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ABBI NUTA GETZEL WAIDENBAUM was surely Jewish music’s best-kept secret. He was a talmid chacham and beloved shul rav for over 40 years in Flatbush, but not too many people are familiar with his name as a concert producer for many of the Jewish performances over those decades. I first met Reb Nuta when he called me up in 1981 and hired me for the first ever Uncle Moishy concert in New York. At that time, I hadn’t realized that it would be the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship in more ways than one. Aside from the musical productions we worked on, we also had a learning seder together for two years. In fact, as a bochur, Reb Nuta was one of the few Americans who had been accepted to learn in the famed Ponevezh Yeshivah in Bnei Brak.

Besides Reb Nuta being a kind and caring individual and a true ben Torah, he was also the linchpin behind so very many Jewish events. Reb Nuta had a deep baritone voice and emceed many of his events from backstage. I once asked him why he never felt comfortable actually going out onto stage to make those same announcements. He always brushed me off and never really answered the question  — but I know the reason wasn’t because he was shy or had stage fright. What I believe, is that he was most proud of his shul and the spiritual aspects of his life, and these public events were just a runner up.

Nuta, you should be extremely proud of both your positions. Perhaps you’d rather be remembered for your rabbinical achievements, but you have no idea what an impact you had in the frum entertainment field, bringing families kosher simchah in a world fraught with so many other enticing influences.

As I sat down to write a tribute to Reb Nuta for his second yahrtzeit on 23 Iyar, I realized how close he was to so many of the top performers and producers of Jewish music. So I reached out to them and asked for a few personal words about our mutual multi-faceted chaver. In the end, everyone seemed to say the same things about him, which tells me that these stories are as true as they come.

Veteran producer Dovid Nachman Golding hosts a walk down musical memory lane

THE REAL DIAMOND

Nuta and I worked together in 1969 polishing diamonds. I quit diamonds the following year and lost contact with him for a while. Then one day in 1973, when I was working in a store in Sheepshead bay, my long-lost friend Nuta strolled in to purchase something, and we were thrilled to meet each other again and catch up. He told me he was the rabbi at Congregation Beth Am Jewish Center, just down the block from the store. From that day on, we rekindled our friendship  — until his unexpected passing.

He always had a beautiful devar Torah on the ready. He loved the members of his shul and gave them his all. He was sharp and witty and of course, always kind-spirited and in good taste. My wife and I had the zechus to visit him several weeks before his passing, and although he wasn’t feeling well, he was happy to see us and spent his energy reserves schmoozing with us and sharing Torah thoughts. His greatest aspiration was to make sure his children would grow to be bnei Torah, for which he sacrificed much in his life.

—Singer MORDECHAI BEN DAVID

PARTNERS IN CHAZZANUS

Besides enjoying sharing divrei Torah with Reb Nuta, we enjoyed talking about music, of course  — and chazzanus in particular. When Reb Nuta found out that I’m a huge fan of chazzanus, he compiled and sent me several cassettes filled with great chazzanim. He also took the time to write each tittle and the name of the chazzan singing it inside the cassette covers. I had many hours of delight listening to those cassettes. Thank you Nuta, for everything you did for me and for Klal Yisrael.

—Singer AVRAHAM FRIED

ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THE BEST

Reb Nuta was an exceptional promoter, producer, and innovator. But more than all that, he was a truly funny, warm, honest, and loyal friend. I recall how he convinced Heshy Walfish and me to do our first Kivi and Tuki concert, complete with elaborate costumes and props that he designed. (The concert was a huge success, selling out Brooklyn College.) He was relentless in seeking out unique and dynamic new acts and performers, always pushing the envelope but also always being makpid on tzniyus and a Torah atmosphere. He always had a good vort handy as well, and his Jackie Mason imitation was second to none. He was a hard worker, a creative genius, and an erliche Yid who brought laughter and happiness to tens of thousands of Yiddishe kinderlach, a unique talent who hid behind a sincerely humble persona. His lovable combination of humor, talent, Torah, and varemkeit have left an indelible impression on the hearts of all who knew him.

—Entertainment creator COUNTRY YOSSI 

HE COULD HANDLE ANYTHING

I had the privilege of working alongside Reb Nuta, director of the Neginah office, for over 20 years. He always knew how to handle any situation, never lost his cool, and always remained in control of what was going on. And it was extremely comfortable to open up to him  — perhaps because he was never chasing gashmiyus and was always happy with what he had. He was an avid fan of Rav Avigdor Miller ztz”l, attended his shiurim regularly, and used Rav Miller’s valuable lessons on a daily basis in his own life. He was a beloved rabbi and a terrific baal tefillah. More than anything else, he loved his family, and may he be a meilitz yosher for them and for Klal Yisrael, as he was in his lifetime.

—Neginah Orchestra owner SHELLY LANG

PRAYER POWER

Reb Nuta and I worked together often when he would hire me as an emcee for a concert or circus. At these events, he would look out into the crowd, at the children on rides or inside the circus tent, and shep nachas that families were enjoying an evening or a Chol Hamoed day. And he knew that due to his planning and hard work, mothers, fathers, and children had a unique opportunity to bond together.

Reb Nuta once came to me to promote a “Power of Prayer” concept, whereby people would stop working at 1:00 p.m. every Tuesday and recite Tehillim for those in need. It was his idea, and we spoke about it on the air for a few months. Many years later, I was schmoozing with him on a street in Brooklyn when someone stopped us and told Reb Nuta that he and his office staff still say Tehillim together every Tuesday. Reb Nuta was beaming with pride  — it was his concept, and the effects were still reverberating.

—Radio host NACHUM SEGAL

THE WORLD’S A BETTER PLACE

Reb Nuta, Neginah Orchestra’s office director, was everyone’s friend, advisor, and therapist. Once, a kallah who had booked Neginah for her wedding called him to cancel  — she’d decided to break the engagement. Reb Nuta, sensing the kallah could use a listening ear, stopped what he was doing and spent a long time on the phone with her. With his experience as a shul rabbi and his innate love for every fellow Jew, he did his very best to help her. He made the world a better place.

—Veteran conductor YISROEL LAMM

POSITIVE SPIN

Reb Nuta Getzel Ben Michel was a special human being. He was not only a good listener and sounding board for ideas, but in general, always had a good word for everyone he came into contact with. He always managed to put a positive spin on every situation.

—Veteran producer SHEYA MENDLOWITZ 

TORAH FOR EVERY SITUATION

Reb Nuta was a proud ben Torah 24/7. He had beautiful words of Torah and inspiration for every situation he was in. Aside from that, he was intelligent, insightful, very practical, down to earth, and had an undeniable sense of humor. We miss him so very much.

—Miami Boys Choir founder YERACHMIEL BEGUN

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 761)