Why MBD Included Chabad

By Yehuda Ceitlin, COLlive Editor
Photos by Baruch Ezagui

On his upcoming and final album, long-time Jewish music master Mordechai Ben David chose to collaborate with a chassidic men’s choir and sing chassidic tunes in contrast with the increasingly prevalent Jewish pop.

3 of the 14 songs, or more accurately, niggunim, on the new album titled “Kisufim” (yearning) are traditional Chabad melodies. COLlive.com caught up with Shraga Gold, founder and leader of The Shira Choir, for a quick chat.

To be mentioned alongside MBD is an accomplishment. No?
“Yeah. We are privileged and honored.”

How was it working with him?
“We had such a good time that we forgot we were working.”

How did the collaboration come about?
“8 years ago Mordechai and the Shira Choir sang at the same simcha. He was very impressed and was asking around who we were. After he put out “Kumzitz” (in 2003) he said he wants to make a chassidishe style CD.”

Please describe the process of making “Kisufim.”
“It took us 6 months. We put together a list of 100 songs and we narrowed it down to 14. Our Shira Boys Choir sings on it as well.”

How many of them are original songs?
“7 songs are brand new.”

We heard three Chabad niggunim were included.
“Correct. Niggun Talmidei haTzemach Tzedek, An’im Zmirois and Chabad tantz.”

Who taught you these niggunim?
“We know the niggunim from before. We sang one of them with Avremel Fried.”

Whose call was it to include them in the album?
“Mordechai. He said Lubavitch has the nicest niggunim. They are hartzig and geshmak and they have a uniqueness that is not around today. He said the oilam will like it.”

How popular are Chabad niggunim?
“Very. The whole crowd explodes with fire and gets more leibedik when we sing them.”

Any niggun in particular?
“Tzama lecha nafshi – the fast version. It’s a hit song.”

Tell us more about Shira.
“We started 10 years ago when I saw the need for another style and level in Jewish music at heimishe simches. Today we sing at dinners and melave malkas and with the most well-known singers and chazzanim.”

What is the difference between a singer and a choir at a wedding?
“A one-man-band is nice but a choir like Shira makes the whole simcha different. We can present different solos, styles and arrangements that can better connect with the crowd.”

Who are the choir members?
“We are 25 frum yidden who have full-time jobs in real estate, the food industry and building supplies. We pair them for different events according to availability.”

Do they get any rest?
“We work on Shabbos too (laugh). Almost every Shabbos we go to sing at Ufrufs and Sheva Brachos.”

AUDIO: Sampler of the new album