A singer, actor, cantor and Israeli war veteran, Dudu Fisher has dedicated his life to preserving Judaism’s religious and cultural heritage.
Although he’s an Orthodox Jew, Yiddish music enthusiast and son of a Holocaust survivor, he is best known by some Americans for landing a secular role, as Jean Valjean, the star character who struggles for redemption in “Les Misérables.” Fisher performed the part on Broadway from 1993 to 1994.
At 73, his career has spanned more than five decades. On Feb. 8, he’ll perform in Coral Springs in celebration of Chabad Jewish Center’s recent renovations and expansion, which includes a new sanctuary, commercial kitchen and youth lounge.
Fisher, who lives in Israel, has released dozens of albums in English, Hebrew and Yiddish, and was one of the stars in the 2023 Netflix series, “Rough Diamonds.” He played the patriarch of a Jewish family in the diamond industry in Antwerp, Belgium.
Some credit Fisher’s talents for helping to maintain the world’s interest in Yiddish, many of whose speakers died in the Holocaust. His contributions were recognized in 2020 when he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Israel’s National Authority for Yiddish Culture.
Chabad’s Rabbi Yankie Denburg said he has been listening to Fisher’s music since he was a child.
“I personally am a big fan of his Yiddish albums,” Denburg said. “One of my favorites is his rendition of ‘A Yiddishe Mamah,’ an absolutely powerful song that he sings with such intensity that it touches my heart each time.”
Denburg said he will make a special request of Fisher.
“Another song I only heard recently, but which I will definitely ask him to sing during his performance is the song ‘Bring Him Home,’ from Les Misérables,” he said. “With hostages still trapped in Gaza, this song goes deep and really lifts the prayers we feel for the hostages within our hearts.”
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Dudu Fisher in concert
WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8
WHERE: Chabad Jewish Center, 11325 W. Atlantic Blvd., Coral Springs
COST: $36-$54 for general admission, $100 for VIP tickets
INFORMATION: 954-501-8920; mychabadcenter.org/concert
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