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Moshe Cotel

With great sadness we announce the untimely death of Rabbi Moshe Cotel on October 24, 2008, 25 Tishrei 5769.

Moshe Cotel's bio in exactly 100 words

At 13, Morris Moshe Cotel composed a four movement symphony in full score.

At 23, after graduating from Juilliard, he became one of the youngest winners of the American Rome Prize in Music Composition.

At 33, he began presenting music inspired by his Judaic studies.

At 43, he conducted the New York world premiere of his opera, Dreyfus, subsequently produced in Germany and Austria.

At 53, while Chair of Composition at the Peabody Conservatory of Music, he commenced rabbinical studies.


At 63, Rabbi Cotel reached the 63rd performance of his one-man program, Chronicles: A Jewish Life at the Classical Piano.

 
 

The Inspiration

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (& creation), there is one elementary truth -- the ignorance of which kills countless ideas & splendid plans: that the moment one commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforseen incidents & meetings & material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.  

~ Goethe

 

Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me;
And to him that orders his way aright
Will I show the salvation of God.                                                  

~ Psalms 50: 23