The Sydenham Shul is one of South Africa's leading Orthodox congregations. Established over sixty years ago in what has become the heartland of Johannesburg's Jewish community. The tradition that has been followed is based on the predominantly Litvak origins of South Africa Jewry.  

The Sydenham choir is recognized as one of the leading Orthodox male Jewish choirs in the world. Using the liturgy of the Jewish world, including Chassidic, modern Israeli and Sephardic melodies. A new Chazzan, Yudi Cohen, joined the Synagogue on 7th of April 2005 following the retirement of Oshy Tugendhaft from full-time chazzanut.

The services on which the music is based is of course that which is enjoyed by the many hundreds and thousands of worshippers who attend the weekly and Yom Tov services. It has its own unique flavour in that most of the tunes are sung with Sephardic pronunciation despite the fact that the ritual followed by the congregation is Ashkenazi. The choir also officiates at weddings.

The conductor of the Sydenham choir is Jose Stern who is regarded as one of the foremost conductors of Jewish coral music in South Africa.

To meet the rest of the choir click here

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