On the heels of the pre-Pesach wedding season and Chol Hamoed celebrations comes the silence of Sefirah. As we count upward with anticipation toward Shavuos on one hand, and mourn historic national tragedy on the other, weddings wait and the music goes mute. But what about all the singers and musicians, the mainstay of Jewish weddings and other joyous events?

How do you keep busy in these quiet weeks?

YO AISENSTARK

Composer, director of Shearim Orchestra

For me it’s not such a quiet time, because I also own and operate a kitchen cabinet business. During the rest of the year, I work all day, and then at night I put on my musician hat and play at weddings and simchahs. Working nine hours a day instead of 15 is a welcome break.

The downtime means I get to spend more time in the evenings with my family, which is always great. Sometimes we get lost in the world of work, whether it’s music or anything else that we do, and we forget that the really important part of living is being able to learn and daven well every day and to spend time with family. In that way, the quieter days give us a perspective on what’s really important in life.

SIMCHA LEINER

Entertainer and composer

I’m assuming most singers use this time to record new music, but ironically, I find that I’m most productive recording during the busiest times of year. I use this as an opportunity to spend time with my family and get to know their names again.

SHLOIMY ZALTZMAN

Founder and music director of Zaltz Band

While it might seem like Sefirah is a break for bands, it’s actually jam-packed with intense preparation for the busy season ahead, plus other projects that get pushed off until now. In the music world, there’s never truly a break — success demands constant work.

Sefirah time definitely comes with its pluses and minuses. On one hand, it’s an opportunity for me and the band to refresh, regroup, and develop new ideas for the upcoming wedding and concert season. On the other hand, the gap in performances can take a mental toll — the first wedding back always feels like foreign territory, but the irony is that within two minutes of starting, we’re right back in our element. It’s more a mental adjustment than a real one.

CHILU POSEN

Head of Mezamrim Choir

I use the extra time as family time. The real challenge is starting work again right after Shavuos. Lag B’omer weddings provide the warm-up, and then we also have some during the three days before Shavuos, which makes entering the busy wedding season after Yom Tov a lot easier.

AVRUMI BERKO

Musical artist and producer

During Sefirah, the other parts of my usual schedule get extended. When davening, for example, I don’t have the pressure of knowing that I might miss a mechutan’s call. I can learn longer hours and focus with more concentration. The same applies to studio work. My projects at this time of the year definitely get more attention.

For supper, it’s true that there’s a smaller variety available than the huge shmorgs I see every night at weddings. But hey, my wife’s food rocks! Plus, I get to sign some of the kids’ homework in the meantime.

Also, I finally have time to perform for Reb Shloimy Reichberg of Mekimi and to answer calls from Zevy Fried to go with MBD to visit hospitals and prisons.

SIMCHA JACOBY

Singer and recording artist

I usually have some bookings until Rosh Chodesh Iyar. Then, when the weddings stop, I’m still busy taking bookings, speaking to clients, and preparing songs for the summer season. My second-seder chavrusa sees more of me during this time, and at night I have more time to be around the house and help with the kids. Right now, I’m also using the time to work on some exciting projects in the studio.

The gap in the rhythm of regular weddings is a challenge because it can take you out of the groove a little, out of the song choices that come naturally when you’re immersed in it. Lag B’omer weddings always have a great energy of their own, with a special spirit to the Meron set, and the wedding guests are thirsty to celebrate simchahs again, so that gets me going.

YIDI BIALOSTOZKY

Chassidic singer/songwriter

Sefirah isn’t a very long break for me. I’m fortunate to sing at weddings of all kinds of Yidden, and Sephardim, chassidim, and Litvaks all have their own minhagim regarding Sefirah, so I find myself singing until Rosh Chodesh Iyar, and from Lag B’omer on. That means for me, at least, there’s just about a two-week break. That time is a great time to catch up on my Daf Yomi debt from the long winter, and to invest more time in my children.

Consulting rabbanim, I was told that it’s permissible to sing for children who are in the hospital during Sefirah. I try to use these days to take part in this mitzvah through the many chesed organizations, something that’s hard to do during the busy season.

MENACHEM HERMAN

Singer and guitarist, Menachem Herman Orchestra

I use my extra time in Sefiras Ha’omer for learning more Torah, fixing and tweaking music gear, for learning new songs, and for trying to give more quality time to family. The challenges of having quiet periods with no weddings are, first of all, financial, because there’s less cash flow available. From a musical standpoint, it’s difficult not to perform, because you get somewhat out of shape and therefore need to practice. Looking forward to playing in the Beis Hamikdash soon!

SHLOIME DACHS

Vocalist, director Shloime Dachs Orchestra

For the most part, it’s a great opportunity to spend more quality time at home and also catch up with the Daf and learning, which isn’t easy during a busy music season. During this particular Sefirah I’ll be recording a beautiful “Ani Maamin” that’s due to come out for Lag B’omer in memory of Dovi Steinmetz a”h and Shragee Gestetner a”h, who lost their lives in Meron in 2021.

LEVY FALKOWITZ

Singer and recording artist

I’m currently working on recording new material for an upcoming album. But to be honest, after the marathon of simchahs and gigs we run before Pesach, and after traveling and performing on Pesach, the two weeks from Rosh Chodesh Iyar to Lag B’omer are just time to breathe. I can spend more time with my family, and also, actually spend time with myself. This year on Pesach, my son and I were involved in a serious ATV accident, and I want to publicly thank Hashem for the nissim we had. I’m grateful for this time to heal and reflect.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1060)