigious musicians from Argentina and abroad in order to raise money for developing a “young orchestra” with kids under extreme poorly conditions. Thanks to the Kinor Foundation children were able to receive instruments, free classes and even the possibility to perform some pieces of their repertoire as guests artist before the main artists.
In the search of new challenges and locations to help in the growth of the jewish community, since August 2010 Diego is working as the Hazzan of The United Jewish Congregation in Hong Kong.
To know about Diego’s musical studies please visit this link