A true gem!Jackie is one of the greatest exponents of both the traditional Hazzanic recitative and music to enjoy and instruct the preschool and Jewish youth. He is one of the quintessential renaissance cantors who is a beacon of life and light to all his congregants and colleagues alike. I have had the outstanding pleasure of having Jackie sing and instruct at my congregational concerts and regional activities for the Cantors Assembly Western Region, where he received unanimous acclaim. He is a true gem in all senses! As a friend and colleague for many years, Jackie’s warmth of personality pervades all he does. Hazak, Hazak, V’nithazek!
A master of cantorsCantor Jackie Mendelson is not only a master cantor, he is a master of cantors. To lovers of Jewish music, he is magical, and to professionals of the art, he is a genius. To me, he is a musical inspiration, a guide to menschlechkite, and a role model who embodies what it means to be klei kodesh. I am ever grateful to consider him my esteemed teacher, mentor and friend. Congratulations on a beautiful website!
A mensch for all seasons for all the right reasonsJackie is a real Mensch! He is as comfortable bringing his beautiful voice to the nuances of Nusakh HaTephilla as he is to doing Khazzanish turns of great humor. The well deserved recognition he has received over the years for his leadership and his ability to teach Khazzanut to a new generation has only made him more sensitive as he reaches out to colleagues in need! A Mensch for all seasons for all the right reasons!
The leading Cantorial presence in our country todayJackie was my first teacher of nusach. The minute he started talking and singing I was instantly riveted. Without a doubt, Jackie was my most influential teacher, mentor and Hazzan. He is, without question, the leading Cantorial presence in our country today. He is a brilliant singer, Hazzan, Educator, Lecturer and Mensch. My nine year old daughter fell in love with him the minute she met him. Say no more!
A fantastic teacherNot only is Cantor Mendelson a great guy, he is a fantastic teacher that is sought after his sound advice and Cantorial Interpretations. I am proud to call him a colleague, but I am more pleased to call him a friend. I look forward to hosting him at the annual Southeastern Region Cantors Assembly Conference this year as our Hazzan in Residence.
I will always owe Jack big timeJack mentored both of my sons through their Bar Mitzvahs. No words can express my gratitude for the confidence that he gave them. I still remember, as if it were yesterday, how nervous one of my sons was when getting ready to lead davening on Friday night when Jack had not yet arrived in shul. When jack did arrive (and in plenty of time), and walked over to my son, it was as if, suddenly, all of my son’s anxiety disappeared and all became right with the world. A father does not forget things like that. I will always owe Jack, big time.
There is no one like JackieJackie was my teacher in cantorial school. He is par excellence! Any time with Jackie is time well spent whether hearing his beautiful voice, learning about chazannut or laughing from his jokes. I can’t imagine how his temple will move on after he retires, there is no one like Jackie!
A gifted and generous teacherJack Mendelson plays a special role in the transmission of cantorial music (nusach): Having been influenced as a child by some of the leading exponents of the art, he devotes himself today to sharing his knowledge with the next generation of hazzanim; and while tirelessly rising to the defense of our traditions, he also welcomes and even initiates their creative juxtaposition with new and different musical mediums. Jackie is a unique individual: a gifted and generous teacher; a brilliant and sensitive interpreter of the prayerbook; a charismatic and engaging raconteur; and an impressive performer of a wide range of repertoire. It would be easy to envy his many talents, but he is such a consummate gentleman that the only appropriate response is to sing—his praises.
His voice opens the gates of heavenOn the Bimah Jackie radiates a warmth of voice and manner that is palpable. His choice of congregational melodies and the pitches at which he leads them uncannily manage to engage everyone in their comfort zones, however varied. And for those seeking an uplift of spirit in synagogue, his rare climactic notes–like the one coinciding with “Yerushalayim” to conclude Hashkiveinu–pour forth enough opulence of beautifully ringing sound to open the gates of tonal heaven!
