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Birth
I was born in Buenos Aires. The youngest of 3 brothers. I am 3rd generation born in Argentina. My great-grand parents came from Russia after the pogroms of 1881 and 1882. From my mother's side the family also came before the 1st World War but from Romania. I grew up in a very Jewish intelectual house but rituals were not part of the agenda. -
Begin primary school
I did not go to a Jewish Day School during primary school. I went to a bilingual English/Spanish british school. But since this school was part of a Jewish neighbourhood I had Jewish friends in the classroom. Being Jewish in this school meant being "different." This made an impact too in my Jewishness since I remember missing school during some days of the year like Rosh Hashana or Yom Kippur although I don't recall going to shul or doing anything Jewish in particular. It was just a day off -
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Join the JCC where I would play basketball
A big part of my Jewish Growth came through socialization with other Jewish kids playing basketball at . My parents weren't observant Jews but very commited to spending life with Jewish people. In fact all of my parents friends are Jews from this JCC to this day. And that is the reason they decided to join a Jewish club or JCC were I made all Jewish friends but never studied nor practice Judaism. Nevertheless being part of a JCC made a big impact in my relantionship to Jews and Judasim -
Bar Mitzvah of my brother
My first big memory of Judaism was at the age 8 when I saw my middle brother become a bar mitzvah at the Reform Temple my parents used to go -
Trip to Israel
Rabbi Rojzman
A year before my Bar Mitzvah I visited Israel for the first time with a community trip. We were not members of this synagogue but my mum used to work for this Jewish day school that had a Synagogue and a rabbi she admired. I travel with a very nice group and had I remember very clearly all the experiences of this journey. I became close to the rabbi and loved speaking with him about music and religion. -
My Bar Mitzvah
This was a great experience. It connected me much more with my tradition and I remeber loving the whole experience of studying and learning. Looking back it was a transformative experience and since I already showed some musical skills I was allow to sing a lot during the services. I celebrate my Bar Mitzvah in a Conservative shul. -
I enter a Jewish High School
Ort After my primary school I entender a Jewish High School. It was the first time I was sorrounded by Jewish friends (almost all of them were Jewish) and have subjects like Hebrew, Tanakh and Jewish History. Entering a Jewish High School was something that enhaced my Judaism although Jewish practices and rituals were still far away from my daily life. -
Played Maccabiah Games in Israel
Thanks to the basketball I was selected to play the Maccabiah in Israel. Unfortunately this was the famous Maccabiah when the bridge that allow participants to cross and enter the field came down and 5 people died. Beyond that, it was a wonderful expierence to connect with Jews from all over the world socializatiing and playing together. Being part of a Jewish team expierence was very powerful. At the closing ceremony we heard Ofra Haza sing Yerushalaim Shel Zahav! -
Start studying Hazzanut
When I was about to finish High School I was wondering what to do with my life. I was preparing to enter the National Conservatory of Music but also wanted to start earning some money. My singing teacher suggested me to become a Cantor. I wasn't sure but I tried and join the Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano and studied for two years. But when I made it to the Consevatory of Music I dropped the Seminario thinking it was for another life... -
Yamim Noraim in Brazil
After deciding not to continue studying at the Seminario I was asked to sing for the Yamim Noraim in Brazil. This was my first experience as Hazzan and I took it. It was a very Conservative shul. The service was not egalitarian and I had to sing all the liturgy with a four part acappella masculine choir. It was a very hard but intense experience that without imagining would define the rest of my life as Hazzan -
My first full time job as Hazzan
Temple LibertadSergioAs soon as I arrived from Brazil I was introduced to rabbi Bergman. He hired me to work as Hazzan in one of the most famous synagogues of Argentina while I could continue studying music. I spent 9 years working in the Synagogue and learn tons. I did weddings, b/nai mitzvah ceremonies, taught and conducted religious services. That's how I becama a Hazzan -
Move to Hong Kong
After 9 years I needed a change of job. I had already met Laila (my wife) and wanted to get marry and earn more money. I start reaching out for communities around the world and while I had offers in USA, Germany and Israel I chose Hong Kong. It looked exotic and very unique. It was a great and challeging decision. I started a long distance relantionship with Laila while she was living at the same time in Germany. In Hong Kong I expanded my role from Hazzan to educator and decided to start at HC -
I got married
After 6 years of being together and in a long distance relationship Laila and I got married in Buenos Aires. One of the most beautiful moments for me was the chance to sing Eshet Chayl while she was coming in...I actually could not finish it since I started to cry... -
Started my MJEd
Last year I started my MJEd with my first course with Nina. From the first day I was totally into the program and I am so happy to continue being part of Hebrew College and learning so much. This decision has shaped my life and my family completely and has become the trigger to want to become a rabbi which I will be doing soon! -
Hannah Galit was born
Hannah was born in Hong Kong and changed our lives forever. One way I can see Jewish Growth is that we decided to name her using hebrew names, different to my brothers and myself (our parents named us Federico, Nicolás and Diego). But I wanted my daughter to have not one hebrew name but two: one biblical and one modern. We wanted her to always have one foot in the past and one in the future, to hold both the Bible and the newspaper. That is why Hannah and Galit
