W

hen he was a kid, Avremel Friedman went public as a child soloist on several albums — but while the light of most child stars dims as their voices change, Avraham Fried’s only became brighter. Ten years later, his 1981 debut album, No Jew Will Be Left Behind, turned into the beginning of a nearly four-decade stretch, as listeners connected to his niggunim of the neshamah. Through hundreds of songs and dozens of albums, we’ve sung and swayed, danced and prayed. And now we’ve asked our readers:

Which one of Avraham Fried’s songs has touched your life?

“A Gutte Voch”(Melaveh Malkah, 1984)

Every Motzaei Shabbos, I’m pulled out of that peaceful Shabbos atmosphere and off to attack the dishes. Every single week — without even putting the actual tape on — I start singing to myself:

“A gutte voch mit broche, hazloche, yeshuos, refuos und nachas und chein — Freilich lomir dem Shabbes begleiten ….” Avraham Fried put so many tefillos into this wonderful song.

I once asked Rav Shimshon Pincus ztz”l his opinion about having music on all day in the house. Rav Pincus answered me: Always listen to music with words, as most of them are pesukim of tefillah and that should awaken our heart to daven! May Avraham Fried and all the other wonderful singers have many more healthy years to arouse our hearts to avodas Hashem — even while we are busy with worldly things like washing dishes.

—R. Spielman, Zürich

Avremel’s Take

“A Gutte Voch” is the perfect song to take you into the new week. It’s a favorite in my home and is sung around the Melaveh Malkah table every Motzaei Shabbos. I had the good fortune to co-write the lyrics with the master lyricist Reb YomTov Ehrlich a”h. It He Sheya Mendlowitz who suggested we use this old niggun, and it was a perfect match. L'chayim! Ah gutte voch zol unz zein.

HEAR ALL THE FRIED FAVORITES!

Music

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 791)