Isaac Sheffer, born in Israel in 1951, began his musical career as member of the ensemble of the newly founded opera in Israel. There he took on several solo parts and appeared as a soloist with different Israeli orchestras, including the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra under Zubin Mehta and Claudio Abbado.
Cantor Isaac Sheffer now lives in Berlin, where he served for over 20 years as cantor of the Jewish community, mainly in the Pestalozzistraße synagogue. Today, as a retired cantor, he continues to work in the various synagogues of the Jewish Community in Berlin and also in other Jewish communities in Germany and Switzerland. He officiating mainly in the Pestalozzistrasse synagogue, continuing the tradition of 19th century Berlin synagogue music with the compositions of Louis Lewandowski. In this house of prayer, all Shabbat and holiday services are led by the cantor, alternating with the professional choir, accompanied by the solemn sounds of organ music.
Since 2000, Isaac Sheffer has participated at all official commemoration ceremonies of the Jewish Community of Berlin as well as at ceremonies marking the liberation of concentration camps on behalf
of the Central Council of Jews in Germany. Isaac Sheffer was the soloist when the Synagogal Ensemble Berlin sang at the central commemoration ceremony on 30 January 2013 in the Bundestag as well as in 2008 and 2018 at the main events commemorating the 70th and 80th anniversary of the pogrom of 9 November 1938.
In 2002, Cantor Isaac Sheffer founded the Synagogal Ensemble Berlin together with Regina Yantian and has since given numerous concerts in and outside Germany, whether as a soloist accompanied by the organ or with the Ensemble with organ or orchestra accompaniment.
Concert tours have taken him to Poland, Sweden, Serbia, England, Italy, Israel and South Africa.
Cantor Isaac Sheffer was a founding member of the Louis Lewandowski Festival, which has been held annually in Berlin since 2011. On these occasions he performs regularly as a soloist with the Synagogal Ensemble Berlin.
Contact: mimitzik@gmx.net
Isaac Sheffer
