Cantor Eugene Goldberger with Chief Rabbi of Denmark Dr. Max Friediger who had been released from Theresienstadt along with the other 425 Danish Jews just months before this photo was taken. Sadly, he died two years later at age 63.
"In my father Eugene Goldberger's case, while he, unlike his siblings, remained within the orthodox fold in terms of his strict observance of the Sabbath and Kashrut (the dietary laws), his intense curiosity about the world and his characteristic inquisitiveness and openness to interact with all kinds of people who crossed his path, ultimately led him to embrace the more modern, 20th Century conservative stance within Judaism—rather than the ultra-orthodox life style.
But it was having a good neshoma (soul or heart) and performing mitzvahs (good deeds) inherent in tzedakah (the giving of charity) that really became the essence of religiosity for him."
Cantor Eugene Goldberger was studying music at the conservatory in Vienna and attending cantorial school. He was offered a cantorial position in Vukovar (Croatia) and later accepted a new position as Chief Cantor in Troppau (Opava, Czechoslovakia),
Fearing the rising tide of Nazism, cantor Goldberger moved his family once again, this time to Denmark, where he assumed the position of Chief Cantor of Copenhagen.
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Music: Cantor Eugene Goldberger - A Prayer (Yiddish)
Courtesy: Museum of Jewish Montreal
Den Aronitiske velsignelse tilskrives Israels præster, som den første ypperstepræst Aron, bror til Moses og "Arons sønner" velsignet folket og den enkelte israelit med ved tempelgudstjenesten. Før sin død velsignede Aron sine 12 sønner, blandt dem Josef.
Oprindelsen til ritualet går tilbage til Jakob. Se 4. Mos. 6, 24-26. "Herren velsigne og bevare dig! Herren lade sit ansigt lyse over dig og være dig nådig! Herren løfte sit ansigt mod dig og give dig fred!"
Den treleddede formular understreger, at Herren (Jahve) er den, der beskytter, understøtter og redder Israel/israelitterne. Siden Reformationen bruges den Aronitiske velsignelse i Danmark også i kristne gudstjenester ved afslutning, før sidste salme.
Hanna Skop, som arbejder med formidling af jødedom i form af forevisning af synagogen og foredrag for forskellige interessegrupper i Danmark, sier bl.a om den Aronitiske velsignelse at hun føler, hvorledes generationerne knyttes til hinanden, slægt, der følger slægt, og med disse få ord angives mål og retning for vor livsførelse."
"Ritualernes placering i jødedommen er meget central. Der findes ritualer til stort set alle dagliglivets mange aktiviteter. Ritualer har to formål: dels at de foreskriver os, hvorledes vi i en given situation bør handle, dels at få os til at reflektere over livet og den specifikke situation, vi måtte stå i."