Hist
ric Hartfrd Synaggues
Hartford synagogues have had many notable rabbis and cantors through the years. Some became prominent on a state or national level for writing and speaking out on a variety of issues such as racial equality, education, and Zionism while others were known for the quality of their sermons or musical talent. All served their congregations with strength, dignity and an adherence to Jewish beliefs and values.
Cantor Arthur Koret
Highlights
- 1916-1990
- Born: Hartford, CT
- Educated: Trinity College
- Served: The Emanuel Synagogue
. . . He probably was the foremost Cantor in Connecticut, certainly in his lifetime. He was not only a great cantor. He was a great, great tenor. He was a great opera singer. He had a terrific vocal quality. (Berthold Gaster, editor of The Jewish Ledger)
Cantor Arthur S. Koret sang for The Emanuel Synagogue for thirty eight years. He was also a member of the voice faculty of the Hartt College of Music at the University of Hartford where he taught music and singing for over thirty years. Cantor Koret is Hartford's first native-born cantor and for 19 years he produced and narrated a weekly radio program, "Hartford Jewish Life". During his career he received the Herman P. Koppleman Award and an Alumni Citation from Trinity College.
In addition to his local community service, Cantor Koret became prominently known throughout the United States and Israel. Cantor Koret was featured on nationally televised programs, appearing with the Cleveland Symphony, the Symphony of the Air, the Hartford Symphony and the New Haven Symphony. He also served as president of the Cantor's Assembly of America for which the Connecticut Legislature congratulated him by Special Resolution.
In 1968, he was made an Honorary Fellow of the Cantor's Institute of the Jewish Theological Seminary, Cantor Koret raised thousands of dollars for the Cantor's Assembly Scholarship fund and for the Ramah Camps scholarship funds. His encouragement of young people to go into Jewish music, particularly the cantorate, was outstanding.
Click here to listen to Cantor Arthur Koret sing Kol Nidre.