It is not the place that honors the man, but the man who honors the place.
For over 40 years, Cantor Louis Klein, z"l, added levity, solemnity and beautiful music to Congregation B'nai Moshe. He helped make our prayers meaningful, and added so much to the lives of so many as a teacher and as a friend. Cantor Klein taught hundreds of children and adults how to read Torah, how to chant a haftarah and how to daven. Cantor Klein's presence was a symbol of strength to this Congregation. B'nai Moshe's continued strength and growth is a tribute to this important leader in our Congregation's history. Now is the time to honor Cantor Klein's memory.
Please place your name with his. Give generously so that generations to come can be a part of our past, our present and our future.
Congregation B'nai Moshe was excited in 1958 when a new Cantor was hired.
Cantor Louis Klein had been the Cantor of the Wembley Synagogue in London, England. He was classically trained in music at the conservatory in Brussels, Belgium. But he was also classically trained in Jewish studies at the Mir Yeshiva and other highly regarded houses of study.
We can only imagine the excitement of that day in 1958 when Cantor Klein's rich baritone voice first filled the sanctuary at B'nai Moshe. He was active from that day through his retirement over 40 years later. In that time, Cantor Klein established a men's choir, a children's choir and a women's choral group. His original compositions for Aleynu and V'Shamru set B'nai Moshe apart during his tenure and we continue to use them to this day.
The Cantor Klein Chapel will function as a multi-purpose room. As we've grown, we've seen the need for more space for:
The Klein Chapel's space will fill all of these needs and more. The space will be flexible, with moveable chairs. It can be configured to do what we need it to do.
The building of the Chapel is a wonderful way to honor Cantor Klein who was not only inspirational through his liturgy, but whose spirit also represents our survival, our continuing growth and our home as an uplifting place to worship. We will want to make this space beautiful -- as beautiful as his voice was on that first day in 1958, and as beautiful as it remained on the last day he led us in prayer. Within this space, we hope to capture the feeling -- his spirit enveloped around us giving us joy, strength and comfort.
For additional information, read Marsha Brand's article about building a sanctuary.
There are many giving opportunities available. Different levels include acknowledgement of contributions on a plaque in the Chapel or in a Book of Honor that will be kept in the Chapel itself.
Click Chapel Giving Opportunities Form for a printable form to mail in with your contribution.
For more information:
Contact Alisa Peskin-Shepherd, Congregation Fund Raising Chair, or Michael Grand, Cantor Klein Chapel Chair
e-mail: KleinChapel@aol.com
Sharlene Ungar, Executive Director at B'nai Moshe
Phone: (248) 788-0600
e-mail: cbminfo@bnaimoshe.org