By COLlive reporter
Photos by Levi Percia
Was it the Adar spirit or the Rebbe’s blessing?
A typically hard-to-please Crown Heights crowd was quickly won over at Sunday night’s annual Soul II Soul concert held at the Brooklyn School of Music.
Mordechai Ben David and the singing duo Shmuly and Bentzi Marcus of 8th Day rocked a packed house, benefiting the school tuition costs of local children with special needs.
Crown Heights Lubavitchers may be known to some in the music industry as a tough crowd, but at this concert the energy in the room was electric.
8th Day got the crowd going, switching between their lively hits ‘Give it all you got’, ‘Jack from New York City’ and ‘Chitty bim’ and moving renditions of their ‘May you be blessed,’ to the backdrop of beautiful children with special needs and their incredible moms.
They also sang the Soul II Soul anthem, composed by Bentzi Marcus, in tribute to the Chasdei Soul II Soul organization, directed by Shmuly and Tzirl Goldman, who also produced the show.
When Werdyger took the stage, chants of “MBD! MBD!” greeted him, as he enchanted the crowd with both his classic and new hits, receiving rousing applause with nearly every song he began.
He recalled his visit to the Lubavitcher Rebbe in the year of 5748 – tismach (rejoice), saying the Rebbe told him he should take the joy of that year and it should last him not only for a year, but a lifetime.
And it seemed like it worked.
With great energy, the King of Jewish music sang his more recent hits ‘kulam ahuvim,’ ‘gevald’ and ‘avinu shebashamayim’ alongside his classic hits like ‘vehachein’ and ‘racheim’, with the crowd singing along, sometimes continuing to sing even when the band finished playing.
A poignant moment was when MBD spoke about his recent visit to Otisville prison to spend the day with Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin and other Jewish inmates.
“It was a very heartwrenching and emotional experience, seeing another yid in misery,” he said, before dedicating a medley of his classic English hits like ‘Unity,’ ‘Memories’ and ‘Someday’ to Rubashkin and others who are currently incarcerated.
A high point of the evening was MBD singing a beautiful ‘ani maamin’ duet with young talented singer and Miami Boys Choir soloist, 13 year old Mendel Goldman, son of producers Shmuly and Tzirl Goldman.
The evening also had its share of humorous moments, as the popular entertainer joked while lifting a cup of water, “I was expecting in Crown Heights to get mashke, and you give me water,” he quipped.
The finale, which had the Marcus brothers joining MBD on stage, had the crowd dancing in the aisles to MBD’s “Timche” and Eighth Day’s “tracht gut.”
There is still time to apply for tuition assistance for children attending Jewish special needs schools. Log onto www.souliisoul.org/apply
Video: MBD and 8th Day Share the Stage:
MBD Sings Chabad Medley:
MBD Sings Anim Zmiros:
Good Job Mendel!
Mbd can’t be beat
8th dat you’re the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hey chaniie namdar!!!!!!!!!!! looks like ur having fun!!!!!
seeing MBD on stage was pure godliness. MBD is a KING. REALLY! Great job and thanks to performers.
Was an amazing concert. So glad we could be there. Hatzlocha Shmuly and Tzirl. Keep up all the amazing work you do. From your South African connection.
kol hakovod for a fabulous performance!
Your friend in CH
8th day video pkease?? And MBD Goldman duet.
SHMULI AND OSHI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i love it
MOMMY:)!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think a video of this past conncert would sell well. I was by the concert and it was awesome!!! I would pay for the video to watch it again!!! Rabbi Shmuli Goldman, do you that the video of the concert might go on sale?
go sara bronover
im so sad i missed it! and i know bentzy personally, and his kids are delicious!!!!!!!
The concert is over & what an awesome concert it was, but the need continues. Please take a moment & go to http://www.souliisoul.org & give a donation or increase on your previous donation. You will bring a smile to a families face when their tuition help check comes in the mail. Thankyou
may the goldmans and all they do have hatzlacha and brocha!!
Rivka Teich
plz do it again!~
Was so fun to watch u guys dancing all night!!! May the happiness continue with u!!!
If this could be put out on a DVD and sold, it would fly off the shelves and raise more money.
Both such emesdike, exciting performances. Yashar koach
MBD HAS SO MUCH CHAYUS, LOVE IT!!!! EIGTH DAY GOES SO WELL WITH MBD TOO, WE WANT MORE OF BOTH SINGERS!!
EIGTH DAY ARE AMAZING TOO!
From those of us out of town who would have loved to have been there, thank you for letting us have a small taste!