Local Cantor Reflects on Ukraine Heritage at March 31st Concert

Cantor Pavel Roytman is the Cantor of Congregation Beth Hillel Bnai Emunah in Wilmette, but these days, he is also thinking of himself as a Ukrainian. His connection to the land of his birth has become more poignant since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

On Thursday, March 31st, as the featured vocalist with the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band at Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights, Cantor Roytman will connect to his roots through his songs. While Maxwell Street’s repertoire tends to be upbeat, this concert will include an original Deda’s nigun (Grandfather’s melody) composed by Cantor Roytman, who was born in the (now besieged) city of Mykolaiv. To help do its part, the band will be encouraging donations and donating 50% of its CD profits to NATAN Worldwide Disaster Relief, an all-volunteer Israeli humanitarian organization providing medical care toUkrainian refugees.

A significant portion of the concert will show the Ukranian influence on Jewish music, comments the Cantor. This is because historically, Ukraine, Belarus and Poland were important regions in the history of Jewish music. Melodies and modes were shared between Jewish and non-Jewish musicians, with the resulting genre of klezmer music drawing on everything from liturgical prayers to secular folk songs.

Reflecting on the invasion of Ukraine, Cantor Roytman says it is “surreal” for him to see that the place where he was born is under attack. He says that the phrase, “We don’t sleep anymore” is one that he has heard from friends and family in the US. He texts a childhood friend in the war zone and stays connected to friends, some of whom are seeking shelter in garages or apartment building lobbies. One of his friends endures bombardment while caring for a young child. “It’s heart-wrenching,” says Roytman.

As someone who lived a significant part of his life in Russia proper, before emigrating to the U.S., Roytman says that his heart aches for people in Russia, who also suffered because of the war. Many have lost their jobs due to sanctions. They also find themselves living in a quasi-Nazi state on the rampage against a neighboring country. While in the 1990s, Russia was a fledgling democracy that aspired to democratic ideals, the situation has deteriorated, with people being arrested for speaking out publicly. “The speed of everything that has unfolded there is shocking,” comments the Cantor.

Cantor Roytman also acknowledges that Ukraine has its own internal struggles as a country, with its own share of ultra nationalism, and a checkered past from World War II. Yet, he believes that Ukraine’s young democracy could figure this out the right way if given a chance. “If anything,” Cantor comments, “this war has united Ukrainians in a way they couldn’t imagine being united,” And today you can see a part of the Ukrainian army, an armed militia known for its right wing leanings defending Ukraine’s Jewish President.

There is a Hasidic concept, says Roytman, that teaches us that God’s presence on earth can only take place when people are unified. Expressing his hopes for a better tomorrow, Roytman says that, “By raising my voice in song, I root for Ukraine's military victory while at the same time praying for reconciliation and everlasting peace.”

Maxwell Street Klezmer Band featuring Cantor Pavel Roytman: Sunday March 31st, 2022, 7:30 PM, at Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights, IL 60005, (847) 577-2121, General Admission $30.
Get tickets: here.