By Sruly Meyer for COLlive.com
They say music can heal the soul, but in the case of one COVID patient, music helped him get through the hardest days of his life.
Mendel B. contracted Covid-19 this past year and shortly after went to the hospital.
After getting very sick, when it would have been easy to lose hope and focus on what could be, he focused on something else – his love of music.
Mendel, who had often composed songs in his head in the past, took out his phone and started humming voice-notes for something new. A particular posuk had resonated with him while he was attempting to recover in the hospital.
“Al Chayeinu Ham’surim B’Yadecha,” words from Modim in the Shmone Esre davening which bless the creator of the world for the life he gave us, and for everything he’ll do for us in the future.
Thankfully, that is just what happened. Mendel recovered and didn’t waste time to thank Hashem for it. He contacted producer R’ Shiye Rosen with the melody that he composed in the hospital.
Rosen heard the composition and words and immediately started working on the project. They brought in longtime arranger Avrumi Berko who gave the project the musical touch it needed to match the celebration of life and recovery.
The longer they worked on the song, the more they realized this needs to also be sung in both English and Yiddish. When thinking of who would sing the English, the first thought was of the brothers Shmuel Marcus and Bentzi Marcus of the 8th Day band and their younger talented brother, Eli Marcus.
Together with a beautiful kids choir, the 3 Marcus brothers recorded the song, making it a celebration of the gift of life. The Yiddish version is sung by R’ Shloime Taussig, with child soloists Meyer Spira and Duvi Wind.
AUDIO: English Version
AUDIO: Yiddish Version
LYRICS:
על חיינו המסורים בידך.. א ניגון צו דאנקן און לויבן די רבונו של עולם אויף וואס ער האט אינז שוין געגעבן, און וואס ער וועט ווייטער געבן. לעבן, געזונט, פרנסה, נחת.
Produced by: SYR Studios
Music arranged & Mixed by: Avrumi Berko
Vocals Arranged by: R Shiye Rosen
Adult Soloist: R’ Shloime Taussig
Child Soloists: Meyer Spira & Duvi Wind
Recorded At: SYR Studios/Golden Enterpries Studios
Cover Design by: Arrangelt Media
Yes we really have to thank him over and over!
this song is on repeat here 😄
We have to remember to say it every day!! Great song boys