Anshei Shalom's cantor retires
By Joyce Moed Special to the journal
November 9th, 2009

JTemple Anshei Shalom in Delray Beach said goodbye to Cantor Emil Levy last week.

Levy, who served as the Conservative synagogue's cantor for 18 years, retired at the end of May. Saturday, May 29, was his last Shabbat service at Temple Anshei Shalom.

Levy, who was born in Germany, was destined to become a cantor, although it wasn't always in his plans.

"My father and grandfather were cantors," he said. "I didn't want to be a cantor. I wanted to be in the army. I went to the military academy, and I studied in a yeshiva. I then decided to serve in intelligence after the military academy."

But Levy's father had different plans for him.

"My father told me that he dreamed to see the chain continue," Levy said. "He saw a sign from God, that we survived, but I was committed to serve."

After the Cold War, Levy began work as a cantor in Germany.

"I loved it," he said.

In 1991, Levy and his wife decided to move to the United States. Their son, who lives in Fort Lauderdale, helped connect with Anshei Shalom.

At Anshei Shalom, Levy truly found a home.

"I saw people looking for a shoulder to cry on," Levy said. "When people came to temple with tears in their eyes, I really felt their pain. I'm very connected. A lot of members are Holocaust survivors. Not one of them is normal. They suffer."

Not only does Levy feel connected to Anshei Shalom, and the congregants themselves, he feels connected to Judaism.

"Religion is really a discipline," he said. "All the things — such as not working on Shabbat — is really just ways you believe in your religion. Judaism is a dynamic religion. For us the principles are the 10 Commandments."

Since announcing his retirement, Levy has been flooded with telephone calls from members asking him to stay in touch.

"I'm very connected to the people," he said. "A few people have even left in their wills that they want me to bury them. I was a 24/7 cantor every day."

And considering how Levy reaches out to the congregants, the connection they feel to him is no surprise.

"I call my members and sing happy birthday to them on their birthdays," he said. "I call them on their anniversaries."

Levy also tries to connect parents with their adult children, in cases where they have little contact.

Levy has three children, who are all singers. One son lives in Fort Lauderdale, his other son lives in New York, and his daughter lives in grandchildren. He also has six grandchildren, some of which are already singing at very young ages.

"I don't know what we are going to do without him," said Ellen Wallach Hodges, member of Temple Anshei Shalom since 1986, and vice president of the Jewish Music Heritage Society and secretary of the Friends of Israel Disabled Veterans. Hodges also spoke of the importance of the cantor. "The theory is that the rabbi speaks to the people, and the cantor speaks to God," she said.

Though he is retiring, Levy will still be very busy.

"I'm involved with two organizations," he said. "The Jewish Music Heritage Society and the Friends of Israel Disabled Veterans."

He also plans to stay in close touch with many of Temple Anshei Shalom's members.

"There comes a time when I would like to relax," Levy said. "It's my time to relax."