Ben Zion Shenker

Ben Zion Shenker was a prominent American Hasidic composer and hazzan, closely associated with the Modzitz hasidic dynasty. Born in 1925, Shenker's interest in the art of hazzan began at a young age, and he started performing on the radio as a teenager. This early start laid the foundation for a lifelong dedication to the preservation and creation of Hasidic music. Shenker's career was significantly influenced by his relationship with Rabbi Shaul Taub, the Modzitz Grand Rabbi, who was a renowned composer of mystical Hasidic music.

Shenker's work focused on recording and publishing the extensive collection of pre-war Modzitz songs, as well as Rabbi Taub's post-war compositions. To facilitate this endeavor, he established a music label called Neginah, which enabled him to share these songs with a wider audience. In addition to his work in preserving the Modzitz musical heritage, Shenker was also a prolific composer in his own right, creating hundreds of Modzitz-style songs. Through his efforts, Shenker made a lasting impact on the world of Hasidic music, leaving a legacy that continued until his passing in 2016.