Mordechay Hershman
(1888-1940)
Mordechay Hershman was born in Cherinov in 1888, and his father, who was a glass-merchant, had no interest in singing whatsoever. Sadly, Mordechay was orphaned at the age of six and it turned out that his foster parents were equally disinterested in music. However, it may well have been their discouragement that turned the young Hershman towards the Synagogue in order to satisfy his thirst for singing, and it was through the pleadings of the local cantor with his foster parents that Mordechay was allowed to take lessons. At the age of twelve, he was adopted by his grandfather who took him to Solovio, where he continued his studies under Chazan Dorfman. By 1905 Chazan Dorfman considered his protege to be ready and he applied for, and was appointed, Chazan Sheni (Assistant Cantor) to the Vilna Synagogue, earning 12 roubles a month! When the incumbent Chazan Rishon (Chief Cantor) died, Hershman applied for the position, and against some extremely fine opposition, he was appointed Chazan Rishon himself. Since Vilna was one of the most flourishing centres of Jewish life, at this time, this post Rishon at the main Synagigue was indeed a coveted one. In 1914 Hershman was drafted into the army and it's related that his commanding officer was so impressed with his singing, that he was released from army service and returned to his Synagogue. (This, and similar apocryphal stories, are related about many Chazanim. It is of course very difficult to verify, but is a charming notion nevertheless!) After 1918 Hershman sang extensively throughout Russia and the rest of Europe. He became so famous that his own Synagogue released him to officiate only twice per month and he conducted services in many communities on the other Shabbatot. In concert he often sang operatic arias and appeared as soloist, twice, with the Warsaw Philharmonic. The famous Choir Director Leo Lowe heard him and invited him to go to America which he did in 1920 where he was appointed Chazan at the Temple Beth-El in Boro Park, Brooklyn. Hershman toured and concertised all over the States, as well as conduct services in all the major Synagogues. He died at the very early age of 53 in 1940, deeply mourned by countless admiring fans.
Rabbi Geoffrey Shisler
[78RPM]
A Gesang Funem Berdichiver Rebbe
(
Levi Yitskhok B
e
rditshever
)
Mordechai Hershman
HMV AN 24
1924
A Gesang Funem Berdichiver Rebbe
(
Levi Yitskhok B
e
rditshever
)
Mordechai Hershman
Victor 68671-B
1924
A Khazndl Af Shabos
Mordechay Hershman
Victor 68625-A
1922
Ahavat Rahya (
Joel Engel
)
Mordechay Hershman
Victor 68614-B
1922
Al Chet
(
Levi Yitskhok B
e
rditshever
)
Mordechay Hershman
HMV AN 24
192
4
Al Chet
(
Levi Yitskhok B
e
rditshever
)
Mordechay Hershman
Victor 68671-A
192
4
Aneinu (
Max Kotlowitz
)
Mordechay Hershman
Columbia 57038-F
1929
Aneinu (
Max Kotlowitz
)
Mordechay Hershman
Columbia 57054-F
Aneinu (
Max Kotlowitz
)
Mordechay Hershman
Columbia DIX3
Boruch Adoshem Bayom
(
Aaron Bloom
)
Mordechay Hershman
Victor 68
576
-A
1921
Der Lamden Reb Sender (
M
orris Rund -
Joshua-Samuel Weisser
