Mordechai Salem is a hazzan (cantor) and wedding singer who’s led prayers in synagogues and performed at weddings and events around the world, from Brooklyn to Cabo to the south of France.
In this episode, he shares his journey from a 14-year-old hazzan in Israel to becoming the premier voice of our community, balancing family, faith, and a career that rarely leaves a free night.
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(0:00) Coming up...
(2:16) Intro to Mordechai and growing up in Israel
(4:16) Performing in front of 2,000 people @ 14 years old
(6:49) Moving to America
(8:21) His first hazzanut gig
(9:57) Incorporating English tunes into the prayers
(12:27) Hopping around to different synagogues
(14:34) Turning cantoring into a career
(16:16) Mordechai's insanely busy schedule
(17:22) Career explosion
(18:02) Yazdi Entertainment
(18:56) Why not aim for the big leagues?
(19:49) Singing in front of 20,000 people
(20:48) Did you ever think your career could turn into this?
(21:55) Work-life balance difficulties
(25:46) Putting his music on Spotify and Apple Music
(27:49) Mordechai's most popular songs - private concert
(29:28) Do what you love
(30:35) Giving back
(33:27) Do you listen to your own music for fun?
(34:05) Kosher Media
(34:52) Is it difficult to be this busy?
(35:33) Preparing to sing
(36:51) Pioneering an entirely new genre
(37:33) Recording in the studio
(38:45) Working from 5-9 as opposed to 9-5
(39:21) High Holidays
(41:13) Singing for Donald Trump
(42:51) Momentum Moment
(44:35) Takeaway #1: find a way to do what you love
(45:25) Takeaway #2: blue ocean strategy
(45:52) Takeaway #3: know when to scale back