Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z”l

Cantor Sheldon Merel

Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel is cantor emeritus of Congregation Beth Israel of San Diego.

His CDs, available on Amazon, include:

* Chants of a Lifetime
* Standing Ovation

Some of his songs that he likes to share with our readers include:

Adon Olam

Adon Olam, Jazz Version

Adonai, Adonai   October 21, 2008

Ahavat Olam January 20, 2009

Avinu Malkenu, October 15, 2008

Barchu-Shema-V’ah-havta  February 3, 2009

David and Goliath, November 4, 2008

Dayenu  March 31, 2009

Eylu D’V0rim  September 9, 2008

Hashkiveynu

K’Aytz Shatul, November 18, 2008

Kiddush, Number 1

Kiddush, Number 2   February 17, 2009

Kol Nidre, October 7, 2008

K’vkarat (following Una Taneh Tokef)

La Kol Z’man (Ben Steinberg), August 13, 2009

L’shanah habah b’reshulayim, April 7, 2009

Lighting the Candles,December 9, 2008

Los Biblicos

Meeskite, September 23, 2008

Noches-Noches

O Chanukah, O Chanukah

Rachel quand du seigneur, November 11, 2008

Search for Freedom, November 25, 2008

Shalom Rav by Ben Steinberg

Shalom Rav (duet),March 10, 2009

The Love of Spike Malone,  March 3, 2009

The Passover Story

The Prophecy of Elijah 

Une Taneh Tokef  September 29, 2008

*

No one is listening!

Last July, I wrote an article, “Wanted: listeners, not interrupters” for this publication.  I received several revealing responses from friends and others, each with the same opening sentence,” I am guilty of being a poor listener.”   Frankly, their confessions were not surprising, as poor listening is endemic.  Even after I met with the same friends later there was little change in their behavior.   No one is listening! [Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Lifestyles

‘Cambodian Rock Band’ at La Jolla Playhouse tells of genocide

The story picks up in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 30 years after the invasion of the Khmer Rouge, and as it unfolds it travels back and forth in time between then and now. Yee’s ‘Band’ story is a father-daughter revelation, about not knowing what daddy did in the war 30 years earlier and the music that drove him to stay in his native homeland. {Carol Davis]

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Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Carol Davis, Eric George Tauber, Eva Trieger, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Israel rabbi, student visit Seacrest Village residents

I first met 18-year-old Michal Sharon in the Seacrest Village dining room as she was hopping from table to table cheerfully introducing herself. She was fresh out of high school in Israel and chose to delay her required service in the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) to spend one year in San Diego as an emissary in a new-to-San Diego program. [Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel]

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Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Middle East, San Diego County

15th Jew in space in first all-female space walk

Astronaut Jessica Meir, who earned her doctorate from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography here in San Diego, on Friday was part of the first all-female team to do a space walk from the international space station. She and fellow American  astronaut Christine Koch were tasked with repairing a power control unit – a job that in the slow motion of space took seven hours and 17 minutes, including interruptions to take congratulatory calls from President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Presidential Advisor Invaka Trump, and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Mystery of Kol Nidre unfolded

Kol Nidre meaning all vows is an 8th century Talmudic legal document written to seek annulment of broken personal religious vows to God. It is in Aramaic, as is the Kaddish, and as a legal document there is no mention of God. Vows were taken very seriously, and supplicants appeared before three wise men (rabbinic court) and recited the Kol Nidre words three times to void their vows This ritual was practiced for centuries and eventually was added to the prayer book. Since it is not a prayer, it was placed before the actual beginning of Yom Kippur evening service. (To read more, please click headline.)

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Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music and Visual Arts

Amadeus, a Hit at the North Coast Rep

When the lights went up we met an old and disabled Antonio Salieri in a wheel chair. From that moment he dominates the stage with his powerful presence, strong voice, and excellent diction.  He talks about his first meeting with young Mozart, and openly confesses his jealously, and intense envy of Mozart’s outstanding talent. From then on Salieri dedicated his life to destroy his rival’s career and spoiling any chances of his success.

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Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Music and Visual Arts, San Diego County, The Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Biography recalls Cantor William Sharlin’s career

By Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel ENCINITAS, California — The distinguished Rabbi Richard N. Levy paid tribute to his colleague, Cantor William Sharlin in recognition of 30 years as originator and Director of the Department of Music at the Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles. “William, you taught me the difference between davening and singing, between

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Jewish Religion, Music and Visual Arts, USA

Rabbi/ Cantor Arlene Bernstein’s spiritual journey

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – As Arlene Bernstein became less and less “observant”of halacha in her religious practice, she became more and more deeply involved in Jewish life.  Today she is a cantor as well as a rabbi.  And for the next year, she is serving as the Acting Senior Rabbi of the

Rabbi/ Cantor Arlene Bernstein’s spiritual journey Read More »

Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Donald H. Harrison, Eileen Wingard, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Music and Visual Arts, San Diego County, USA

Singing Ernest Bloch’s sacred songs was a thrill

By Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel ENCINITAS, California — In the early 1930 s, visionary Cantor Reuven Rinder of San Francisco ‘s Temple Emanuel raised $ 10,000 to commission the world acclaimed composer, Ernest Bloch to write a setting with the Reform Jewish Sabbath Morning Prayer book of the `1930s. Bloch was already an acclaimed composer

Singing Ernest Bloch’s sacred songs was a thrill Read More »

Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music and Visual Arts, USA

An amateur competition for the love of music

By Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel LA JOLLA, California — The public was treated to a free weekend of brilliant piano music that started on Friday morning, July 12th at the beautiful new Conrad Preys Concert Hall in La Jolla. Piano music  including the works of Bach, Debussy, Mozart, Paderewski, Rachmaninoff, Chopin, Liszt, Schubert and many

An amateur competition for the love of music Read More »

Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Music and Visual Arts, San Diego County

Play’s twist of dice comes up a winner

By Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel SOLANA BEACH, California — On our approaching the theatre, a volunteer remarked,  “Roll  the snake eyes and you get a free drink,” an appropriate welcome indeed. Being  re-introduced  to  Frank Loesser ‘s music and Damon Runyon’s short story characters  was a lot of fun, laughs , fast moving scenes, actors

Play’s twist of dice comes up a winner Read More »

Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel’s shares his songs

SAN DIEGO — Here is a collection of songs recorded by Cantor Sheldon Merel during his tenure as cantor at Congregation Beth Israel.  Click on any title to hear Cantor Merel’s recorded rendition.  In some cases, the songs are accompanied by an explanatory article indicated by a date alongside. Adon Olam Adon Olam, Jazz Version

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Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Jewish Religion, Music and Visual Arts, San Diego County