The Holiest Yid In The World

This niggun is based on a story of Reb Mendel Futerfas, the famous Lubavitcher mashpia. He was once sitting with his Chassidim. He asked them, Who is the holiest Yid in the world, at the holiest time, in the holiest place? They answered, of course, it’s the Kohein Gadol, on Yom Kippur, in the Kodesh Kodoshim. Reb Mendel said, “No. The holiest Yid in the world is you! The holiest place is wherever you are! And the holiest time is now – whenever you are.

When Shabbos comes, we don’t just wait for it to enter our hearts. We go out to greet it, with simchah and song, along with our Dodi – our beloved – the Ribono Shel Olam himself! The Medrash says all the days of the week had a partner except for Shabbos. Hashem told Shabbos, “Klal Yisroel will be your zivug, your match.” The Maharsha says, the Shabbos Queen is a queen because she is married to Klal Yisrael… and we are royalty because we are the children of Hashem!

The heiligeh Arizal would go out to the fields with his holy chevraya to greet the Shabbos Queen – unbridled by physical or spiritual walls. Grab another Yid, and go out; leave your weekday stuff behind, and come greet Shabbos HaMalka! Let’s Go Chevrah!

In Nishmas we exclaim: “Even if the oceans were ink, etc, we would never have enough time to thank Hashem for even a thousandth of a thousandth of the things He has done for us, for our parents and our Avos since the beginning of time!”

Originally written by the great Yitzy Bald and recorded by Mendy Wald, this niggun has always resonated with me, and I play it almost everywhere I go. This version was brought to the world by a Tzadik whom I humbly call my Rebbe, Rav Efraim Wachsman shlita.

During chazaras hashatz we answer with a single amen to each brachah except for “Modim,” the brochah where we thank Hashem, because that can’t be done by someone else on our behalf. Thanks must be done personally. So we felt we had to sing this niggun ourselves; a small drop in the bucket of the thanks we owe Hashem. Reb Chaim Ghoori brought his own insane energy to this track – there are no words. Thank You Hashem!

We know Hashem is the King of the World. He is there in every breath and every step we take. And on that great day, the whole world will know! We daven in Yom Tov Mussaf, “Galei kavod Malchuscha – Reveal the glory of Your Malchus” – so the whole world can see! This niggun is an invitation to dance in that world of Moshiach even today – and simply enjoy being children of the King, as we wait for the day the whole joins along! We can tap into seeing Hashem’s Malchus at any moment – it is everywhere and in everything! Heiligeh Brother Mendy Worch simply couldn’t control himself from joining in this Moshiachdik avodah! Join us! Tatte, let it be today!

In Nishmas we exclaim: “Even if the oceans were ink, etc, we would never have enough time to thank Hashem for even a thousandth of a thousandth of the things He has done for us, for our parents and our Avos since the beginning of time!”

Originally written by the great Yitzy Bald and recorded by Mendy Wald, this niggun has always resonated with me, and I play it almost everywhere I go. This version was brought to the world by a Tzadik whom I humbly call my Rebbe, Rav Efraim Wachsman shlita.

During chazaras hashatz we answer with a single amen to each brachah except for “Modim,” the brochah where we thank Hashem, because that can’t be done by someone else on our behalf. Thanks must be done personally. So we felt we had to sing this niggun ourselves; a small drop in the bucket of the thanks we owe Hashem. Reb Chaim Ghoori brought his own insane energy to this track – there are no words. Thank You Hashem!

Do we realize the zechus we have when we stand near our Rebbe? Just being near Tzadikim allows us to learn from them, sometimes without even hearing or saying a word – just to watch their avodah, how they act towards others… The Malka Sh’va (The Queen of Sheba) visited Shlomo HaMelech and was blown away by his chochma. Before she left, she expressed her awe and uttered these words: “How lucky are those who are near you all the time, even simple servants in your house; by being in your vicinity, they learn so much chochma!”

So often we sing songs of praise for our Rebbes and Tzadikim. Do we ever think of how lucky WE are? Ashreinu! Dedicated in honor of our Rebbe, Harav Yussie Zakutinsky shlita.

