1910-1995

Ezekiel Hai Albeg was a prolific composer of pizmonim.  Born in Baghdad in 1910, he learned in the Talmud Torah Al Zalka.  He moved to the Old City of Jerusalem in 1925 at the age of 15 and eventually attended the Porat Yosef Yeshiva.  By age 17, he published his first pizmonim book called “Rinat Yehezqel” - רינת יחזקאל.

His style of composing pizmonim was unique compared to other composers of this time.

Albeg immigrated to the United States in 1937; he regretted moving away from the Holy Land for the remainder of his life.  In the United States, he lived amongst the Syrian Jewish community.   From 1940-1949, he officiated as cantor at Congregation Ahabat Ahim.  In the 1950s and 1960s, he was the cantor of Congregation Ahi Ezer of 71st Street.

He composed hundreds of pizmonim and 8 books: (1) “Kenaf Haaress”, Jerusalem, 1935, (2) “Kenaf Renanim”, New York, (3) “Mizmor Shir”, 1960; published by Shaya Raphael Dweck, (4) “MeAram Naharaim ‘Ad Yerushalayim”, 1963, (5) Siddur “Shabbat Shalom”, 1941, (6) Mahzor “Shelom Yerushalayim”- Rosh Hashana, (7) Mahzor “Shelom Yerushalayim”- Yom Kippur, (8) Mahzor “Shelom Yerushalayim”- Sukkot.  Albeg was a significant contributor of pizmonim to our community’s Pizmonim Book entitled “Shir uShbaha Hallel veZimrah.”  He lived in Los Angeles, California, in the later years of his life until his passing in 1995.