“We are incredibly fortunate to have such meaningful Jewish music that can give voice to and channel our emotions”

The Gift of Meaningful Music [Endnote / Issue 1091]

I enjoyed the article in the Chanukah issue, “The Maccabee in Me,” compiled by Riki Goldstein, about the songs that mean so much to listeners and Mishpacha readers, and I wanted to share my own experiences.

A few years ago, I’d driven five and a half hours to drop my daughters off at Camp Sternberg, and had already driven out of camp when I realized that my GPS wasn’t receiving a signal. I had no idea how to get back to the highway, and I was driving on deserted two-lane country roads, surrounded on both sides by dense forest. I was starting to worry as I realized that dusk was fast approaching, and that I might very well be lost and alone, driving in the Catskill mountains in the dark.

I was listening to music, and suddenly the song that came on was “Compass” by Chanale. I felt like Hashem was right there with me. I ended up stopping at a country post office and a woman pulled up next to me, with her young daughter in the passenger seat. She mailed a letter and then she very kindly led me straight to the highway entrance, where my GPS was finally able to get a signal.

When my dear son Yitzy was sick, the song “A Yid” by Chayala Neuhaus, sung by Benny Friedman, gave him a great deal of chizuk and inspired tremendous emunah and bitachon, far beyond what we could ever have expected or imagined from a young boy. After he was tragically niftar at age 13, it continues to give me strength to continue on.

Yitzy also loved the song “Basi” by Reb Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz, and I have a video of him singing it on the way back from radiation, on a stretcher, when he was close to the end of his life.

He was surrounded by nurses who had no idea how holy this song is, but we (his parents) cried as he sang with his sweet, angelic voice, knowing that he would never be a zakein with a long beard, at least in this lifetime, but he certainly had a kol na’im and he was me’urav b’daas im habriyos….

On the day of Yitzy’s shloshim, I was alone in my car driving to the cemetery, listening to music, and suddenly a song came on that I’d never heard before. It was “Odeh LaKel,” also composed by Chayala Neuhaus and sung by Benny Friedman.

I was astonished, literally speechless with wonder. I cannot describe what hearing that song at that specific moment meant to me. It was so clearly Heaven-sent, directly to me.

The extraordinarily beautiful song compares souls to stars, reminding us that Hashem creates each one, He decides when they brighten and then darken, He has a plan for every star, that only the Hands of their Maker have held them from the start, and that they each take their place in His embrace.

This song became my “theme song” for the months after we lost Yitzy, reminding me that there’s so much more to life than what we can see with our eyes, and that everything, including the music we “happen” to hear, is directed by Hashem for us, personally.

We are incredibly fortunate to have such meaningful Jewish music that can give voice to and channel our emotions, giving us a spiritual boost when times are tough, and adding to our joy in times of simchah.

Chana Sarah Sutofsky

Pittsburgh, PA

Worth Reading [Pendulum / Issue 1091]

Please convey my deep gratitude to Gedalia Guttentag for this issue of Pendulum.

Although I’m down with a cold and my mind is off-line at the moment, even so, I could see that this was something worth reading!

I’m familiar with Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein’s work from elsewhere (his comprehensive knowledge of the Hebrew language is awesome in the original meaning of the word), and I enjoyed his article on Jewish names derived from Greek. The only thing lacking was the actual Greek lettering – but that’s only because I love sounding out words in the Greek alphabet.

Rabbi Guttentag’s masterful presentation of Alexander’s life and accomplishments, with particular reference to the Jews, was clear and satisfying. I was grateful for the map — there’s nothing like a map to clarify mere description — and the illustrations were appropriate.

Everything was of such a high standard, and clearly so well researched, that I never found myself complaining that the author had dipped into a single source and then lost interest. In general, the English was so good I didn’t cringe once! Oh, thank you, thank you for that!

Our magazines are passed on to another family (who then pass them along to two other families), but they won’t get Pendulum, though they’re intelligent enough to appreciate it. I’m saving it for when my brain returns to active functioning so I can read it through properly.

Mrs. Henye Meyer

Staying Power [Tribute / Issue 1091]

I’m a longtime fan of Rabbi Besser’s writing, but I was particularly moved by his recent article about Reb Gershon Morgenstern. A man like that deserves a full biography, not just a few pages in a magazine (although the article had me hooked).

What particularly resonated with me was the line “A Yid never runs.” Running can be so tempting; it’s easier than staying and facing your challenge or quandary head-on. However, if we don’t stay we’ll lose valuable opportunities for growth. The tenacity and strength of character Reb Gershon displayed throughout his life are a valuable lesson to us all.

Thank you for the reminder!

A.S.

Respect Is the Name of the Game [The Kichels / Issue 1091]

I’m writing in response to the Kichels Chanukah bingo boards.

While I related to many of the boxes, I was surprised at the ones regarding naming children after relatives, specifically that of “picking names they actually like instead of naming after relatives.”

As Yidden we view naming after a relative to be a great honor, both for the deceased and for the new baby. It’s a great zechus to carry the name of a relative or a great tzaddik. I felt the tone used here seemed to be condescending to those who choose to do so, and making fun of those who call their children by “old school” names.

A Parent

Give Credit Where It’s Due [The Moment / Issue 1089]

While it was heartwarming and special to see the picture of the talmidim of my Rebbi, Rav Mendel Krawiec ztz”l, rosh yeshivas Rabbeinu Yaakov Yosef, I was dismayed that no mention was made of my great Rebbi himself, who shaped the American Torah world that we all gain from today.

The article mentioned that these talmidim left after graduation, when in fact they spent close to two years with Rav Mendel in his beis medrash. Rav Mendel actually sent his best bochurim to Rav Aharon Kotler to build Beth Medrash Govoha, notably Rav Meir Hershkowitz ztz”l and later on Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlita and Rav Meir Stern shlita. Rav Mendel was ma’amid these American bochurim into gedolei Torah and then convinced them to go to Lakewood.

Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel shlita, has said many times, “Without Rav Mendel Krawiec ztz”l, there would not have been a Lakewood!”

A Grateful Talmid

Sparked My Interest [Nachum Sparks Mystery]

Dear Mr. Sparks and Mr. Rosen,

Thank you so much for sharing your dazzling adventures! I am enjoying them immensely, sitting here on five pillows and consuming an ounce of Bamba. My only regret, besides the fact that your column doesn’t appear weekly, is that my kosher smartphone apps can’t find your podcast. And it must be blocked by my filter, too, ’cuz I don’t see it online either. But please keep the stories coming. And if someone offers you a shidduch with the Adler girl, be sure to do your research (very carefully).

Miriam D.

Jerusalem

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1093)