Congregants were sad when Cantor/Rabbi David Abikzer, 68, retired from the Sephardic Temple in Cedarhurst after 44 years. Although they begged him to stay, he was ready to move on. “I will continue to sing and perform,” he assured them.

Although he’s happy with his decision, he admits that he does miss his congregation. “They were my friends, my family, my synagogue, my congregation,” he said. “I watched many generations grow up. I was their hazzan, their rabbi, the shamash—everything. But everything comes to an end,” he said philosophically and with a smile.

Born in Casablanca, Morocco, Rabbi Abikzer said he knew from the time he was little that his voice was special and his mother encouraged him to sing. “It's a gift from G-d to be born with a beautiful voice,” he said. At 17 he moved with his family to Israel. He served in the army, got married and then five years later, the Sephardic Temple of Cedarhurst offered him a position and he moved to America.

Since retiring, Rabbi Abikzer has decided to make Aliyah. He is no stranger to Israel; in fact, he is very well known there. In May he sang before 5,000 people in Tel Aviv. He has performed before Menachem Begin, David Ben-Gurion and Golda Meir, whom he knew personally, and he has recorded more than 60 albums in Hebrew, Ladino and Arabic.

Although he's excited about his new life, his congregants miss him. “Rabbi Abikzer was the identity of the synagogue,” said Asher Matathias, a member of the synagogue.

Although another cantor can be hired, Rabbi Abikzer will never be replaced in the hearts of his congregants.