Cantor Naftali Herstik is the artist who restored cantorial singing to a serious art form, while his rival Israel Rand seems like a half-witted creep.
If I could find out why Rand lost his job in the Hamptons (replaced by Herstik’s son) – then I would have the full story.
Suffice to say, Rand was accused of certain indiscretions in the Hamptons and this cost him his job.
A nasty rivalry between two of Israel‘s most famous cantors has led to a sex-and-the-synagogue scandal.
Cops are investigating the alleged dirty tricks of one cantor to entrap the other into falling for a tawdry hotel hookup.
Cantor Israel Rand of the Great Synagogue of Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv is accused of plotting an unholy scheme to topple his one-time mentor, Cantor Naftali Herstik of the Great Synagogue of Jerusalem.
In a complaint filed against Rand, Herstik charges his former student hired a sexy female private investigator to seduce him into a hotel romp so that he could get compromising photos.
Herstik said he agreed to meet the woman, who posed as a music student, but he bolted from her Tel Aviv hotel room when he spotted the hidden cameras.
"If indeed it was Rand, it brings into question why he would be allowed among civilized Jews," said Rabbi David Fuld, president of the Great Synagogue of Jerusalem’s board.
Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld confirmed the allegations against Rand were being probed and prosecutors were mulling an indictment. Rand refused to comment when contacted by The Associated Press.
In a police statement, Rand claimed his feud with Herstik began three years ago when the older cantor disrespected him at synagogue in the Hamptons.
"The man has been persecuting and defaming me for years. He has been making up stories about me. In the last two or three years he has harassed me," Rand said in the statement, which was obtained by Israel’s Haaretz newspaper.
