All Around the World with Cantor Beny Maissner, z”l

All Around the World with Cantor Beny Maissner, z”l

By Sharon Smith-Miller

When I joined Temple Singers, I was invited to be a guest soloist with Lachan Choir who were performing at the Ashkenaz Festival. My husband Shelley, was already in the choir, but I had yet to join. When Cantor Maissner excitedly announced his intention to take Lachan to the World Choir Olympics, I immediately joined. Only Beny, always the adventurer, would consider a trip like this!

In the summer of 2006, Lachan sang in Xiamen, China, then on to Shanghai, where we visited the Jewish Ghetto of WW2 and performed an outdoor concert as well. We sang in Hebrew on the Great Wall of China, visited Beijing, the Terra Cotta Soldiers,

and lastly Hong Kong. It was the most memorable trip.

In 2008, Lachan travelled to Hanover, Germany, to sing in a dedication to Kristallnacht, and in 2018, we sang an original composition with the symphony and choir of Sofia, Bulgaria. Throughout my many years in Temple Singers and Lachan, I have had the great fortune to learn from one of the best, Cantor Benjamin Z. Maissner z’l.

One of the ways we will honour the memory of our beloved Beny is on Tuesday, August 12, at 7:00 pm when Klez Konnection performs a free concert at Earl Bales Park. Beny played viola with Klez over the last several years, and he was welcomed with open arms. We invite you to join us as we pay tribute to our dearly departed Beny.

May Cantor Maissner’s memory be for a blessing.