Seminary to Dedicate Cantor Kepecs' "Jerusalem Gate" Wall of Honor

The American Seminary for Contemporary Judaism has commissioned a wall of honor to be designed and created by the artist Cantor Lawrence Eliezer Kepecs (LKepecs). Designed to fundraise, this 20 foot long handmade wall of honor is made to look like the imaginary "Jerusalem Gate," entitled, "Shaar Yerushalayim, Shaar Hashamayim," "The Gate of Jerusalem, the Gate of Heaven." It will be displayed in the Seminary's newly established home, the Baldwin Jewish Center. With special acknowledgment to Melissa L. Wind and Executive Director Robert E. Cohen, for their input and help, this exquisite Lkepecs art piece was able to come to fruition. This Jerusalem Stone wall adorned and accented with its beautiful Jerusalem sky, capstones, stone archways, columns, and lions, will be dedicated December 12th 2004, coinciding with the Jewish holiday of Channukah. Made out of a special foam, each “stone” in the display was meticulously hand shaped and painted to look authentic. Six Stars of David adorn the doors of the gate, which is accompanied by two Corinthian style columns holding up the crown stone arch, with a menorah in the arch. The twelve tribes of Israel stones are arranged vertically on both sides of the archway, while the two lions guard the entranceway through the “Jerusalem Gate.”

Founded out of the Jewish Ministers Cantors Association of America, also known as the Chazzanim Farband, the oldest cantorial organization in America, the Seminary was created a year and a half ago. It is an institution of higher learning for those wishing to pursue careers in the cantorate, rabbinate, Jewish education and educational administration, and Jewish communal organizations and supervision. “The Seminary is a starting point from which people can grow into their position and feel comfortable,” said Mr. Cohen, who himself has spent 30 years in education. “We want to bring back some rudiments of being a teacher and clergy member that might have been lost.” The Seminary will also feature a School for Educational Administration to educate students who wish to become teachers, as well as a School for Jewish Communal Administration, which will teach students who want to go on to an executive or administrative position at synagogues and community centers. The seminary has traditional ideas, as the rabbinic and cantorial schools do not accept women, but their placement division will place graduates in any Jewish denomination. Its mission is to insure a continuation of the heritage and history of Judaism for future generations, and to provide teachers, clergy, and administrators with the knowledge needed to educate others.

The American Seminary for Contemporary Judaism chose Cantor Eliezer Kepecs to create the sculpture because of his vision and innovative ideas, coupled with his accomplishments of outstanding Judaic art pieces, which he has created over the years, as well as his traditional outlook on Judaism. He has been an exemplary spiritual leader serving the Jewish community for over 16 years. Cantor Kepecs said “Chazzan (cantor), comes from the word Chazzon (vision). The early cantors were most likely prophets and it is important for a Chazzan to maintain a spark of vision - to be a visionary of sorts.” Cantor Kepecs began his artistic career as Lawrence Kepecs (Lkepecs) in his last year of Westchester Hebrew High School in December 1987, when he made his first painting entitled “Mountain Lake.” With no formal art training prior to that, picking up a brush seemed a terrifying feat. Being a perfectionist, he had delayed attempting to paint for seven years prior, in fear that he would not be able to execute the painting properly. He went on to make many paintings thereafter including biblical as well as secular themes. He had taken courses in college on how to be a Sofer (biblical scribe). When Cantor Kepecs was 27 years old, he had recalled his childhood at at 9, where he had made a small wooden version of the Ten Commandment tablets. He was intrigued by the concept. Having felt emotionally moved and compelled to start on the project, Cantor Kepecs hand carved the text of the Ten Commandments in slate and granite. Using the entire Hebrew Bible and his knowledge of biblical archeology as his sources for the project that was to last many months, Cantor Kepecs had planned these sets very meticulously. Shortly thereafter, he began designing Muzuzah cases for large doorposts. He would design a series of seven of these, each with a different biblical passage carved onto it, to complement his series of seven biblical paintings. He has designed and created pins, yarmulkes and interesting taleisim (prayer shauls). In June of 2003, to spice things up a bit, Cantor Kepecs hand wrote President George W. Bush a letter backwards, in mirror image form, asking for his continued support for the state of Israel, in light of the recent Palestinian suicide (homicide) bombing that were prevalent. Much to his amazement, this letter apparently became a favorite among the United States Secret Service community, which they refer to as “The Backwards Letter.” He just recently created a series of Judaic holiday greeting cards. Cantor Kepecs' artistry is greatly appreciated by all who see and understand his art, both off and on the stage.

The American Seminary will coincide this wall dedication with an LKepecs art show as well as a gala Channukah concert on the same day, December 12th, 2004, featuring many cantors, including Eliezer Kepecs. Having graced many an audience in concerts, throughout the United States and Canada, Cantor Kepecs possesses a rich tenor voice and an exceptional repertoire that includes Cantorial, Israeli, Yiddish, Neapolitan folk songs, as well as Italian and French Opera. He has served as Cantor of Brooklyn's prestigious Kingsway Jewish Center, and Yonkers' Orthodox Community of Colonial Heights. He has conducted services in some of the largest and prestigious synagogues in North America including Tennessee's Baron Hirsh Synagogue, Maryland's Beth T'filoh Congregation, New York's Park East Synagogue, Iowa's Beth El Jacob Synagogue, Toronto's Shaarei Shomayim, and Montreal's Beth Tikvah Congregation to name a few. Cantor Kepecs was selected to lead services at the 96th Annual Convention of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America. Hestudied at Yeshiva University's Belz School Jewish Music in Manhattan, where he mastered “Nusach Hatfiloh.” He graduated from Yeshiva University with degrees in Psychology, Jewish History, and Jewish Education. He has sung with and conducted the Yeshiva Mizrachi L'banim Boys Choir, has performed as lead singer with, and helped train the Russian Evocans Choral Ensemble, has appeared as Cantor with Baltimore's Beth T'filoh Choral Ensemble for High Holy days 1995, and Montreal's Shaar Hashomayim Choral Society in a concert in 1999. He has sung in New York's Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, The Colden Center Auditorium, and Lefrak Hall of Queens College, in a Passover musical entitled “A Seder in a Flat.” Cantor Kepecs has appeared internationally in concert with many renowned cantors and had appeared in the film “A Stranger Among Us.” Since 1996, Cantor Kepecs has been the distinguished Cantor and teacher in the prestigious Kehillat Hillel in North Woodmere, New York, and was just appointed as professor of liturgical music at the American Seminary for Contemporary Judaism.