In praise of retirement
Mazel tov to Cantor Bernard Beer. The borough son is retiring after 49 years as a faculty member and administrator at the Philip and Sarah Belz School of Jewish Music at Yeshiva University over in that borough across the river.
But this isn’t any ordinary retirement. “I’m leaving a dream job,” said Cantor Beer. “This isn’t only my work, but a passion discovered many years ago.”
Standing O pal Cantor Beer began working as a cantor in 1966 at the Jewish Center of Atlantic Beach. Since 1985, he has served as director emeritus at Yeshiva University, has been the executive vice president of the Cantorial Council of America since 1974, sits on the boards of directors and is a consultant for Sounds of Jewish Music in Chicago, Musica Judaica in New York, and the Journal of Jewish Music and Liturgy.
The cantor earned a BA from Yeshiva and an Associate Cantorial Certificate and Cantorial Diploma from Belz.
Standing O offers a toast, “Mazel tov on your retirement. Keep on singing”
The Philip and Sarah Belz School of Jewish Music [560 W 185th St. in Manhattan (212) 960–5353].
