And that’s when I realized that there was an added fuel in HASC’s fire

For the audience, it was about enjoying a great show and supporting their favorite cause. For the performers, it was about adding a bit more light and inspiration to a challenged world

The winter storm that slammed the Tristate area this past Sunday evening might have blanketed the roads with slushy snow, but it couldn’t put a damper on the fiery enthusiasm that fueled this year’s 38th annual HASC Concert. The New Jersey Performing Arts Center was as crowded as any other year, with the endless lines of cars bottlenecking their way into the parking garages for the first performance of the night: The familiar melody of Brooklyn and Lakewood honking (along with some of the more polite beeps that were presumably from those who traveled in from out of town).

The entrance to the auditorium was jam-packed with Yidden of all ages and affiliations, but tonight, I was more interested in what was brewing in the inner chambers backstage. Within the maze of rooms behind the stage, it was a scene to behold: Fresh off their final rehearsal, musicians, singers, and producers were scattered all around, some hurrying off to their private rooms to do some last-minute prep, while others were relaxing in the large rec room, enjoying some hot food while awaiting their respective queues.

It’s almost impossible to miss the towering figure of Nachum Segal among the crowd, straightening his bowtie as he prepares to emcee yet another HASC Concert. I ask him if he’s nervous moments before going on stage. “Well, it’s like I always tell my kids — if I ever felt that I wasn’t nervous before the concert, then I’d be nervous,” he says with a chuckle over that familiar deep voice. “But really, once you’ve spent any time up in Camp HASC, you feel a drive to give something back, so we all do whatever it takes to make this show a success. HASC has long exceeded the tipping point in society — everyone knows that they really deliver for the community, and we all want to be a part of that.”

At this year’s show, an ensemble of violinists was to do a performance from the aisles in the seating area. And you couldn’t miss them backstage: They were all wearing bright-blue suspenders, discussing their moves before the show began. And there were lighting and sound specialists strategizing about each step to the second. But then, in the midst of all the hubbub, someone hushed the crowd: “Hey, everyone!”

The room fell silent, and all eyes were on the man in the black fedora, holding up a half-empty water bottle in a toast. It was Eli Schwebel, who was going to open the concert in just about 45 minutes. “Look, I just wanted to say… thank you all for being here. We’re doing this for a purpose — we want to bring a little more light into the world. So, let’s do this!” Eli sat down, adding, “By the way, the ‘Schwebel table’ is where it’s at.”

I accepted the invitation and grabbed a seat near Eli, guitarist Nachman Dryer and the chevreh from the Zusha band. When I told Zusha’s lead vocalist Shlomo Gaisin that I was from Mishpacha, he pointed out that the name contains the letters for “po” and “sham.” That’s to remind us that the family is always there with us and keeping us grounded, whether we’re right there with them or far away. Eli Schwebel rounded out the vort: “And the extra ches is for the number eight, reminding us that our family — the big, Jewish family — is lemaalah miderech hateva.”

And that’s when I realized that there was an added fuel in HASC’s fire.

“We’re going through chevlei Mashiach  this past year, and all of these performers, all of these musicians and technicians… we’re all part of a huge orchestra,” Rabbi Judah Mischel, executive director of Camp HASC, told me. “We’re all moving the needle closer to Geulah. The Alter Rebbe would say that when ten Yidden gather in a room, there’s tremendous kedushah under that roof. So when you gather over 3,000 Yidden to rejoice and celebrate together for the sake of continuing a massive mitzvah, does that not add to the push toward Mashiach? We have to remember to connect the dots: We’re all one big happy family, and we’re bringing the Geulah closer when we work as a team.”

Israeli star Shuli Rand summed it up this way: “Out of all the thousands of people in this building today, if even just one of them has a hirhur teshuvah thanks to something he hears tonight, then the whole concert was worth it. We’re here to make a difference, to help move Klal Yisrael in the right direction.” Indeed, Shuli’s performance of his soul-stirring song “Ayeka” surely moved the crowd. And his comical rendition of Tevye from  Fiddler on the Roof kept everyone in a good mood throughout the show.

Benny Friedman sang “Tamid Ohev Oti,” the tune that’s kept the Israeli population in high spirits during the toughest pangs of the ongoing war. He also sang his own recent hit, “Thinkin’ about Thankin’” — to the backdrop of a motley breakdancing construction crew, just like on the mega-popular video clip of the song.

Avraham Fried did a duo with pianist Yaron Gershovsky, who hadn’t traveled in from Eretz Yisrael for a HASC Concert in many years. “It’s good to be back,” Yaron told me. “During this time, more than ever, I wanted to share my music with the Jewish people. With every key that I play, I invest my soul and my energy. You see, I’m Israeli, and although you can take an Israeli out of Israel, you can’t take Israel out of the Israeli. I’m hoping that the audience will offer a prayer to Hashem that we should all see a yeshuah bekarov.”

One of the most dramatic moments of the night was in the middle of Yaakov Shwekey’s duo with Yonatan Razel. Shwekey stopped the show for a moment and called Shai Graucher, the one-man chesed machine since the Gaza War, up to the stage. “Shai, get me some lyrics — Yonatan, get me a tune. Let’s compose a song right here, right now, for acheinu bnei Yisrael.” Shai pulled out the words, “Ki yesh sachar lefe’ulasech… veshavu banim lig'vulam.” Yonatan looked at the crowd and said, “I never did this before on a live show…. Well, Hashem help me! Here goes.”

Yonatan began playing the fresh tune on the piano, and Yaakov soon caught on. The entire crowd was mesmerized by the depth of the song and its relevant application, singing along and waving their hands.

At one point during the concert, the Nikolsburger Rebbe of the Woodmere shul walked onto the stage along with his son and grandson — a camper at Camp HASC who celebrated his bar mitzvah at the camp this past summer. The Rebbe sang his famous composition, “Every Yid’s a Big Tzaddik,” along with Benny Friedman, and the message of what HASC does filled the room: Every neshamah that celebrates its divine power and singular importance brings us one step closer to geulah. Backstage, the Rebbe spent his time giving brachos and hugs to all the producers and musicians, wishing them hatzlachah in awakening the spark in another Jewish soul.

The lighting and special effects at the event were top-notch, as expected. The colored laser lighting, integrated video accompaniment, and lyric screens took the concert to the next level, setting the vibe for yearning, redemption, and peace. Of course, one would expect nothing less from a show produced by the inimitable Shlome Steinmetz — who only emerged from his office after the show was over.

“He’s usually a little more out and about during the show,” one manager told me. “But not today. He only got here at 3:30 p.m., halfway through the last rehearsal.” Shlome was in the hospital that morning, welcoming his new daughter into the world — but once she was safely in the hands of the hospital staff, a police escort saw to it that the MVP made it in time to run the show. Because, after all, there was a mission on that night: celebrate the chesed that HASC does, while moving the needle a little closer to geulah.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1046)