By design, life is constantly a struggle; rarely do things come easily. Obstacles are put in our way in order to help our souls grow to greater heights, forcing us to achieve the impossible.
George Burns??
Heroes
Eli K's Details
Status:
Married
Here for:
Networking, Friends
Orientation:
Straight
Body type:
Athletic
Ethnicity:
White / Caucasian
Religion:
Jewish
Zodiac Sign:
Gemini
Smoke / Drink:
No / No
Children:
Someday
Education:
College graduate
Occupation:
Rev. Cantor; CEO
Eli K's Schools
Yeshiva University
New York, NY
Graduated: 1992
Student status: Alumni
Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Major: BA in Psychology; BS in Jewish History; Hebrew Teacher's Diploma
Minor: Cantorial Arts from the Belz School of Jewish Music at YU
Clubs: Tora Dojo
Cantor Lawrence Eliezer Kepecs (born New York City) is a Hazzan (synagogue cantor) and fine artist. Son of Walter and Rosa,he is named after his grandfather Eliezer z"l and married to Melissa Wind. He attended Westchester Day School and Westchester Hebrew High School, paying special attention to acting, singing, and art. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Yeshiva College, a Bachelor of Science in Jewish History, and a Hebrew Teacher's Diploma from Isaac Breuer College of Hebraic Studies at Yeshiva University in 1992, while studying to be a Hazzan at the Belz School of Jewish Music of Yeshiva University (as reported in The Jewish Press, February 26, 1993 page 63). He completed his Rabbinic Semicha studies at The American Seminary for Contemporary Judaism in 2006, and was awarded Orthodox Semicha (Yoreh Yoreh) from Tifereth Yisroel Yeshiva in 2007.
Cantor Kepecs has performed in concerts worldwide as an operatic tenor, with a repertoire that includes Cantorial, Yiddish, Israeli, Neapolitan Folk songs, as well as Italian, French, American, and German opera. He was written up in numerous publications, including The Jewish Press (February 26, 1993 page 63), when he debuted in Toronto, Canada, in a concert held at Congregation Shaarei Shomayim; The Nassau Herald (November 28, 2002 page 19), for a tribute concert in memory of the renowned Cantors Tibor Kelen, and Chaskele Ritter (Kepecs' friend and predecessor at Kehillat Hillel); and The Jewish Week (December 10, 2004 page 19) when he sang in a Hannukah concert for The American Seminary for Contemporary Judaism also dedicating a wall of honor mentioned below, among other periodicals. Cantor Kepecs was one of ten finalists in a cantorial competition hosted by Cantors World at Congregation Beth Israel in Brooklyn, on March 20, 2005. Cantor Kepecs has served as Cantor in North Woodmere, NY, where he was also an educator, teaching Bar and Bat Mitzvah classes, Judaic classes in the hebrew school, and running adult education programs. He has served as Cantor of Brooklyn's Kingsway Jewish Center, and Yonkers' Orthodox Community of Colonial Heights.
He helped train and sang with the Russian Evocans Chorale, the Yeshiva Mizrachi L'banim boys choir (The Jewish Press November 18, 1994 page 45), and the HAFTR Boys Choir. He led High Holyday services with the Beth T'filoh Choral Ensemble of Baltimore, Maryland in 1995, and sang in a concert in Montreal, with Montreal's Shaar Hashomayim Choral Society on October 12, 1999.
He was selected to officiate at services for the 96th Annual Convention of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, as reported in The Jewish Press (November 18, 1994 page 47). He has sung at New York's Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center and Merkin Hall. He also sang at The Colden Center Auditorium, and Lefrack Hall of Queens College, in a Passover musical entitled "A Seder in a Flat," and appeared in the movie "A Stranger Among Us." On 17 January, 2005, Cantor Kepecs sang in the Great Synagogue of Rome in an ecumenical cantorial concert that was televised throughout Italy. This concert was designed to help build bridges of understanding with other religions, and Vatican officials were among those in attendance. He has sung before dignitaries and heads of state, such as Israeli Ambassador to the Holy See His Excellency Oded Ben Hur, H.E. Israeli Minister Moshe Aumann, U.S. Congressman Charles Schumer, Nassau County Executive Thomas S. Golatta, Nassau County Supervisor Kate Murray, U.S. Congresswoman Caroline McCarthy, U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy, and New York City Mayor Rudolph Guilianni among others. In 2004, Cantor Kepecs was appointed "Professor of Liturgical Music" at The American Seminary for Contemporary Judaism. He is one of it's founders, and also serves on its Board of Directors. Cantor Kepecs is currently the Executive Vice President of the Jewish Ministers Cantors Association of America and Canada http://www.thejmca.org, the oldest cantorial organization in existance, spanning over a century (1896), and which has seen such illustrious members as Cantors Moshe and David Koussevitsky, Yossele Rosenblatt, Zavel Kwartin, Mordechai Hershman, Ben Zion Kapov Kagan, Berele Chagy, and Chaskele Ritter to name a few. Cantor Kepecs has helped organize, produce, and perform