When 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?

“Mah Yedidus” (Chazak, 1997)

My personal favorite song is “Mah Yedidus,” composed by Yossi Green. Each stanza is sung differently, but the chorus “Lehisaneg Besaanugim” is always the same. The final stanza of “Me’ein me’ein olam haba” is very hartzig, with the tefillah of “meichevlei Mashiach yutzolu lirvachah” repeated over and over. We sing it at our Shabbos table and my family knows a lot of Yossi’s harmonies and kneitchen. My wife’s favorite part is “vehasheina meshubachas — sleep is praiseworthy!"  Avraham Fried is the king!

Avremel’s Take

That song brings back happy memories of when Yossi Green and I were recording it. Such a happy song with different movements for every stanza. A masterpiece. Someone who booked me for a simchah recently told me: “I have just one request. I want you to sing 'Mah Yedidus.'”

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 791)