Cantor Abe Lubin

Hazzan Emeritus Abraham Lubin came to Beth El in 1990. After 21 years as a member of our clergy, he retired in June of 2011.

Hazzan Lubin was born in London and returned to Israel with his parents, the birthplace of his family. An Israeli of the fifth generation, he received his early Jewish and secular education in Israel and began to show a love and talent for singing. At eight years of age, he sang solo with the renowned Rivlin Choir in Jerusalem.

Hazzan Lubin returned to England with his parents, where he continued his education at the Etz Chaim Yeshivah. He entered the Jews’ College Cantorial School, where he was graduated as a hazzan. He pursued his secular music studies at the London College of Music, where he received the Associate of the London College of Music Diploma (A.L.C.M.) and won a silver medal of merit for excellence. He is also a graduate of the College Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati, where he obtained a Bachelor of Music degree. At De Paul University, he received his Master of Music degree (“with distinction”). He is the recipient of the Doctor of Music degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.

During his earliest training, Hazzan Lubin sang in many leading synagogues and concertized throughout England and Scotland. At 13, he was invited to conduct the services at leading synagogues in the area, and he sang his first High Holidy service at 15. At 17, he was engaged as a hazzan at the Jubilee Street Zionist Synagogue in London, and at 19, he accepted a position at the famed Bayswater Synagogue in London, where he was inducted into office by the then chief rabbi, the late Dr. Israel Brodie. He was acclaimed by the press as the youngest hazzan in the British United Synagogue to hold such a post.

Soon after his arrival in the United States, he was engaged by the Beth Abraham Synagogue in Dayton, Ohio, where he served for 10 years with great distinction. He went on to further distinguish hiumself as hazzan at Congregation Rodfei Zedek and Anshe Amet Synagogue in Chicago. He served as hazzan at Congregation Beth El until 2011.

Well-versed in hazzanut, Hebrew, Israeli, and Yiddish songs, Hazzan Lubin is also at home in the operatic, oratorio, lieder, and Italian repertoire; he has appeared in concert recitals throughout the United States, Europe, and Israel. He appeared in concert and conducted services in the Soviet Union on a mission in behalf of the National Conference on Soviet Jewry and the Cantors Assembly.

Hazzan Lubin is a past president of the Cantors Assembly and the former editor of the Journal of Synagogue Music. He is the recipient of the Cantors Assembly’s coveted 25th Anniversary “Yuval Award” in recognition of his distinguished career. At the 2003 Cantors Assembly convention, Lubin was honored with the prestigious “Sam Rosenbaum Aaward” for scholarship and creativity.

He has contributed articles on Jewish music in various periodicals. He is the author of the publication “Siddur 101.” He has recorded the critically acclaimed “Cantorial Classics.” Hazzan Lubin’s scholarly research interest has been an analysis of the music of Salomon Sulzer. Hazzan Lubin is listed in the Encychopedia Judaica, Who’s Who in Religion, Notable Americans, and the Dictionary of International Biography, Who’s Who in American Music, the International Who’s Who in Music, and Who’s Who in World Jewry.

Hazzan Lubin and his wife, Sondra, are the parents of Dr. Harlan Lubin, Stephanie and Sharyn Lubin Levitt, and grandparents of eight grandchildren.