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?

“Refo’einu” (Shtar Hateno’im, 1993)

The words aren’t exactly standard fare in Jewish music — in the slow, heartfelt start, we pray to be healed and our lives spared, knowing that Hashem is the only one to save us. Then, the uplifting chorus reminds us that when we come together and pray for each other, smile and celebrate the joyous Day of Rest, we can merit to be healed of our physical illness. As in all good Fried songs, the Yossi Green vocal assist is spot on.

—Tzvi Hearsh

Avremel’s Take

Indeed, this song has been sung at many a bedside in hospitals and other places where someone was in need of a refuah. It was an ingenious idea on Yossi’s part to take words from Tehillim where Dovid Hamelech is asking for his own refuah, and then to take words from the Mi Shebeirach that is said for someone in need of a refuah, turning the tefillah into a comfort for everyone.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 791)