Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Cantor Yaakov “Yanky” Lemmer is one of the leading young cantors on the cantorial horizon. His beautiful lyric tenor voice, dramatic color, and precise coloratura have garnered him universal praise among his peers and connoisseurs, alike. He began his singing career as the star soloist of the Young Israel of Bethel Choir, where world renowned Cantor Ben Zion Miller took him under his private tutelage. Yaakov earned a scholarship to the Belz School of Jewish Music at Yeshiva University, where he studied with Cantors Joseph Malovany and Bernard Beer. He also studied with cantorial legend Cantor Noach Schall, and has won a scholarship for vocal training in N.Y.C.
His repertoire spans many genres and languages, including traditional Hebrew liturgy, Yiddish folk, Opera, Broadway, Israeli, and more.
He currently serves as Cantor of Lincoln Square Synagogue in New York City.
Doskonale rozumiem dramatyzm tej pieśni. Mój ojciec , który był Polakiem, też sprzedawał podczas okupacji niemieckiej papierosy. Pewnego dnia jakiś żołdak niemiecki kopnął go i rozdeptał papierosy. Mój ojciec miał wtedy ok. 12 lat i ten przypadek sprawił, że wstąpił do podziemnej organizacji (partyzantki) i walczył w Powstaniu Warszawskim w 1944 roku. A wcześniej nosił do getta warszawskiego potrzebne produkty.
A kalte nakht, a nepldike, fintster umetum, shteyt a yingele fartroyert un kukt zikh arum. Fun regn shitst im nor a vant, a koshikl halt er in hant, un zayne oygn betn yedn shtum. Ikh hob shoyn nisht keyn koyekh mer arumtsugeyn in gas, hungerik un opgerisn fun dem regn nas. Ikh shlep arum zikh fun baginen, keyner git nisht tsu fardinen, ale lakhn, makhn fun mir shpas. Kupitye koyft zhe, koyft zhe papirosn, trukene fun regn nisht fargosn. Koyft zhe bilik benemones, koyft un hot oyf mir rakhmones, ratevet fun hunger mikh atsind. Kupitye koyft zhe shvebelekh antikn, dermit vet ir a yoseml derkvikn. Umzist mayn shrayen un mayn loyfn, keyner vil bay mir nisht koyfn, oysgeyn vel ikh muzn vi a hunt. Ikh hob gehat a shvesterl, a kind fun der natur, mit mir tsuzamen zikh geshlept hot zi a gantsn yor. Mit ir geven iz mir fil gringer, laykhter vern flegt der hunger, ven ikh fleg a kuk ton nor oyf ir. Mitamol gevorn iz zi shvakh un zeyer krank, oyf mayne hent iz zi geshtorbn oyf a gasn-bank, un az ikh hob zi farloyrn, hob ikh alts ongevoyrn, zol der toyt shoyn kumen oykh tsu mir. Kupitye koyft zhe, koyft zhe papirosn, trukene fun regn nisht fargosn. Koyft zhe bilik benemones, koyft un hot oyf mir rakhmones, ratevet fun hunger mikh atsind. Kupitye koyft zhe shvebelekh antikn, dermit vet ir a yoseml derkvikn. Umzist mayn shrayen un mayn loyfn, keyner vil bay mir nisht koyfn, oysgeyn vel ikh muzn vi a hunt.
😂 Akalte nakht, a nebldike finster umetum sheyt a yingele fartroiert un kukt zikh arum Fun regn shtist im hor a vant, A koshik trogt er in hant, un zayne oygn betn yedn shtum Ikh hob shoyn nit keyn koyekh mer arumtsugeyn in gaz, hungerig un opgerizn fun dem regn naz. Ikh shlep arum zikh fun baginen, keyner git nisht tsu fardinen, zale lakhn, makhn fun mir shpaz. Kupitye koyft zhe, koyft zhe papirosn, trukene fun regn nisht fargozn. Koyft she bilik benemones, koyft un hot oyf mir rakhmones, ratevet fun hunger mikh atsind.. Kupitye koyft she shvebelakh antikn, dermit verd ir a yosiml derkvikn. Umzizt mayn shrayen un mayn loyfn, keyner vil bay mir nit koyfn,oysgeyn vel ikh muzn vi a hunt. Mayn tate in milkhome hot farloyrn zayne hent, mayn mame hot di tsores mer oyshaltn nisht gekent. Yung in keyver zi getribn, bin ikh oyf der velt farblibn, ungliklekh un elnt vi a shteyn. Breklekh klayb ikh oyf tsum ezn oyf dem kaltn mark, a harte bank iz mayn geleger in dem kaltn park. In dertsu di politziantn, shlog mikh shvern kantn, z'helft nit mayn betn, mayn geveyn. Ikh hob gehat a shvesterl, a kind fun der natur, Mit mir tsusamen zikh geshlept hot zi a gants yor. Mit ir geven iz mir fil gringer, laykhter vern flegt der hunger, ven ikh fleg a kuk ton nor oyf ir. Mit amol gevorn iz zi shvakh un zeyer krank, oyf mayne hent iz zi geshtorbn oyf a gazn-bank. Un az ikh hob zi farloyrn, hob ikh alts ongevoyrn, zol der toyt shoyn kumen oykh tsu mir.
Thank you, Cantor. After 3 years since this plea with Hashem was published - now, post the 7th of October 23, the sad relevancy of the lyrics is truely shocking! Joining cantor Abramson in our appreciation of both your faithful translation from the Hebrew, and for your sensitive rendition! Thank you!
