Thursday, October 1, 2026
For generations of Jewish worshippers, the melodies of Cantor Sol Zim have provided a soundtrack to prayer, celebration and reflection. Next month, Zim, one of the most recognizable figures in Jewish, music, will bring those melodies to Wantagh.
A renowned cantor, composer, recording artist and educator whose music has been performed around the world, Zim will join Rabbi Moshe P. Weisblum at Congregation Beth Tikvah for portions of the High Holy Day services.
For Weisblum, the opportunity represents more than bringing a distinguished musician to his congregation. It is the result of a longtime friendship built around a shared love of Jewish music, prayer and worship.
“This is much more than inviting a distinguished cantor,” Weisblum said. “Sol has inspired Jewish communities around the world. His music has the remarkable ability to touch the heart and make every prayer deeply personal.”
Zim, 87, who lives in Queens, is a descendant of five generations of cantors, graduated from the Jewish Theological Seminary Cantorial Institute, in New York City and received an honorary Doctor of Music. He has performed at venues including Madison Square Garden, and has appeared before audiences across the United States and internationally. He also has taught Jewish music and written hundreds of melodies and arrangements used by congregations, cantors and educators.
Among his best-known compositions is his rendition of “Avinu Shebashamayim,” a prayer for the State of Israel that has been performed and recorded by cantors and musicians around the world. His work has earned honors including the Hazzan Max Wohlberg Award for Composition; the Yuval Award, for his contributions to synagogue music; and the Jewish Music Leadership Award.
But for Zim, the importance of music isn’t simply in its performance. It is in what happens when people hear it together.
“There is something extraordinary about the High Holidays,” Zim said. “Year after year I have watched people walk into the synagogue carrying the burdens of everyday life, only to leave with renewed hope, comfort, and a deeper sense of purpose.”
The High Holy Days, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, are among the most sacred days of the Jewish calendar, a time of reflection, repentance, forgiveness and renewal. Music plays a central role in the services, helping worshippers connect emotionally with prayers that have been recited for generations.
Zim said he was looking forward to sharing that experience with the Congregation Beth Tikvah community.
“Together we will pray,” he said. “Together we will sing. Together we will reflect on the year that has passed and embrace the promise of the year ahead.”
Joining Zim will be an accomplished vocal ensemble that includes choir director Andrea Goodman, bass-baritone Blake Brooks, tenor Chris Carter and soprano Sarah Pillow. The group has performed in synagogues and concert halls, often with orchestras, for decades.
For congregants, Zim’s appearance is an opportunity to hear someone whose music has influenced Jewish worship around the world.
Jo-Ann Hertzman, a Congregation Beth Tikvah member, a classical ballet teacher and a lifelong lover of music, said she was looking forward to the services. “Cantor Zim and his choir will bring a rare and memorable musical experience to everyone in attendance,” Hertzman said.
That anticipation is part of what Weisblum hopes the services will create — not only among longtime members, but also among those who may be returning to the synagogue after years away or visiting for the first time.
“The High Holidays remind us that every year offers a new opportunity to grow, repair relationships and begin again,” Weisblum said. “Music opens our hearts in ways that words alone sometimes cannot.”
For Zim, that openness is at the heart of what makes the holidays meaningful.
After many years serving his congregation in Hollis Hills, he said he is honored to spend the season with the Beth Tikvah family.
Congregation Beth Tikvah is at 3710 Woodbine Ave., on the Wantagh-Seaford border. High Holy Day services with Zim are scheduled for Sept. 12 and 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sept 20, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Sept. 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. They are open to the community, with seating available by reservation. For information, tickets or reservations, contact the synagogue at (516) 785-2445, or visit congbt.org.
