Harry Coopersmith is a composer, choirmaster, teacher. He was born on December 2, 1902 on the territory of modern Russia.

In 1911, together with his family, he emigrated to the United States and settled in New York. In 1924, with a bachelor’s degree, he graduated from the Faculty of Education at Columbia University. In 1933 he received a Master of Arts degree. In 1926-1940 he lived in Chicago, where he headed the Bureau of Jewish Education, was the choir master of the synagogue Anshamet and together with Chaim Reznik headed the “Halevi Choral Society” created by them. After moving to New York until retirement in 1971, he was the musical director of the local Jewish Education Committee. He taught at the School of Sacred Music of the Jewish Joint College. He is the author of numerous collections of liturgical music.

Coopersmith was a pioneer in the dissemination of Jewish music in America.  The hymn tune YISRAEL V’ORAITA (TORAH SONG)*, introduced by Coopersmith, is one of the most widely sung Jewish melodies published in Christian hymnals.

Harry Coopersmith died on December 31, 1975 in Santa Barbara (California, USA).