Echoes of song, fragments of emotion, wisps of memory. It’s a melody that still replays in your mind, years after its chorus first captured your heart.

What’s that tune that, when you hear it, brings you back to another place, time, and association? Or perhaps it’s an old, long-forgotten Jewish song, maybe one that never conquered the limelight but conquered your neshamah?

We asked readers and public figures to share some of those memories intertwined with old and forgotten songs — because when it comes to a niggun, past and present merge into a timeless inspiration

Boruch Leff, Baltimore

Song of My Heart: “Bonai”

Album: Bonai (Nochi Krohn Band)

I’d choose this amazing yet little-known song sung by the sweet and sincere voice of Reb Yosef Karduner, which describes Hashem Yisbarach’s reaction to our good deeds and His ongoing encouragement to us. It captivated me the first time I heard it. As I listened a few more times, I thought that the majestic and beautiful words must have been taken from one of the sifrei mussar or chassidus. However, my research has concluded that all the words were actually written by the composer, Reb Nochi Krohn himself, based on words found in Chazal.

Get a hold of the song, turn it on, close your eyes, and allow the words to penetrate to your essence. “Mi shehu oseh mitzvah achat, meivi geulah l’olam…”

Here is a loose translation: “My precious children! My important children! The entire world exists and continues to exist only for your actions. Never stop, always fortify and strengthen yourselves!”

Is that not one of the best and most meaningful lyrics ever written? The best part is that Hashem really feels that way about us.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha Issue 710)