It’s over 30 years old but recently MBD’s setting of “Be’ein Meilitz Yosher” has been dusted off and seen a surge in popularity. The song was selected and re-recorded by Yaakov Shwekey for the MBD medley on his nostalgic Those Were the Days album and the original song from MBD’s Let My People Go album (1986) has been a bestseller this Elul season according to Gitty Raindel of MostlyMusic.

In MBD’s rendition the timeless words “If there is no advocate to stand against the reporters of sin may You tell of Yaakov’s [adherence] to laws and statutes and vindicate us in the judgment ” are introduced by soft strings that then rise in supplication with the high part soaring in a range of notes as a solemn plea but also backed with undertones of resolution and certainty. These days with everyone feeling so spiritually vulnerable the niggun is like a haven of hope for a chasimah tovah.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha Issue 679)