True Tales from the Corners of Our World

The Background

I had the opportunity to interview Jewish music superstar Avraham Fried for the book I wrote about Rabbi Shai Graucher, the recently released Chessed under Fire (ArtScroll), to discuss his relationship with Shai’s father, Jewish music legend Dedi Graucher. He related a story that really touched me but didn’t make it into the book. I’m sharing it here for the first time.

The Crowning Moment

IT

was inevitable that Avraham Fried and Dedi Graucher would cross paths. Dedi shot to the top of the Jewish music charts with his first album — a collaboration with Yossi Green, who had long been composing for Fried. The two became close friends after a memorable Purim party at the home of Fried’s neighbor Moti Zisser, and the bond they formed carried over to their life onstage.

“Dedi had a funny line that he liked to pull out when the two of us were performing together,” Avremel recalled with a smile.  “‘Ladies and gentlemen, this is Avraham Fried and I’m Dedi Graucher. We’re on the poster for the new diet — I’m the before and he’s the after.’

“When we went out to eat after a concert, he’d announce, ‘Avremel is having a tuna sandwich and that’s it. Everything else, bring to me.’ ”

Of course, Dedi had his serious side as well — aside from jokes, he also shared many divrei Torah with Avremel. And he would go out of his way to give chizuk.

“He would always tell me, ‘Avremel, don’t forget — you are a shaliach of the Rebbe.’ ”

That line always held special meaning for Avraham Fried, as a chassid of Chabad. For the Lubavitcher Rebbe ztz”l, the term shlichus carried a momentous responsibility. And Dedi Graucher, whether he knew it or not, had put his finger on a central thread in Avraham Fried’s life.