Yaakov Avinu comes to the Yarden on his way back home from Lavan’s house. He pauses, looks up, and thanks Hashem: The last time I was here, robbed of everything by my nephew, on the run from my murderous brother, I had nothing but my stick. Now, I’m back. I have the Shivtei Kah, Leah, Rochel, Bilha, Zilpa, wealth, and so much more. Thank You Hashem!

This is a very deep tool for us to use to thank Hashem. The first time you were here—at this place, at this river, this time of year—it may not have been easy. You may have had only a stick. When you revisit the place where it all happened, the pain doesn’t necessarily go away, but standing here again, we can see how much chessed Hashem has done for us since then.

Look around… and thank Hashem.

Katonti Mikol Hachasadim. I humbly thank You, Hashem, for all the chessed You do, will do, and have done for me.

Sincerely,

Moish

This is the next single off my debut album, dropping very, very soon. Thank You Hashem!

Did you ever feel so broken that you were sure there was no way back? The Yidden in the Midbar who were tamei for the Korban Pesach in Mitzrayim had no recourse. They had missed it. Messed up. Done. Yet they wanted it so badly, they turned to Hashem and asked “Lama Nigara? Why should we miss out?” Hashem saw their deep desire for closeness and acquiesced to their request.

Our Tzadikim say – it was this wanting a second chance that made the opportunity available. When we feel far away – we need to know His door is open wide, and he is waiting for us to call out with everything we have. That ratzon, that wanting, can change the world. This niggun was written when I felt pushed away. It is a real conversation with Hashem. It is a question, a cry of yearning, and in an important way, it gives permission to be totally real with Hashem. We thank Hashem, we speak honestly and openly to Hashem, and sometimes we cry to Hashem, and tell Him things hurt, because our relationship is totally REAL.

I cried in the studio numerous times while recording this song. We wander, trip and fall like lost sheep, calling out to our Father. However, we never forget the mitzvos. We never forget who we really are. And even if we think we do… our Shepherd never forgets us. We are lost… only when we let go of You. And if we do… You are always, always actively looking for us, helping us come home.

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Composed by Blumstein Brothers, Israel Portnoy

Music Produced by Israel Portnoy, Yehudah Pinsker

Violin, Viola – Manny Polatsek

Drums – Wes Little

Acoustic/Electric Guitars – Israel Portnoy

Background Vocals – Israel Portnoy

Mixed by – Yaron Safer

Mastered By Chris Gehringer

Album cover Art: Yehuda Raice

It might sound like a cliche, but in essence, it’s the opposite- the most authentic, sincere, true cry of all.

“Rebbi, I want to learn!”, the perpetual chorus of Purim- its the secret that comes out when wine comes in, the desperate yearning of young men to be more, to climb higher, to reach further.

Rebbi, I want to learn – the song of hidden ga’aguim: even if the choices a person makes during the year don’t always make it clear, on Purim, when a Yid speaks the truth, it is obvious- that’s all he really wants.

Rebbi, I want to learn, the innate desire of a neshamah- and this is the niggun that expresses that perpetual hope.

By Jews, saying is also believing: singing is believing! The more you sing it, the truer it becomes.

This Purim, bring forth the truth within you.

This niggun is presented liluy nishmas a dear friend, Chaim Tzvi ben Rav Elya Nota- Chatzi Katz.

Chatzi was known for the sweetness of his song, but his voice was never sweeter than when he was singing for bochurim, and with bochurim. He understood them, able to express their hopes and celebrate their triumphs, and that’s why he was so beloved in the halls of yeshivos.

May this niggun, and the message it carries, be a zechus for his pure neshamah.

In addition, this niggun is dedicated specifically to our bochurim. When the going gets rough (and it does) know this: every Yid truly, truly wants to learn. Our Bochurim of every “stripe, type and color” are our past, present and future, and today more than ever are spreading light to the world, by simply showing up, trying, wanting, and trying again. Thank You Hashem for our Bochurim!

And of course to our Rebbeim the world over, who put in the time, love and energy to hear our talmidim, to guide our talmidim, and help reveal their fiery neshamos. Day in and day out, heeding the call of our talmidim who may “look so cold, but inside a fire burns!”