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Daniel Halfon (דניאל חלפון) is the Emeritus Hazzan of the Yad Harav Nissim synagogue in Jerusalem. His cantorial style is that of the Western Sephardi tradition.[2][3] A classically trained baritone, Daniel has conducted services in many of the major synagogues of the Spanish and Portuguese tradition.

Biography
Hazzan Daniel Halfon was born at Hampstead in London in 1955. His parents were Dorée (née Davis) and Joseph, a native of the Island of Rhodes [2] ( https://dbs.anumuseu m.org.il/skn/en/c6/e263980/Personalities/Daniel_Halfon).

Halfon received his early Jewish education in London's  ancient Spanish and Portuguese community under the tutelage of Rabbi Dr Abraham Levy. From an early age he sang in the congregation’s choir, first under the direction of Abraham Lopes Dias and then Maurice Martin. As a young man, he was inspired by the artistry of the hazzanim within the community: Abraham Beniso, Halfon Benarroch, and Eliezer Abinun, with whom he studied for many years. In 1978, at the recommendation of Haham Dr Solomon Gaon, he accepted the call from Congregation Shearith Israel in New York to serve as assistant hazzan. This gave him the opportunity to study the New York and Amsterdam variants of the tradition with Hazzan Abraham Lopes Cardozo.[6][7]

Professional Activities
Since the mid-1980s Halfon has officiated in many of the synagogues of the Spanish and Portuguese tradition, including the Esnoga in Amsterdam, Mikveh Israel in Philadelphia, and the Bevis Marks and Lauderdale Road Synagogues in London[8], and for 18 years, Halfon served as the hazzan of the Yad Harav Nissim Synagogue in Jerusalem[9].

Halfon teaches classes and workshops in both practical and theoretical aspects of the Spanish and Portuguese liturgical tradition.[10] He also advises faculty and students on research regarding the cantillation arts in general, and the Spanish and Portuguese liturgical tradition in particular.[11][12][13]

Among Halfon's recent projects was a commission from the Society of Heshaim ( https://dbs.anumuseum.or g.il/skn/en/c6/e263980/Personalities/Daniel_Halfon) in London to record the entire cycle of parashiot according to the Spanish and Portuguese rite.[16] In addition, he has recorded a comprehensive set of liturgical selections for Hazmanah LaPiyyut Utfilah.[17]

Musical Education
A trained classical baritone, Halfon studied voice in New York with Neil Semer and was coached by Kenneth Newbern. In Jerusalem he studies with Jay Shir.

Popularizing the Western Sephardi Musical Tradition
Halfon worked together with the Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv and The Jewish Historical Museum of Amsterdam to produce Kamti Lehallel (I Rise in Praise) a double CD album. The anthology, released in 2006, comprises 50 selections drawn from the repertoires of the three major surviving Spanish and Portuguese communities, Amsterdam, New York and London. The arrangements by Raymond Goldstein are for cantor, male chorus and instrumental ensemble.[18]