)
Mordechay Hershman
Columbia 57064-F
1929
Der Lamden Reb Sender (
M
orris Rund -
Joshua-Samuel Weisser
)
Mordechay Hershman
Columbia DIX8
Die Negidim Un Die Kabzonim
Mordechay Hershman
Columbia 57058-F
1926
Die Negidim Un Die Kabzonim
Mordechay Hershman
Columbia 9458
Eylu Devorim
(
Jacob Rapaport)
Mordechay Hershman
Columbia
11738
Eylu Devorim
(
Jacob Rapaport)
Mordechay Hershman
Columbia 57019-
F
1926
Fleishige Yidden, Milchige Yidden Un Pareve Yidden
(
Max Kotlowitz
)
Mordechay Hershman
Columbia 57036-F
1929
Fleishige Yidden, Milchige Yidden Un Pareve Yidden
(
Max Kotlowitz
)
Mordechay Hershman
Columbia 57064-F
Fleishige Yidden, Milchige Yidden Un Pareve Yidden
(
Max Kotlowitz
)
Mordechay Hershman
Columbia DIX8
In Cheder'l
(
Moses Milner
)
Mordechay Hershman
Victor 68598-A
1921
Kheshbon Tsedek
Mordechay Hershman
Victor 68655-A
1924
Lieder-Krantz
Mordechay Hershman
Columbia A 430
Lieder-Krantz
Mordechay Hershman
Columbia DIX 7
1928
Magen Avot (
Sholom Zvi Zemachson
)
Mordechay Hershman
Victor 68681
1924
Mai Ko Mashma Lon (
Avrom Reisen)
Mordechay Hershman
Victor 68639-B
1923
Mikita
Mordechay Hershman
Victor 68625-B
1922
Min Hamaytzar (
Sigmund Mogul
esko
)
Mordechay Hershman
Victor
45496-A
1925
Mitraze Berachamim
Mordechay Hershman
Columbia
11738
Mitraze Berachamim
Mordechay Hershman
Columbia 57019-
F
1926
Retsey (
Isaac Shlossberg
)
Mordechay Hershman
Victor
68619-
B
1923
Sheva Brokhes (
Eliyohu Schnipelisky
)
Mordechay Hershman
Columbia 57028-F
1927
Tikanto Shabos (
Nachum Wilkomirsky
)
Mordechay Hershman
RCA Victor 25-5072
Tikanto Shabos (
Nachum Wilkomirsky
)
Mordechay Hershman
Victrola 4012
1925
V'yo V'yo Ferdelach
(
Yitskhok Leybush
Peretz
)
Mordechay Hershman
Columbia 57058-F
1926
V'yo V'yo Ferdelach
(
Yitskhok Leybush
Peretz
)
Mordechay Hershman
Columbia 9458
Zamd un Shtern (
Shimon Frug
- Avraham
Moshe Bernstein
)
Mordechay Hershman
Victor 68639-A
1923
[
33
RPM]
A Gesang Funem Berdichiver Rebbe
(
Levi Yitskhok B
e
rditshever
)
Mordechai Hershman
The Greater Recording GRC 170
1970
A Khazndl Af Shabos
Mordechay Hershman
Collectors Guild CGY 614
1961
A Khazndl Af Shabos
Mordechay Hershman
Jewish Record Club JRC-101
A Khazndl Af Shabos
Mordechay Hershman
Scala 857
A Khazndl Af Shabos
Mordechay Hershman
The Greater Recording GRC 170
1970
Ahavat Rahya (
Joel Engel
)
Mordechay Hershman
The Greater Recording GRC 166
1970
Al Chet
(
Levi Yitskhok B
e
rditshever
)
Mordechay Hershman
Jewish Record Club JRC-101
Al Chet
(
Levi Yitskhok B
e
rditshever
)
Mordechay Hershman
The Greater Recording GRC 170
1970
Aneinu (
Max Kotlowitz
)
Mordechay Hershman
The Greater Recording GRC 52
1964
Aneinu (
Max Kotlowitz
)
Mordechay Hershman
Scala 848
Aneinu (
Max Kotlowitz
)
Mordechay Hershman
Shirim Records S-1002
Boruch Adoshem Bayom
(
Aaron Bloom
)
Mordechay Hershman
Shirim Records S-1002
Boruch Adoshem Bayom
(
Aaron Bloom
)
Mordechay Hershman
The Greater Recording GRC 166
1970
Der Lamden Reb Sender (
M
orris Rund -
Joshua-Samuel Weisser
)
Mordechay Hershman
Scala 857
Der Lamden Reb Sender (
M
orris Rund -
Joshua-Samuel Weisser
)
Mordechay Hershman
