By COLlive reporter
The Alter Rebbe once said, “What a chassidishe farbrengen can accomplish, the angel Michoel cannot accomplish.” Now imagine that with some music…
Rabbi Ruvi New, Director of Chabad of East Boca in Boca Raton, Florida, and a lecturer on Kabbalah and chassidus, is making the classic chassidic gatherings more appealing to the wider public.
He has developed a musical production to the life of the Lubavitcher Rebbe and has presented the refreshing new format on the day the Rebbe accepted the leadership of Chabad-Lubavitch.
Titled “A Musical Tribute to the Rebbe,” Rabbi New has presented his one-man-act on a five day, five city tour in the West Coast of the U.S.
The Australian-born rabbi sung his 14 English songs at a Shabbaton at Chabad of Encino, and later at Chabad of North Hollywood, Chabad of Irvine, Chabad of Summerlin in Nevada and Chabad of Scottsdale in Arizona.
“I’ve gotten wonderful feedback from participants, not exactly knowing what to expect when they came in,” commented Summerlin Shliach Rabbi Yisroel Schanowitz.
“They enjoyed the non-conventional standard lecture, fused with song and “hiskashrus” to the Rebbe and the Rebbe’s mivtzoim in a unique way. Rabbi New did a great job entertaining our community with good “toichen” and inspiration.”
Based on the life and teachings of the Rebbe, the content laden lyrics are projected via Power Point to on a large screen enable the audience to follow along and absorb the songs messages.
Titles include “The Garden” based on the Rebbe’s first discourse Bosi Legani, “The Faithful Ones” which alludes to the Rebbe’s last discourse “V’ateh Tetzaveh,” in addition to “Over the Top – Lecahtchila Ariber” and a mix of soulful and rhythmic songs.
The music for these songs were composed by the likes of legendary Jewish composer Yossi Green, Bentzy Marcus of the 8th Day Band, popular singer Chanale Fellig-Harrel, in addition to Chabad niggunim.
“Many who attended who already knew about the Rebbe – appreciated Rabbi New’s unique presentation and different approach to stories and teachings of the Rebbe,” said Rabbi Alter Tennenbaum of Irvine.
He added that the “beautiful stories and inspiring songs” were “a very ‘non threatening’ way to expose people to the Rebbe.”
Rabbi New told COLlive that the next tribute tour will be offered to Chabad centers in the Northeast in conjunction with Gimmel Tammuz 5773.
Good one, Bill. “Come Chunder, Down Under!
Keep up good work
Great Job!!!
would love to hear/see the farbrengen. Please post …
Chanale’s song the most very hartzig and very chasidick
We had him at our chabad house in Kendall/Pinecrest ..we had amazing feed back from the pepole that attended…a farbrengen through song..highly recommend for your chabad house
Well done! Sounds amazing
Lookz good
I like it!
Prior to Gimmel Tammuz last year, Rabbi New came to Chabad of the Five Towns for a Pre-Gimmel Tammuz evening of inspiration. Baruch Hashem all present were moved by the way he expressed the Rebbe thru niggun. The words and the manner in which he sang them created a tremendous feeling amongst all there. As a shliach trying to be mekasher yidden to the Rebbe this program was great.
Rabbi Zalman Wolowik
Chabad of the Five Towns