With sadness, Matzav.com reports the passing of Chazzan Naftali Herstik z”l at the age of 77.
Born in Salgótarján, Hungary, Chazzan Herstik emigrated with his family to Israel at the age of three. He hailed from a distinguished lineage of chazzanim and displayed his remarkable talent from a young age as a boy chorister and cantorial soloist.
Chazzan Herstik received his earliest cantorial education from his father, Moshe Menachem Herstik, who instilled in him the fundamentals of chazzanus. His talents were further honed under the guidance of Chazzanim Leib Glantz, Shlomo Ravitz, and Moshe Koussevitzky. He later pursued advanced studies at the Royal College of Music in London, where he also served as the chazzan of the Finchley Synagogue for several years.
In 1981, Chazzan Herstik was appointed Chief Cantor of the Great Synagogue of Yerushalayim, a position he held with distinction until December 31, 2008. Throughout his illustrious career, he graced stages worldwide, performing with the London Festival Orchestra, the London Mozart Players, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic, and numerous choirs, including the renowned choir of the YerushalayimGreat Synagogue.
Chazzan Herstik was particularly celebrated for his masterful interpretations of the works of Chazzan Yossele Rosenblatt, preserving and elevating the tradition of chazzanus.
In 1984, recognizing the need to safeguard and perpetuate the cantorial tradition, Chazzan Herstik, together with Cantor Moshe Stern, Elli Jaffe, and Dr. Tzvi Talmon, co-founded a school dedicated to the art of chazzanus. Initially housed in Heichal Shlomo, the school later moved to Tel Aviv in 1987. By 1991, it came under the auspices of the municipality of Tel Aviv, with Cantor Herstik serving as its Artistic Director and later as the General Director. The Tel Aviv Cantorial Institute (TACI) became a beacon of cantorial education, training many of today’s leading chazzanim, including Yitzchok Meir Helfgot, Moshe Haschel, Azi Schwartz, and Gideon Zelermyer.
Chazzan Herstik leaves behind a rich legacy in the world of Jewish liturgical music, and his contributions will continue to resonate.
{Matzav.com Israel}
