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Jewish Music Week 2026 
is dedicated to the memory of 
Cantor Benjamin Maissner z”l
 
“Beny” Maissner was indirectly instrumental in the birth of 
Jewish Music Week and remained a beloved part of the festival 
until his passing last year. 
As co-chair of the Cantors Assembly international convention 
in Toronto, Beny and the other co-chairs worked with Aliza 
Spiro who had the idea of bringing the Cantors’ music to the 
city and sharing the incredible local musical talent with the 
visiting Cantors. Jewish Music Week was born.
In following years, Beny organized JMW concerts at Holy Blossom 
Temple, where he served as Senior Cantor for over 40 years. 
He often hosted the Melaveh Malka, led the musical Havdalah, 
shared delightful banter with other Cantors on the JMW stages, 
and presented numerous Morning Music lectures on a wide 
variety of topics. Beny had an astounding wealth of knowledge 
about all areas of Jewish music, and his enthusiasm 
for Jewish music was both infectious and 
something at which to marvel. 
JMW 2025 was the only festival at which 
Beny did not appear as he battled cancer. He 
passed away shortly thereafter. He is sorely 
missed by the Jewish Music Week team, and 
by the Jewish music world at large.
It is with enormous 
love that we dedicate this, 
our 14th festival, to the 
memory of Beny. 

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