Dudu Fisher in concert. He was born in Israel to second generation Holocaust survivors. He always loved to sing, but his most enjoyable singing as a young boy was with his grandfather when they sang the traditional Shabbat zemirot(sabbath table songs) during meal times.

He learned to sing from his "neshumah" - from his soul.

It was his grandfather who instilled in him his love for singing, but it was his grandmother who gave him his famous name of Dudu. Actually his name is David Fisher, but as an Eastern- European affectionate nick-name, Dudu means chocolate. Certainly his Bubbie (grandmother) had no idea what the connotation of Dudu would mean in America.

Even when Dudu was in the army his impressive voice was noticed, but it was after his military duty when at a family wedding that a random experience changed his life. He was singing for the party when one of the guests had a chance encounter with him. "What are you intending to do," he asked, "with your future life now that you're out of the army?"

"I'm going to study dentistry," Dudu repliedto the dismay of the guest.

"Are you crazy?" the guest shouted. "With your voice why would you want to do that?"

"I'm the president of the shul in Winnepeg, Canada and I'll give you $5,000 if you agree to come sing for us."

Dudu was so impressed he accepted the invitation immediately and then sang in Winnepeg for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and although they wanted him to remain as their permanent hazzan, he returned to Israel to study at the Academy of Music in Tel Aviv.

While he was at the Academy Dudu met his future wife,and needing to make a living as a husband, he accepted a cantorial position in South Africa even before he completed his Academy training. But after three years Dudu returned to Israel, completed his formal training and made his first album of Yiddish songs. It was at this time he realized his future was not to be a hazzan but as a performer, as he realized his eye was always on the stage.

And then another transformative experience occurred while on a guest cantorial trip to England where he was hired for the High Holiday services. One day, as he returned to his cousin's home where - he was staying as a guest during the holidays, his cousin mentioned that Dudu should see the play, then in London, called "Les Meserable."

"Why should I do that," he queried, but his cousin insisted and Dudu bought a ticket. It was such an awakening experience for him Dudu still remembers the seat number (F-4), because when Jean Vel Jean sang his haunting melodies Dudu was tansfixed - imagining himself, vicariously in that role.

Dudu perforemed the role in Israel and again an experience occurred - which one might regard as"bashert" (destiny. Cameron MacIntosh - the Scottish promotor of "Les Miserables" - attended the first night premier performance in Israel. When he heard Dudu sing his favorite role he immediately said "I want you to come and perform that part in New York."

"New York?" responded Dudu, "But I cannot perform on Shabbos."

"What's Shabbos?" MacIntosh, who is not Jewish, asked. And when Dudu explained no Friday night performances or Saturday matinees, Cameron realized he had a major challenge.

Even Dudu was frustrated - torn by his desire and his tradition. His mother urged him to approach the Lubavitcher Rebbe and ask him to resolve the problem. Dudu did - and the Rebbe said: "Hold on to your Yiddishkeit and everything will be OK." Dudu did hold on to his Yiddishkeit - the union finally relented, and everything was OK.

"There are so many roles I'd like to play," says Dudu, "but some are not available because of Shabbos. But can you imagine - he said to me — it took a Scottish non-Jew to pull off the Shabbos exclusion!

Dudu has recently had several television performances on PBS this year featuring his huge outdoor concerts at Beit Shean in the amphitheatre in Israel. He is scheduled to star in a 10-city tour that will include Philadelphia, New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, Boston, Columbus and Toronto beginning in October. The Philadelphia performance will take place at the Merriam Theatre on Oct. 22.

When back in Israel Dudu would like to concentrate on more concerts dimed at Christian audiences. They react favorably to his genre of music and Christians make up the preponderance of Israeli tourists.

Dudu will again appear at Kutcher's Hotel in the Catskills leading the Pesach seders and officiating at the Passover religious services.

His popularity is growing as is his name recognition. He gave a sold-out concert at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale last spring, which was the first sold-out concert there since the beginning of the season and followed a standing ovation crowd at the matinee earlier in the day.

Atlantic City has a personal connection to Dudu as his productions are under the direction of Gelb Productions Company, headed by local residents Frank and Bruce Gelb.

Dudu Fisher will perform at the Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St., Philadelphia on Oct. 22, at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information call the Merriam Theater Box Office 215-732- 5446.