An askan and entrepreneur who learns Torah every day, and still finds time to focus extensively on Jewish music

He’s officially a jeweler and diamond dealer, but SHMEELY KRISCHER also describes himself as an askan and entrepreneur who learns Torah every day, and still finds time to focus extensively on Jewish music, promoting positivity and great songs on his status. With early roots as a child soloist on Jep III, he’s still a popular camp figure who composes songs and arranges gigs over the summer, and recently performed at a Bonei Olam event together with Joey Newcomb.

A SONG THAT GETS ME INTO THE ADAR MOOD

“Im al Hamelech Tov,” composed by Meshulem Greenberger. Three years ago, I stood in the bleachers at the BMG Purim mesibah, watching the roshei yeshivah dance to this song. Coronavirus was waiting in the wings, and I had the feeling it would be something major and scary. But that song offers true simchah of Adar in the confidence that even through difficult challenges, Hashem loves us and takes care of us, then and now and always.

A SINGER I’D LIKE TO INVITE TO MY PURIM SEUDAH

Joey Newcomb, a fellow Far Rockaway Yid, who really, genuinely, has simchas hachayim and loves life.

MY BEST PURIM MEMORY

In 2014, I was the administrator of Yeshiva Bais Pinchos in Lakewood, and I arranged the Purim mesibah. It was in the old YTT building in Lakewood, Beri Weber and Yossi Shtendig sang on the next level, and I have never seen a crowd so lost in the simchas Purim. There was no alcohol, but I remember having to deliver one bochur home when it was over because he had danced to a point where he could no longer walk on his blistered feet.

WHAT Escorted me to the chuppah

“Yankel,” by Abie Rotenberg on Journeys II. The line “The gates of Heaven never close, they never close for tears,” was all I needed for that moment.

A NIGGUN THAT MAKES ME FEEL PURIM IN MY OWN HOME

MBD’s “Layehudim.” I know there’s is a lot of geshmak, contemporary stuff to sing when you’re with a big oilem, but at my own seudah, to get into the joy of the day and connect to its essence, I sing this. “Di la la lai lai lai lai lai lai lai lai, lai lai lai lai lo…” I love how it doesn’t jump right into the words, but instead builds up to the simchah of Layehudim haysah orah.”

A SONG I FIND MYSELF HUMMING

One is the Chabad “Vesamachta Bechagecha,” which I heard as a kid from Rav Shmuel Brazil. He would sing it over and over on Yom Tov at Yeshivas Shor Yoshuv and generate enough simchah to last through the year. And then there’s the song I’m known for: “The kollel bus is the place to be… learn Gemara at ALT…” That’s my anthem for the six a.m. commuters’ bus from Lakewood to Manhattan, where we have 30 to 40 guys learning a Gemara seder on the bus. There are singers here in Lakewood who even start singing it when I come into a wedding.

A SONG THAT TAKES ME TO A DIFFERENT TIME AND PLACE

Lipa’s “Heib Oif Daineh Hentelach” takes me back to Camp Achim 2008, where I was our team’s color war general. Rabbi Yisroel Lefkowitz turned to me and gave me 15 seconds to come up with a song for 100 points. We were Team Shemesh, and I came up with a chant to Lipa’s tune: “The sun is shining, beaming, right over your head…” It was a big matzav, our team won, and it was even sung at camp chasunahs that year.

THE BEST KUMZITZ STARTER

I would say either “Far Dir,” or Naftali Kempeh’s “Kol Hanechalim.”

MY FAVORITE ENGLISH SONG

I really appreciate Joey Necomb’s “Lech Lecha” — “Sometimes you need to leave the past behind…” — because even a glass of water becomes heavy if you hold onto it for a long time. We have to forgive and forget, not let old grudges hold us back.

A SONG WITH AMAZING VOCAL ARRANGEMENTS

“Journey at Sea,” from Journeys 5, written by Abie’s son Chananya Rotenberg. But to be fair, it’s not only the vocals that make it a masterpiece. It’s the phenomenal lyrics, the message, and the seagulls calling in the background.

A SONG THAT GIVES ME CHIZUK

The Torah Umesorah-sponsored English version of “Yodati,” sung by Baruch Levine and the Yeshiva K’tana of Waterbury, with English lyrics by Mrs. Ruchi Torgow. I work in the diamond district in Manhattan, and I had to go into the city all during the long Covid period. The neighborhood was trashed by the BLM riots, so walking to my workplace, I put the song on my earphones and just concentrated on its message, the power and strength of the Eibeshter. It made me feel as if He was walking alongside me.

A SONG THAT’S GONE OUT OF STYLE BUT I’D LIKE TO BRING BACK

I’d choose two: “Shmeichel,” sung by Shloime Gertner (on his Nisim album). We all need to remember to choose to be happy and “just smile.” And Benny Friedman’s smash hit “Yesh Tikvah.” The words, written by Miriam Israeli, are just full of emunah and bitachon.

WORDS AND TUNE THAT ARE A PERFECT MATCH

“Vehi She’amdah,” by Yonatan Razel. That song put him on the map, and rightfully so. You can feel the tzaros of Klal Yisrael in the niggun itself. I don’t want to break the minhag of singing the “Vehi She’amdah” that my parents always sang at the Seder, so we sing the traditional tune first, then we go on to Razel’s tune.

WHAT I SING WITH MY CHILDREN AT BEDTIME

“Vehareinu” composed by Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz, together with his narration from the Mir Hachnasas Sefer Torah: “Close your eyes and come with me on a journey to Yerushalayim Ir Hakodesh…” Our children need to know where we’re going, and how we’re going to get there.

IF I WERE COMPOSING A SONG, THE WORDS I’D CHOOSE WOULD BE…

Words of gratitude and appreciation for the incredible gift of being a Yid. Maybe the words to Mizmor Lesodah or Shiru LaShem.

THE SONG I CAN’T STOP SINGING

Today it’s “Aish Tamid” by Meilech Kohn. It’s on fire, no pun intended.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 950)