World-Renowned Cantors Gather in New York for Benefit Concert

November 16, 2016

3 min read

On Sunday, November 6th, American Friends of Meir Panim, in collaboration with world-renowned cantors and influential community synagogues in northern Long Island, New York, hosted a benefit concert to raise urgently needed funds to help disadvantaged children in Israel.

The event, called “Voices for Children in Need”, was attended by 500 enthusiastic participants who were inspired by both the performances as well as the outstanding work of Meir Panim.  

The benefit concert took place at Temple Beth Sholom in Roslyn, New York. It was Chaired by Beth Sholom’s Cantor Ofer Barnoy, along with Honorary Chair Rabbi Myron Fenster and Vice Chairs Allison and Martin E. Levine.

Lee Steinberg (Courtesy)
Mrs. Lee Steinberg (Courtesy)

The event honored and paid tribute to Mrs. Lee Steinberg,  long-time friend of Meir Panim, with the Spirit of Humanity Award. As Meir Panim’s most devoted and beloved friend, Mrs. Steinberg’s unwavering generosity, inspiring leadership, and everlasting dedication to global philanthropy, the State of Israel and enrichment of its citizens’ lives truly reflect the spirit of humanity of the Jewish people. Among the extensive help which Mrs. Steinberg has provided to Meir Panim, she is credited with establishing the free restaurant-style soup kitchen in Israel’s northern city of Tiberias.

Prior to the event, Cantor Avi Albrecht of Beth Tfiloh Congregation in Baltimore told Breaking Israel News, “When one tours Israel or goes on a Birthright program, they are introduced to Israel’s history and technology. Poverty is not part of the discussion. The two in five Israeli children living impoverished lives are the hidden population of this society.”

Albrecht was introduced to the important work of Meir Panim through Chairman Michael Fromm. “It is now my pleasure to be involved in this organization which has a staff of such selfless and dedicated people. It inspires me to do better,” he said.

Cantor Albrecht explained to Breaking Israel News the importance of supporting an organization like Meir Panim. “When I visited Israel and saw children who were hungry and without food, it was very emotional,” he said. “I visited Meir Panim and watched how they delivered food to classrooms in the lowest economic districts in Israel. Hungry children can be distracted. They cannot concentrate or get good grades. Seeing this made me want to help Meir Panim so that they can keep doing the great work that they do.”

Cantor Albrecht recommended that people find creative ways to donate to Meir Panim. For example, people can donate meals to commemorate a right of passage or event, like a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. “In fact, it is wonderful when young people get involved with charity work at an early age,” he said.

VIPs and sponsors were treated to a pre-concert reception. The concert included an eclectic program of Jewish and American music. The featured performers were Cantor Avi Albrecht, Cantor Ofer Barnoy of Temple Beth Sholom, Cantor Raphael Frieder of Temple Israel of Great Neck, Cantor Steven Hevenstone of Dix Hills Jewish Center and Cantor Yosef Karavani of Old Westbury Hebrew Congregation. The ATID Boy’s Choir of Queens, the North Shore Hebrew Academy High School Choir and the Solomon Schechter Arinotes also performed.

Children's choir, the Solomon Schechter Arinotes (Courtesy Meir Panim)
Children’s choir, the Solomon Schechter Arinotes (Courtesy Meir Panim)

Meir Panim works to alleviate the harmful effects of poverty on thousands of families across Israel by supporting a wide range of food and social services aimed at helping the needy with dignity and respect, including free restaurants, meals-on-wheels, school lunch programs, prepaid food card distribution, and after-school youth clubs.

”When visiting my grandson in Israel, I went to a Meir Panim facility in the coastal city of Kiryat Malachi,” shared Rabbi Fenster with Breaking Israel News. “I saw meals being served to Ethiopian, Ashkenazi and Sephardi citizens. It was one of the most impressive things I have seen in my life. From that point on, I do whatever I can to help Meir Panim. What I saw made me a participant for life.”

Donations to Meir Panim may be made here.

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