Born: March 25, 1874 (Ukraine, Russia)

Died: October 3, 1952 (USA)

Immigrated to USA: 1919

Immigrated to Israel: 1926

Returned to USA: 1937

Voice: Lyric Bass-baritone

Encouraged by his father to pursue a career in business. Encouraged by others to seek out fame in opera. Kwartin’s soul, apparently, drew him to study the art of Chazzanuth. With the support of his new bride, he set out for Vienna, at the age of 23, to pursue his dream of becoming a cantor. Today, Cantor Zawel (Zavel) Kwartin is considered to be one of the pivotal luminaries from the Golden Age of Chazzanuth (1920s and 1930s).

Kwartin officiated in synagogues in Vienna, St. Petersburg, and Budapest, and, in 1919 after a successful US concert tour, took up residence in Brooklyn’s Boro Park where his voice thrilled the congregation of Temple Emanuel. It may be difficult to imagine, but back in the 1920s and 1930s cantors like Kwartin were so admired and idolized by fans that they could be compared to the pop stars of today’s world. While in Brooklyn both his reputation and the number of his phonograph recordings grew. He immigrated to Israel in 1926, returning to the USA eleven years later to officiate at a synagogue in New Jersey.

 In July 1994 Bernard S. Greenberg posted this on Mendele, a forum for Yiddish literature and language (mendele.commons.yale.edu): “I for one, find much in Kwartin's recorded legacy - an earnestness, directness, and from-the-heartness which cuts right to my center.  Kwartin was a lyric bass-baritone who sang with great strength, sincerity, and majesty…In particular, the 1961 release "The Days of Awe" (Collector's Guild CG-620) is one of the most magnificent of all works of recorded Cantorial art and still an inspiration to all aspiring Chazzonim; it is surely my favorite of my many Cantorial recordings.”