in concerts for Meir Panim soup kitchens in Israel, in campaigns for "Feed the Hungry Children", http://www.mifalchaim.org/image/news/2004/news5_ext_e.htm written up in the Five Towns Jewish Times (of December 12, 2003 page 19), and The Jewish Week (of 2003 editions: November 14 page 27, November 7 page 12, October 31 page 27, October 24 page 14, and October 10 page 18). In December 2006, he sang in a concert at Merkin Hall in New York City designed to raise money for the plight of Gush Katif refugees in Israel. Cantor Kepecs' singing credits include a musical album produced by the Cantorial Council of America "In Concert," - completed March 1993, an album produced by The Jewish Ministers Cantors Association of America & Canada "The 2003 Cantors Concert" - recorded live March 4, 2003, and a recording of the opera "The Eglantine," in August 2005. Lawrence Eliezer Kepecs performed the leading tenor role of Gershon, in The World Premiere performances of the new American opera, "The Eglantine," in August 2005. The first opera of its kind, it is a very moving story taking place in Nazi Germany during the Holocaust era of 1943; music written and directed by Sam Belich, and libretto by Sam Belich and Keith Green. http://www.theeglantine.com http://www.offoffonline.com/listings_archive.php?id=1577.
In October 2006, Cantor Kepecs toured Israel with The Jewish Ministers Cantors Association of America, singing in concerts in Haifa, and Jerusalem. These concerts were sponsored by the Israeli Government: The Jerusalem Municipality, and Ministry of Tourism in Israel.
REVIEWS OF THE EGLANTINE OPERA on November 20, 2005
I took my two oldest children to the performance. Zachary (12 years old) had told me that he really wanted to go because he felt that it was something that had to be seen. Although I had some trepidations taking Samantha (10 years old) knowing that it was a very heavy subject and perhaps disturbing as well she convinced me that she needed to see it because the subject of the Holocaust interested her. I figured that we could always leave at intermission if we needed to. We stayed. And if we could we would see it again on Tuesday night-my children included. The story is riveting, the voices amazing, and even without sets you can be transported to a time that we have been taught to make sure we don't forget. Soon the generation who has first hand knowledge of the atrocities will not be able to tell the stories themselves. I sincerely hope that Englantine will be performed over and over again on as many stages as possible. It deserves to be for its beauty (and ugliness) and what it achieves in the power of its telling. Many thanks to Cantor Kepecs, the entire company, and everyone involved in this project not just for bringing it to Temple Hillel but for having the courage to be a part of an opera such as this. I am not generally a "fan" of opera but I say to anyone who hasn't seen this yet...GO. You really would be missing out on something truly special. -Melissa Gates
The performance was absolutely brilliant. Our Temple should be very proud of our Cantor and his hard work in bringing such extraordinary talent to our Temple. Hopefully, everyone on the Board will have the opportunity to see this very touching, moving performance. While all of the performers were superb, Cantor Kepecs' rendition of the song "papa" was so moving that my wife, mother-in-law and I were brought to tears. -Stuart Perlmutter
Cantor Kepecs' performace of Gershon was something to be remembered. Cantor Kepecs, who brought all his talents together in this very first operatic role demonstrated great potential as an opera singer. His voice has a beautiful quality and Kepecs was able to hold his own next to very experienced operatic voices. He should keep taking on different roles. Eli is also a talented artist, respected Cantor (who met the Pope before his passing and gave him a M'zuzah) and is also a Professor of Cantorial music. Congratulations on a great performance. Hazak Ve'ematz.
-Cantor David M. Presler, M.S. Doctoral Candidate, Yeshiva University
ALL ART ON THIS SITE IS LAWRENCE KEPECS' ORIGINAL COPYRIGHTED WORK.
Cantor Kepecs (who signs his art works LKepecs) was commissioned by The American Seminary for Contemporary Judaism to design and build a wall of honor for fundraising. This 20-foot-long handmade wall is made to look like the imaginary "Jerusalem Gate", entitled "Shaar Yerushalayim, Shaar Hashamayim," ("The Gate of Jerusalem, The Gate of Heaven"). The lifelike sculpture was written up in the Antiques and The Arts Weekly of the Newtown Bee (January 21, 2005 page 35). Cantor Kepecs created a series of seven Biblical oil paintings, a series of seven biblically inscribed mezuzah cases and a stone sculpture of the Ten Commandments, among many other works. Some of Cantor Kepecs' copyrighted sculptures utilize 3,300 year old Ancient Hebrew script, similar to Phoenecian Hebrew. He has also created numerous oil paintings with secular themes. His original paintings have sold for over $42,000 at auction, as reported in August 2004, in the Antiques And The Arts Online of the Newtown Bee.
