Beryl Salzman, Hidden Chazzan and Soviet-Era Jewish Underground Figure, Dies at 91

Rabbi Beryl “Beryle” Salzman, a celebrated chazzan and Hasidic figure who became a symbol of Jewish underground life behind the Iron Curtain, has died at the age of 91. Communities in Nachalat Har Chabad and among immigrants from the former Soviet Union mourned his death, which was reported on Tuesday night, ערב ח' בתמוז ה'תשפ"ו. His funeral is set for today in New York.

Salzman was known for running a secret yeshiva in his home under the watch of the KGB and for serving for 14 years as an underground cantor, putting his life at daily risk. While also building a public musical career on Soviet state radio, he used his powerful voice and public standing to strengthen Jewish life, save young Jews from assimilation, and support hidden Chabad activity in the USSR.

Born in the Soviet Union in 1934 to a distinguished Hasidic family with deep roots in cantorial and Jewish musical tradition, he showed exceptional musical talent from childhood. After years of pressure and a five-year struggle with Soviet immigration authorities, he received permission in 1971 to leave with his wife and six children and immigrated to Israel.

That same year, he visited the Lubavitcher Rebbe in Crown Heights and was asked to lead the Mussaf prayer on Rosh Hashanah at 770, which made him famous in the Hasidic world. He later toured the United States and Canada, declined lucrative offers to stay in major congregations, and followed the Rebbe’s instructions to remain in the Land of Israel before later moving to Los Angeles in 1980 to help serve the growing Russian-Jewish community there. In his later years he lived in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, helped found the Bris Avraham community, and continued teaching Torah and Hasidic warmth until his death. He is to be buried at Montefiore Cemetery in Queens after the 2:15 p.m. New York funeral from 770.