Cantor Simon Hass - Veseorev

Rev. Hass (m Elaine) was born in Yaroslav Poland, and is considered one of the leading exponents of cantoral, Yiddish and Hebrew folk-music. Following Nazi occupation of Poland, the family fled east and was deported by the Soviet authorities to a Siberian labour camp, where a sister died in the harsh conditions. Following a short period as a temporary chazan at the Hendon Synagogue, London in 1949 or 1950, Rev. Hass was appointed chazan at Central Synagogue, London in February 1951. From 1963 he and a choir led annual midnight selichot services which attracted support from across London. Rev. Hass made a number of LP recordings. He retired in 1993. Brother of Cantor David Hass of Bat Yam, Israel. (Jewish Year Book listings, Jewish Chronicle profile 5 March 1993; Central Synagogue's website; and "The History of the Hendon Synagogue", by Geoffrey Alderman, p.9.)