By COLlive reporter
22 leading Jewish musicians are teaming up to record a rare musical tribute to imprisoned Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin, COLlive.com has learned.
Famous names like Mordechai Ben David, Avraham Fried, Lipa Schmeltzer and others will be joining in a New York studio in an effort to shed light on ongoing injustices to the Lubavitcher businessman from Postville.
“The Rubashkin case has united the Jewish commmunity like never before,” Danny Finkelman, the project’s initiator and producer, told COLlive. “The goal is to unite the many people who care about Sholom Rubashkin through music.”
The song is based on the classic “Unity” originally written by MBD and Shea Mendelowitz, now with some revised lyrics by singer/songwriter Moshe Kravitsky.
Rubashkin, the former manager of Agriprocessors in Iowa, was sentenced to 27 years after being convicted of bank fraud and other charges, a sentence which was widely decried as unjust and excessive.
The single, to be released before Rosh Hashana, will include all new arrangements by Ilya Loshinsky and will be released as an audio and video clip.
The video will be directed by award winning filmmaker Marcio Arenas, a teacher at the NY Film Academy. The video will include live footage of Rubashkin and the Rubashkin family.
The project is sponsored by TelTech Corp, a phone technologies company.
“We want to raise awareness of Sholom Rubashkin’s plight, hopefully resulting in donations which will help pay for his defense fund,” said Finkelman, who also directs the Sparks Boys Choir.
Sholom Rubashkin’s wife, Mrs. Leah Rubashkin, “was very touched when we told her about the project,” related Finkelman. “Some of their children will join us in the recording studio for the video in the near future.”
COLlive was told other singers included will be Ohad, Yitzchok Meir Helfgot, Yossi Green, Yeedle, Yossi and Avi Piamenta, Benny Friedman, Dedi, Shloime Gertner, Aron Rizel and Ken Burgess.
They will be joined by Gad Elbaz, Dovid Gabay, Berri Weber, Shlomo Simcha, Yehuda Green, Dovid Stein, Michoel Schnitzler, Shloime Dachs, Dovid Dachs, Yossi Goldstein, Sruly Werdyger, Bentzi Marcus, the Sparks Choir and the Shira Choir.
“The song represents a living example to our youth,” said Finkelman. “When they see so many people uniting for a cause, caring for the plight of a fellow Jew. This, I hope, will really make a difference.”
schwecky IS in it but they just didn’t write him for some reason and he DOESN”T live in israel
But where is the music video???
WHEN IS THE SONG BEING RELEASED???!!!
… he moves my soul strings with his music.
– CHK
just having benny in it makes me want 2 buy it!!!!! he’s the new king!!!!
LOOKING GOOD BRUCE
deep injustice….to say the least. glad that everyone is having achdus over this and wishing the emet will come out fully.
sunday) this sunday we will all be togehor in jeruslm!!!!! amn we want moshiach now!!
Shweki is very philanthropic. His manager, Yochi Brisman, does not do Freebies.
How about a concert with Shweki, Gabey and Yoni. They all have very similar vocal placement
who cares wat they r copying…if they even r….i think its rlly cool and if gad elbaz is in there then i wanna see it…NOWWW…
(2 no.37 there isnt any1 like jb so no luck there!!!)
Look, Hashem! See how much achdus Your children have! Send us Moshiach already!!!!
If it’s all the stars then Shwekey has to be in it especially being the biggest one NOW!!!!
if benny marcus involved, obviously it will be a class act.
Shwekey does not live in Israel. He live in Teal, N.J.
yeah… to me it seems the same. theyre probably going to pu the most famouse and loveable singer to sing first like they did there (justin b.)
you should get out more often.
people go crazy at lipa and dance by avremel.
first let them make the song and then the concert without materials nothing will happen! ps donations can be made 2
It’s great that all the singers are joining in. It is truly beautiful but i would buy it because of the King himself MBD. No one has come close to his ability. the one that came closest is Fried and he too is far behind (in my humble opinion).
WHAT ABOUT BINYOMIN SCHAPIRO THE SINGER FROM A JEWISH STAR ? WHY IS HE NOT ON THIS ALBUM ? HE IS THE BEST SINGER, I LOVE HIM!!
and abie should make the song
How is the song going to be withe out shwekey?
Even the Israeli Media (Reshet 2) admits after his past concert in ceasaria that he won MBD and Avremel by far!!!
niceageness!!!!
Wow, how beautiful! Look what achdus we can have!
a concert would be a good idea as long as the rabonim dont decide to ban it
M.B.D. In one word “dynamite”, ok one more “King!” Full of fire and energy ++++.
I’ve NEVER seen people jumping up n down at concerts like at MBD concerts
MORDECHAI BEN DAVID IS A GREAT RO MODEL FOR ALL SINGERS INCLUDING THE NEW CLOWNS THAT HAVE PUT OUT CDS IN PAST 10 YEARS
amazing what Aaron Holder has started!
it would be nice if there was a benefit concert
p.s where is lipa
may there be a great ubichain because of this!
If anybody deserves the thumbs up here it is Rabbi Danny Finkelman who whole heartedly volunteers his precious time 24 hours a day GRATIS to his students and boys in Crown Heights with his amazing choir and now this great initiative, kudos Rabbi Danny and Hatzlocha!
Avremal is king and his performance at soul ll soul was the best by far.
yeah so similar but like it’s all for a great cause!
Am I dreaming, or is this a copy of what a group of american and Canadian singers did for Haiti???
this reminds me of the great parade – new trend of top singers joining forces! i like it!
The king himself Mbd! The greatest Jewish singer of all time. The best soul II soul concert ever was the one Mbd did
Mordechai ben david!
I can’t believe what I’m seeing. This song will be the biggest hit ever (although mbd made it already a hit)
he lives in Israel
Ezagui your mad hooked up. Bli ayin horo
better than MBD
moshiach now!
i love the idea can’t wait to hear it …………
MBDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I Love MBD. He’s the KINGGGGGGG!
Can’t wait to hear MBD’s sweat/amazing/talented/unique voice!
this is an amazing idea.. kol hakavod!
once you have MBD
there is no need for shwekey
its like having Lihavdil Pavoratti (A”H – lol) and ALSO hellfgot.
this is real undiluted talent!
V’hamaivin Yovin!
will there be atleast abit of the song on collive or something….1nce it comes out….i rilly wanna c it!
as usual, doing great things
i am moved to tears. what a beautiful nation we are apart of!
Does anybody know where yakkov shwekey is? How come he wasn’t part of it? ( before you all attack me, this is a question, not a accusation )
its looks like its gonna be amazing!
cant wait to hear it!!!!!!
why don’t they make a concert