2017 Winter Concert: My Heart Is in the East – Cantor Shiree Kidron

The 2017 Winter Concert at the venerable Or Olam Synagogue on New York’s East Side Sunday night, December 10, 2017, was a resounding success.  A crowd of about 200  people came out for the concert despite the weather.  The concert, aptly called My Heart is in the East featured “The Music and Soul of the Sephardi Jews.”  Exquisitely performed by Or Olam’s cantor Shiree Kidron, great Sephardic sounds, Spanish folk songs and Ladino music filled the synagogue.

We were privileged to hear Cantor Shiree regale us with many tunes in Hebrew, Spanish, Ladino and English that many of us grew up with.  What a magnificent voice and presence.  The ensemble with Nadav Lev on guitar, Adam Fisher on cello and Rex Benincasa performing percussion was equally impressive.  Thanks should also go out to Rabbi Eugene Wernick and to the many contributors for making this concert possible.  Eagerly looking forward to next year’s concert.

By Austin Rybstein – New York Jewish Guide