Altshuler, O

ALTSHULER, Rabbi O. Minister of Religion. Born Mir, Poland, 1897, son of Rabbi Meyer Joshua and Bella Altshuler. Came to South Africa 1925. Educated at Yeshivot in Glusk, Mir, and Shklow, and at Hebrew Tarbuth College in Charkow. Qualified as Froebelist Kindergarten Teacher. Studied Chazanut under the famous Cantors Solomon Rabitz and Tevel Hochman. Sang in Russian Opera. Was Minister, Chazan and Principal of Hebrew School in Potchefstroom, 1925- 27; Minister, Chazan and Principal of Hebrew School in East London, 1927-43; Minister and Chazan of the Sydenham-Highlands North Hebrew Congregation, 1943-64, and Principal of the Hebrew School for 11 years. Received Smicha (Rabbinical ordination) in Israel 1962-63 from eminent Rabbis, including Rabbi A. Simcha Kaplan, Chief Rabbi of Safed: Rabbi Raphael Hacohen Kook. Chief Rabbi of Tiberias; Rabbi Meir Valkrin, Chief Sephardic Rabbi of Tiberias. After retiring from Sydenham - Highlands North, he accepted a call to the South Eastern Hebrew Congregation, Rosettenville, Johannesburg. Chairman of the Cantors and Choir Masters' Association since 1944. Chairman, former Secretary and Treasurer, S.A. Jewish Ministers' Association. Executive member, S.A. Mizrachi. Member of numerous other committees and organisations. Has composed many Hebrew songs and contributed articles on Judaism and Jewish education to English, Jewish and Hebrew journals here and abroad. Married Rosa Margolin, 1921: two daughters. Add.: South Eastern Hebrew Congregation, Prairie Street, Rosettenville, Johannesburg.