Cantor Eli Bard

Eli Bard has traveled thousands of miles over the decades, and puts the "I" in "International".

Eli was born in Shanghai, China. The Bard family fled the Communist occupation in mainland China in 1949, heading to Israel as refugees. Family reasons moved the Bards again to Buenos Aires, where they settled in 1954.

Eli completed a Bachelor of Optics Degree at the University of Buenos Aires, and after marrying Ester, they chose to move to Israel. Eli received a Bachelor's degree in Industrial and Management Engineering from the Technion (Israel Institute of Technology), but was forced to abandon his Master's studies in order to serve as a tank commander for eight months during the Yom Kippur War at the Egyptian and Syrian fronts.

Back into civilian life, Eli was manager of the R & D department of a newly started Israeli contact lenses company. There, he helped develop and design special intraocular lenses which were tested and approved by international surgeons, and also, due to his fluency in Russian, English, and Spanish, became instrumental in the absorption of new immigrants into the labour force. When Eli arrived in Toronto in 1990, he obtained his licence as a member of the Professional Engineers of Ontario, and is currently employed by Global Upholstery Inc. with the title of Director in charge of industrial engineering functions.

While in Buenos Aires, Eli and Ester had been founding members of Comunidad Bet El. This was their first "community project" in their young lives, under the mentorship of Rabbi Marshall Meyer Z"L which inspired them to become deeply rooted in the ideals and vision of the Conservative movement. Eli led the very first Kabbalat Shabbat at Bet El on March 1963 and, together with Ester, developed the cantorial department and support for all religious services. Eli also led the inaugural service on the occasion of the opening of the Jewish Theological Seminary - Latin-American branch.

In Israel, Eli led services, mainly at Bet Knesset Moriah, Haifa. Together with Ester and their son Uriel, he was invited to lead High Holy Day services at Congregacion Bet El Guatemala, and a thoughtful invitation brought him to Bnei Jeshurun, NY, to lead the High Holy Day services together with Rabbi Meyer. Eli has been the cantor of Beit Rayim since Shemini Atzeret 5755 (1994).

Eli and Ester have three sons - Uriel, Shalom, and Daniel.