Cantor Shmuel Kantaroff in Cincinnati, 1942 at Event for Rabbi Eliezer Silver

by Rabbi Chaim Dalfin and the American Jewish Archives. For more historical documents, please subscribe to Rabbi Dalfin’s YouTube channel, Here!

On February 15, 1942, Congregation Knesset Israel of Cincinnati held a celebration in honor of his 60th birthday for their illustrious Rabbi, HaRav Eliezer Silver. He was hired as their rabbi in 1931. You will notice that they brought Cantor Shmuel Kantaroff from New York to perform. Kantaroff was a Chasid of the Rebbe Rashab and Rebbe Raayatz. Seemingly, Rabbi Silver’s close connection to the Rebbe Raayatz led him to Cantor Kantoroff.

It’s interesting to note that in the 1930 film of the Rebbe Raayatz in America, one sees a gathering at the Kramer home in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn with the Rebbe Raayatz present. One sees Cantor Kantaroff singing.

This shul notice is historically important because it shows that life continued in America during the Holocaust. The same Rabbi Silver who procured many visas for Holocaust survivors kept his congregation involved and they appreciated it. They recognized this and honored him greatly.