The Greater Recording GRC 82
1966
Die Negidim Un Die Kabzonim
Mordechay Hershman
Collectors Guild CGY 614
1961
Die Negidim Un Die Kabzonim
Mordechay Hershman
Scala 857
Die Negidim Un Die Kabzonim
Mordechay Hershman
The Greater Recording GRC 54
1964
Eylu Devorim (
Jacob Rapaport)
Mordechay Hershman
Aurora 1514 (XTV 65033)
Eylu Devorim (
Jacob Rapaport)
Mordechay Hershman
Shirim Records S-1002
Eylu Devorim (
Jacob Rapaport)
Mordechay Hershman
The Greater Recording GRC 52
1964
Fleishige Yidden, Milchige Yidden Un Pareve Yidden
(
Max Kotlowitz
)
Mordechay Hershman
The Greater Recording GRC 82
1966
Fleishige Yidden, Milchige Yidden Un Pareve Yidden
(
Max Kotlowitz
)
Mordechay Hershman
Scala 857
In Cheder'l
(
Moses Milner
)
Mordechay Hershman
Jewish Record Club JRC-101
In Cheder'l
(
Moses Milner
)
Mordechay Hershman
Scala 857
Kheshbon Tsedek
Mordechay Hershman
Jewish Record Club JRC-101
Kheshbon Tsedek
Mordechay Hershman
The Greater Recording GRC 170
1970
Lieder-Krantz
Mordechay Hershman
Collectors Guild CGY 614
1961
Lieder-Krantz
Mordechay Hershman
The Greater Recording GRC 54
1964
Magen Avot (
Sholom Zvi Zemachson
)
Mordechay Hershman
Collectors Guild CG 608
1961
Magen Avot (
Sholom Zvi Zemachson
)
Mordechay Hershman
The Greater Recording GRC 166
1970
Mai Ko Mashma Lon (
Avrom Reisen)
Mordechay Hershman
Collectors Guild CGY 614
1961
Mai Ko Mashma Lon (
Avrom Reisen)
Mordechay Hershman
Jewish Record Club JRC-101
Mai Ko Mashma Lon (
Avrom Reisen)
Mordechay Hershman
The Greater Recording GRC 170
1970
Mikita
Mordechay Hershman
Collectors Guild CGY 614
1961
Mikita
Mordechay Hershman
Scala 857
Mikita
Mordechay Hershman
The Greater Recording GRC 170
1970
Min Hamaytzar (
Sigmund Mogul
esko
)
Mordechay Hershman
The Greater Recording GRC 170
1970
Mitraze Berachamim
Mordechay Hershman
Aurora 1514 (XTV 6503
2
)
Mitraze Berachamim
Mordechay Hershman
Jewish Record Club JRC-102
Mitraze Berachamim
Mordechay Hershman
Shirim Records S-1002
Mitraze Berachamim
Mordechay Hershman
The Greater Recording GRC 82
1966
Retsey (
Isaac Shlossberg
)
Mordechay Hershman
Collectors Guild GC 608
1961
Retsey (
Isaac Shlossberg
)
Mordechay Hershman
Jewish Record Club JRC-102
Retsey (
Isaac Shlossberg
)
Mordechay Hershman
Shirim Records S-1002
Sheva Brokhes (
Eliyohu Schnipelisky
)
Mordechay Hershman
Collectors Guild CG 600
Sheva Brokhes (
Eliyohu Schnipelisky
)
Mordechay Hershman
The Greater Recording GRC 52
1964
Tikanto Shabos (
Nachum Wilkomirsky
)
Mordechay Hershman
Collectors Guild GC 608
1961
Tikanto Shabos (
Nachum Wilkomirsky
)
Mordechay Hershman
Jewish Record Club JRC-102
Tikanto Shabos (
Nachum Wilkomirsky
)
Mordechay Hershman
The Greater Recording GRC 166
1970
V'yo V'yo Ferdelach
(
Yitskhok Leybush
Peretz
)
Mordechay Hershman
Scala 857
V'yo V'yo Ferdelach
(
Yitskhok Leybush
Peretz
)
Mordechay Hershman
The Greater Recording GRC 54
1964
Zamd un Shtern (
Shimon Frug
- Avraham
Moshe Bernstein
)
Mordechay Hershman
Collectors Guild GC 614
1961
Zamd un Shtern (
Shimon Frug
- Avraham
Moshe Bernstein
)
Mordechay Hershman
Jewish Record Club JRC-101
Last update
07-01-2023
