As we prepare for the High Holy Days, we reflect on tradition and prayer and the voices that have carried these sacred melodies through time. Among them stands one of the greatest cantorial legends of all time — Cantor Gershon-Yitskhok Leibovich Sirota (1874–1943).

Often called the “Jewish Caruso,” Sirota’s rich tenor voice helped define the Golden Age of Khazzanut (cantorial music). He began his career in Odessa, later serving eight years as cantor of the Shtatshul (State Synagogue) in Vilna, where he began a lifelong collaboration with choirmaster Leo Lowe. In 1907, he became the cantor of the prestigious Tłomackie Street Synagogue in Warsaw, a role that solidified his reputation as one of Europe’s greatest liturgical artists.

Sirota’s performances were not limited to the synagogue. He toured widely, singing before Jewish and non-Jewish audiences across Europe and even in Carnegie Hall to a sold-out crowd. The earliest Jewish recordings ever produced were those of Gershon Sirota and Zavel Kwartin — preserving their voices for generations.

Tragically, Sirota’s life ended in the Warsaw Ghetto during the Nazi occupation of Poland. He perished during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1943, but his voice — powerful, emotive, and timeless — continues to inspire worshipers and music lovers today.

At the Recorded Sound Archives, we are honored to preserve recordings of Cantor Gershon Sirota. Through these historic 78 rpm records, his artistry lives on, offering us a window into the grandeur and devotion of a bygone era of Jewish liturgical music.

This year we’d like to highlight his album, Gershon Sirota Sings a Holiday Service – Volume 1.

Discover more recordings by Gershon Sirota in the Recorded Sound Archives.