In 1965 Supraphon, the national record company of what was back then Czhechoslovakia, published a fairly unique collection of eight Jewish Religious Songs. To quote from the cover of the record:
The three interpreters heard on this record, Schalom Katz (from what used to be Bessarabia, the first cantor of Bucharest), Salomon Weisz (from Moravia, the first cantor of Prague) and Eugen Katz (from Hungary, the first cantor of Budapest) all miraculously escaped death in Nazi extermination camps. After the war [in 1945] they came to Prague where, still under the fresh impression of their war-time experiences, they recorded these eight songs.
A copy of this vinyl record came into my possession at the end of 60’s in Budapest. It has remained with me ever since, I carried it with me all the way to Amsterdam where I live now. I tried, in the past few years, to find a re-published version of the recording (many record companies of the time republished some of their old recordings on CD) but I failed. Although Supraphon as a company still exists, this record does not seem to be on their catalogue any more. I am aware that I break copyright, but I decided to get these recordings on MP3 (with the help of a friend) and put it here. I believe these recordings have a huge historical value and it would be a shame to loose them.
Here is the content of the record. The texts are copied from the record cover.
- El Mule Rakhamim (God full of mercy) is the song which Schalom Katz sang to thousands of his fellow Jews before the mass executions at Auschwitz. The hymn prays the merciful Lord to receive the dead under His protection and to make them participate in eternal bliss. The improvisatory character of the song enabled the cantor to include an explicit prayer of mercy for those who perished in Auschwitz, Maidanek, and Treblinka, where they were murdered.
- Udivrei Kodesho (The hole words) is a hymn praising the Lord. It is sung at the New year, which falls in the autumn
- Rezekh also praises the Lord, and particularly thanks Him for the Sabbath, the day of the rest. It is sung on Sabbath and holidays
- Veshomru is sung on the eve of the Sabbath. It is an admonition to keep the holy day.
- Kol Nidrei (All promises) is the best known of all Hebrew spiritual songs. It is of ancient origin, dating back to the time of the Babylonian captivity. It is a prayer for the pardon of promises that were not or could not be kept.
- Yehi Rotson Milfonekho (Thy will be done) is a daily prayer
- Shma Israel (Hear, oh Israel) a prayer invoking the Lord as Father, King and Protector. It is sung on the Sabbath.
- Uvo Rakhamim (Father of Mercy) is sung on days of sorrow as a prayer for the victims of persecution and for those who laid down their lives for the glory of the Lord’s name.