Pinchas Borenstein was born in the small town of Jeziorna Królewska, a suburb of Warsaw, which was then part of the Kingdom of Poland under the Russian Empire (now Poland). He grew up in a religious family; his father, Yaakov Dov, was a rabbi, and his four sons became cantors.
From a young age, Borenstein demonstrated a passion for music. As a child, he sang in a synagogue choir in Warsaw. At 19, he secured his first position as a cantor.
In 1923, Borenstein immigrated to Argentina. By 1924, he was appointed chief cantor at the Great Synagogue of Buenos Aires, a position he held for 30 years. He played a pivotal role in the Jewish musical community in South America, serving as the organizer and first president of the Association of Cantors of South America.
Beyond his work in the synagogue, Borenstein also performed under the pseudonym Pedro Borini. Under this name, he appeared on Argentine radio, showcasing a repertoire of operatic arias. His performances extended beyond Argentina, as he toured in Canada and the United States.
Pinchas Borenstein passed away from a heart attack in 1955, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
(*Credit: Youtube, Cantorial legends)
See also Cantor Léibele Schwartz, an another Polish-born musician who immigrated to Argentine.
On the website of the National Library of Israel, you can find a list of songs and recordings by Pinchas Borenstein, some of which can be accessed online.
