Max Janowski (1912 – 1991), was a composer of Jewish liturgical music, a conductor, choir director, and voice teacher. Born in Berlin, in the early 1930’s he became head of the piano department at the Musashino Academy of Music, Tokyo, Japan. He emigrated to the United States in 1937 and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Max Janowski’s choral works include “Avinu Malkeynu” (“Our Father, Our King,” a hymn for the High Holy Days), “Sim Shalom” (“Song of Peace,” which was dedicated to the American diplomat Ralph Bunche), “Yismehu,” and “ve-Shomeru”.

Mr. Janowski had served as music director at K.A.M. Isaiah Israel Congregation of Hyde Park in Chicago since 1938.

Mr. Janowski wrote choral works used in synagogues around the world. Among his best-known compositions are “Avinu Malkeynu” (“Our Father, Our King”), a hymn used during the High Holy Days, and “Sim Shalom” (“Song of Peace”), which was dedicated to the American diplomat Ralph Bunche.

He died of heart failure on April 8, 1991 . He is survived by his mother, Miriam, of Tel Aviv.