On 18 January, 2005, Cantor Kepecs was among a group of 141 Jewish clergy from around the world who met with Pope John Paul II in Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace, to thank the Pontiff for all he had done for the Jewish People and for the State of Israel in what would be the Pope's final official public meeting. His Holiness Pope John Paul II, officially in Latin , born Karol Józef Wojtyla (May 18, 1920 – April 2, 2005), was Pope of the Roman Catholic Church for almost 27 years, from 16 October 1978 until his death. The Clementine Room is used as a reception hall and hosts formal ceremonies by the Pope. The Apostolic Palace , also called the Papal Palace or the Palace of the Vatican, is the official residence of the Pope in Vatican City. Cantor Kepecs, then a member of the Presidents' Council of The Jewish Ministers Cantors Association of America and Canada, along with twelve other Cantors from that organization sang a Hebrew blessing to the Pontiff - "Shehecheyanu" (normally said on special occasions). Cantor Kepecs also presented Pope John Paul II with a personally designed mezuzah inscribed with the Priestly Blessing as reported in The Nassau Herald (January 27, 2005 page 3), and The Jewish Star (January 28, 2005 page 12). The Ice Mezuzah was numbered 12/72B, representing the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Gary Krupp, the seventh Jewish person to be knighted into the Order of St. Gregory by this Pope, offered a few words thanking the Pope for his efforts in the ongoing process of Relations between Catholicism and Judaism, and Christian-Jewish reconciliation, and for his support of the State of Israel. The Pope welcomed the Jewish audience, composed of Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Jewish leaders. The Pope noted that that year had marked the fortieth anniversary of the Vatican's landmark Nostra Aetate declaration, which rejected the charge that Jews collectively were responsible for the death of Jesus. "May this be an occasion for renewed commitment to increased understanding and co-operation in the service of building a world ever more firmly based on respect for the divine image in every human being", he said. "Upon all of you, I invoke the abundant blessings of the Almighty, and in particular, the gift of peace. Shalom Aleichem, shalom, shalom (in Hebrew: "Peace unto you. Peace. Peace")." The Vatican had stated that no other group in the world had ever said "thank you", giving blessings to the Pope. It was the first time in history that such a large contingent of Jewish clergymen officially met with a Pope. It also marked the first time in history that Jewish cantors sang before a Pope at the Apostolic Palace (The Nassau Herald January 27, 2005 page 3). It was a monumental event unprecedented in Judeo-Christian history. This entire historical event was carried in all of the world's newspapers, and televised. The giving of the Kepecs Mezuzah to the Pope, by Cantor Kepecs, interestingly started a fascinating trend among Catholic religious leaders. As a direct result, many Priests around the globe now own Mezuzot of their own.
Lawrence Eliezer Kepecs as Inventor
Lawrence Eliezer Kepecs has innovated and invented new devices over the years, including a hair re-growth device, a hearing restoration device, a special kind of walking cane, a uniquely designed walker, an uncomparable multiple light socket adapter, a design for a Judaic "Kiddush Cup Set" for sanctifying the Sabbath, and a special "green energy" generating device, as well as other devices and designs, receiving in 2007 a patent pending on his unique hair re-growth device and system.
Cantor Lawrence Eliezer Kepecs greets Pope John Paul ii in Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace on January 18, 2005. Gary Krupp is in the center.
Reverend Cantor Lawrence Eliezer Kepecs in his Cantorial Robes and Tallis.
Cantor Lawrence Eliezer Kepecs and U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy.
Cantor Lawrence Eliezer Kepecs and then U.S. Congressman Charles Schumer.
After a performance, Cantor Eliezer Kepecs (right), and Soprano Rebekkah Hilgraves (left), stand beside Sam Belich, the composer & conductor of the new American opera, The Eglantine.
Lawrence Eliezer Kepecs' copyrighted sculpture "Shaar Yerushalayim, Shaar Hashamayim," "The Gate of Jerusalem, the Gate of Heaven." (2004)
Lawrence Eliezer Kepecs' copyrighted Ice Mezuzah "May The Lord Bless Thee and Keep Thee" (2003). Presented to Pope John Paul ii on 18 January, 2005. Second biblically inscribed mezuzah in a series of seven. The giving of the Kepecs Mezuzah to the Pope, by Cantor Kepecs, interestingly started a fascinating trend among Catholic religious leaders. As a direct result, many Priests around the globe now own Mezuzot of their own.
Lawrence Eliezer Kepecs' copyrighted painting "Mountain of God" oil on canvas (1988). Fifth painting in a series of seven.
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REVIEWS OF THE EGLANTINE OPERA on November 20, 2005 
Lawrence Eliezer Kepecs' Art Works
