“It took Klal Yisrael by storm when it was released in the aftermath of the horrific Friday night murder of the Fogel family from Itamar in 2011”

While there are no holidays in the month of Marcheshvan, Rochel Imeinu’s yahrtzeit has taken on holiday proportions, especially as her kever is accessed by so many. What music do you connect to during that auspicious time?

“When it comes to Rochel Imeinu’s yahrtzeit, today my go-to niggun is Simcha Leiner’s powerful ‘KOL BERAMAH.’ It took Klal Yisrael by storm when it was released in the aftermath of the horrific Friday night murder of the Fogel family from Itamar in 2011, and it keeps giving chizuk until today.

“Back when I was a sixth-grade rebbi in Yeshiva of South Shore, Rabbi Chaim Kriger, the other sixth grade rebbi, and I used to hold a Rochel Imeinu yahrtzeit gathering for our classes. Year after year, we would sing Abie Rotenberg’s English song, ‘MAMME ROCHEL, CRY FOR US AGAIN.’ We would explain to the students how much Rochel Imeinu gave up for her sister Leah, and how she did this silently, without even letting Leah know about her sacrifice.”

—YITZY BALD, musician and composer

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 933)