Draft:Joseph Altschul

Cantor-composer, teacher and Thalmudic-scholar. Born in Vilna. Studied Talmud in Courland and cantorial arts in with Yeruham Blindman. Officiated as cantor in Slonim (1870-1888) and Grodno (1888-1898). Was a popular cantor and attracted many pupils. Only a small fraction of his many compositions has been preserved (thanks to the work of cantor and researcher Eduard Birnbaum).