The beauty of Chazzonis — Cantor Philip Badash z”l

The recent passing of Cantor Philip Badash brings a memorable era of Cape Town Jewish life to an end. 

Philip Badash and his late brother, Max, dominated the cantorial scene in Cape Town for many years during the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Cantor Philip Badash joined the Green and Sea Point Hebrew Congregation (the ‘Marais Road shul’) in 1965, remaining as resident Chazan for 25 years.  

Both he and his brother, Max, are remembered for their beautiful voices. Recalling Cantor Philip Badash at his funeral, the current Cantor at Marais Road Ivor Joffe, said, “I realised I was in the presence of a Cantorial Master who had inherited the Cantorial genes from his family during the Golden Age of Chazzanut…”.

Many older Capetonians will no doubt recall the wonderful voices of the Badash brothers, remembering with fondness the services on Shabbat and Yom Tovim in Cape Town’s largest synagogues. 


• Published in the June 2023 issue – Click here to start reading.

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