The third annual Bet Yom Tov High Holy Day services held by Emmy Award winner and certified cantor Allan Blye are literally indescribable. Wherever you are in the world, gather your friends, family and especially those unable to attend services together, to watch live footage attached by clicking on the following links:

http://youtu.be/k5O777QZ7JI Nila Service Yom Kippur Day 2012

http://youtu.be/HoFkT8GI3h8 Concert: Karla Ross, Aubrey Tadman, Norm Mittelmann, Mike Lang, and Allan Blye-Yom Kippur 2012

Below are bios, facts, etc. about:

http://www.karlaross.com/krpbio.htm Ms. Karla Ross and her never ending accomplishments. Special thanks to Karla for recording the above for you. You will love watching Karla performing at the concert that Allan has during the afternoon break.

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/tadman Aubrey Tadman: **CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY AUBREY TADMAN ISN’T BEING BOOKED FOR THE WINNIPEG JAZZ FESTIVAL?** Aubrey started the jazz scene in Winnipeg and is one of the few famed jazz artists born and bred in Winnipeg!!! Age has only made him better. One of the reasons the recordings were made was because I, selfishly want to view them repeatedly.

Aubrey’s singing and praying voice is here for you to listen to as is his boyish charm.

http://catalinajazzclub.com/lang.htm Mike Lang, Grammy winning composer and pianist
You will be listening to and watching Mike at the piano.

Norman Mittelmann: Norm was an overall winner in the bass baritone category of the Manitoba Music Festival as a St. John’s High schooler, and won a 4-year scholarship to the Curtis Music Institute before turning 18. He accomplished this during a time when he was selected to be on the Winnipeg All Star High School Football Team as an offensive center.

Allan also played football at St. Johns Technical High School and was the starting left defensive tackle on the city’s championship winning team in 1963. (Allan made sure that I write that in). These guys still quibble.

Norm went on to an illustrious career as an international opera star with the Metropolitan Opera Company, La Scala and the Pittsburgh Opera Company, appearing with opera stars such as Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and Renata Scotto to name a few.

He has performed personal recitals at virtually every concert hall in the world. Norm is considered one of the most respected and iconic opera stars in the world.

I felt that I was experiencing Winnipeg’s north end, prior to my birth in a symbiotic relationship with the world’s greatest talent as I joined a room filled with former Winnipeggers, celebrities and regular folks as we welcomed in the year 5773 together.

These three were back in Winnipeg. It was as if they were back at St. Johns. They laughed together, picked on each other, kibitzed and teared up even while on the Bimah.

As did everyone there, each had an opinion about Rhonda Spivak’s articles about the horrific poster incident that took place in Winnipeg. They shared their personal experiences.

Allan introduced Karla Ross’s 16-year-old daughter, Annie Ross. In his introduction of this young musical protégée, who played her rendition of Hatikvah on her violin, bringing all of us to tears, Allan reminded us of how fortunate Jews are to have the country of Israel whose doors are always open and that what is happening in what we thought was a safe city must be a reminder that nothing can be taken for granted.

Annie does not feel that she is playing well enough if those listening do not cry. We cried.

Former Winnipeggers and their spouses in the congregation included: Sy and Elaine (Weinstock) Goldberg, Dr. Leonard and Diane Portnoy, Harry and Tammy Lazar, David Steinberg, Mr. and Mrs. Benny and Helen Cass, Dr. Asher and Cathy Thompson, Shirley Brotman Blye (mom of Jeff and Rob and proud Bobba of newborn Scarlett Blye, whose naming you will be watching), Robin Chernick Tyler, Mr. and Mrs. Elliott and Suzanne Weinstock, Beverly Rich Rosove, Barbara Balbert Gauthier, Michael and Adrienne Gobuty, Ken and Annette (Lieberman) Fine, Allan and Rae Greenberg, Dennis and Nancy Ditlove and of course Norman and Barbara Mittelmann and Aubrey and Henriette Tadman.

Allan is well known for many reasons. You must watch the videos in order to understand why he is known as a cantor and not just an entertainer and writer. His cantorial training took place in Winnipeg starting when he was a child. You will hear him chant. You will hear him daven. You will listen to his story telling. You will hear his gentle but strong voice. You will know that he does not suffer from any lung problems when you watch and hear him blow the Shofar.

What you will hear is his final Shofar blowing on Yom Kippur. Unless you were at the service, you will not see what I saw on Rosh Hashanah. Without stopping to take a breath Cantor Allan Blye transitioned from chanting to blowing the Shofar 36 times and then back to chanting. As we watched, listened, and reflected we worried that this 75-year-old might collapse before our eyes. He did not as much as turn red or sip a few drops of water.

Members of the Los Angeles Opera Company also performed. Neal Schnall, who was the principal at the Valley Beth Shalom Synagogue School for 25 years was the prayer leader. Herschel Fox, of course is still their cantor. Neal, explained the prayers, history and traditions. Many in attendance had never attended Jewish services before or had little, if any Jewish education. They do now thanks to Neal, Allan and the others.

There were happy moments. There were sad moments. You will watch the joyful naming of Jeff and Anneke Blye’s baby daughter Scarlett. You will see the other grandchildren and children and the two bobbas, Rita Rodgers Blye and Shirley Brotman Blye rejoicing.

The word, “Winnipeg”, was the predominant word throughout the services. Those who have never visited or lived in Winnipeg were so taken up with the hospitality and warmth that Winnipeg Jews are famous for, thanks to the Blye family, the Tadman family, and all the others with Winnipeg roots that much of my time was spent hinting that they might want to think twice before planning winter vacations to Winnipeg.

From all of us who are here in California and were at the Bet Yom Tov services to all of you wherever you may be, Shana Tova. May 5773 be filled with sweetness.

Now click the links above. You will be watching history in the making.