By COLlive reporter
The levaya of R’ Michoel Schnitzler OBM, a prolific Chassidic singer known for his Yiddish melodies, was held at the Har Shalom Cemetery in Airmont, NY on Sunday.
Schnitzler, 62, suffered a heart attack and passed away not long after returning from spending Pesach in the Holy land of Israel.
His passing shocked many in the Jewish community, and especially in the Jewish music scene. Here are some of the condolences that were shared on social media.
Singer Mordechai Ben David:
Reb Michoel embodied what it means to love without limit. He lit up every room he walked into and made each person feel like they meant the world to him. Reb Michoel, you will be sorely missed.
Singer Levy Falkowitz:
What I wouldn’t do for one more chance to see you and let you know what an impact your love had on myself and so many others!
Music producer and arranger Mendy Hershkowitz:
Reb Michoel, we miss you! Your legacy lives on through your limitless love and incredible music.
Singer and badchen Yoely Lebovits:
We welcomed shabbos with the bitter news of the untimely passing of my dear cousin and Rebbe of Jewish Chasidic Music Reb Michoel Schnitzler z”l – Michoel, your music stirred the hearts of many, and you will be remembered forever.
Rabbi Chanina Sperlin of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Center (CHJCC):
With a heavy heart, we mourn the loss of Michoel Schnitzler, the man, the legend, and the beloved voice of a generation. He had a unique ability to infuse every song he sang with a depth of feeling that spoke to the very soul of his listeners.…
Comedian and filmmaker Mendy Pellin:
Very sad to end Yom Tov to hear of this great loss!! R’ Michoel always lit up the room wherever I saw him. His light will continue to shine! BDE
Singer-songwriter Yitzy Waldner:
Today is a sad day for the Jewish music world as we say goodbye to a big voice, a big heart and an even bigger smile. I had the zchus to work with Reb Michoel on a few songs before he built his own home studio. We spoke a lot of hashkafa.
Michoel, I remember you telling me how a number of years ago, you had a medical incident and were in shamayim for nine minutes before they brought you back. You recalled to me how you felt such incredible love in shamayim and that if we would only realize just how intense the Ribono Shel Olam’s love for us is, we would run out to the streets and dance, never worrying about anything again.
While we were not zoche to get you back again this time, Michoel, be a meilitz yosher for your family, friends and all of Klal Yisroel, whom you loved so much. May we see you with the coming of Moshiach בקרוב ממש!
VIDEO:
Heart-rending Hesped with singing and Grammen by Lipa Schmeltzer at the Levaya of his close friend R’ Michoel Schnitzler Z”L with whom he spent the first days of Pesach together in Yerushalayim. pic.twitter.com/64ulXFXBoZ
— KolHaolam (@KolHaolam) April 16, 2023
What a hesped!!
What an incredible hesped