I was asked by our executive director Eileen Rabinovitch (Ita bat Sarah, for your info) to write a column on our dear Cantor Holczer who served Beth Zion for forty years. An easy task? Not at all, but I will attempt B’Ezrat Hashem to paint a profile of him to the best of my ability based on the numerous discussions we had over the years and also how I observed him personally, plus some practical advice he shared with me.
Chazzan Holczer was a Holocaust survivor who spent time in the Mauthausen Labour Camp. There he underwent many trials and tribulations and where he experienced Divine providence, eventually leading him to safety and ultimately leaving that horrid place and immigrate to Canada. Shortly after he arrived in Canada with his wife Veronica, he became the Cantor of our shul in the early ‘fifties’, a position he held till his retirement.
Now to describe his demeanor: Cantor Holczer took his job seriously. This was most obvious when his Bar Mitzvah students who counted in the hundreds (if not more) performed on Shabbat, be it Shabbat morning or at a mincha Bar Mitzvah. He was extremely conscientious that they excelled in their renditions, big or small. This I personally observed when he had a Shabbat mincha Bar Mitzvah: He would arrive early, oversaw all the details so that they be carried out scrupulously, in order that the Bar Mitzvah recitations be met with much hatzlacha.
Cantor Holczer was always well dressed on the weekdays and on Shabbat. On Shabbat and on the Holidays he would wear his black cantorial, wide sleeved gown and hat, which added an additional sparkle to his Tefillah renditions. He possessed a tenor voice and delivered his tefilllahs well, and with confidence. This was noticeable when alighted the bimah for the mussaf service and began with a loud melodic assertive statement: יקום פורקן מן שמיא
“Let a deliverance come from Heaven.” This phenomenon was repeated again and again in numerous areas of prayer.
Chazzan Holczer O.B.M. was a G-d fearing man. He recited long stretches of Tehillim daily for all the years I’ve known him. He would arrive half an hour before Mincha commenced in the chapel and say his daily portion of Tehillim. In this manner, he concluded the entire book of Tehillim every week! He religiously attended the Daf Yomi daily each day of the year, including all Yamim Tovim. At many occasions I attended the Daf Yomi classes with him. By hearing his questions and comments about the lessons you were able to deduce that he indeed was a ben Torah.
Cantor Holczer had a good sense of judgement. This I experienced firsthand: one summer day we had a wedding to attend, Rabbi Shoham, Cantor Holczer and myself. That day was also Visiting Day for our children in camp up north. Nu, what do you do? So in conversation with him and discussing my dilemma, he responded simply: “Az m’muz muz men” translated loosely: “If you gotta, you gotta”, go visiting for a while and then come right back.” I did exactly what he had suggested. His advice turned out favourably, for at the end of the day, both parties remained happy.
In conclusion: I am convinced that there is much more to be told about Chazzan Holczer, I only recounted what I personally know about him and learned from him.
May he be a גוטער בעטער אין הימעל a good advocate in heaven for his family may they all be well, and for the entire family of Beth Zion Congregation.
אהת נשמתו בצרור החיים May his soul be bound up in the bond of life. May his memory be a blessing to us and to, כלל ישראל
.יהא זכרו ברוך
Wishing you all a כתיבה וחתימה טובה, לשנה טובה ומתוקה . May we all be inscribed and signed for a good and sweet new year, materially and spiritually, and may we all greet Moshiach speedily.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Yitzchok D. Rosenberg
