A gutten Erev Shabbos!

We are more than a week into Elul, and we are all deeply occupied in trying to make our way back to Hashem. Rav Moshe Wolfson shlit”a says that the key to returning to Hashem is feeling His love, and that if we were only to experience some of Hashem’s love, we would surely find our way back to Him. For this reason, I felt particularly inspired to feature a song that portrays within its words the warmth and comfort that Hashem’s love provides.

In this week’s parsha, Parshas Ki Seitzei, Hashem assures us that He didn’t listen to Bilaam and that He transformed the curses into blessings. Why? כִּי אֲהֵבְךָ ה’ אֱלֹקֶיךָ – because Hashem, your G-d, loves you (Devarim 23:6).

The proof of His love can really be found everywhere you look. However, for the sake of today’s post, we will direct our attention to the nevuah of Yirmiyahu HaNavi in which Hashem discloses His absolute affection for His people – וְאַהֲבַת עוֹלָם אֲהַבְתִּיךְ עַל כֵּן מְשַׁכְתִּיךְ חָסֶד – I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore I have drawn you with kindness (Yirmiyahu 31:2).

A similar message is found in this week’s haftorah, which is also full of powerful consolations. We will once again know greatness; we will forget all of our shame; we will understand that the entire golus has lasted but a moment. And finally, the words we are waiting for:

…כִּי הֶהָרִים יָמוּשׁוּ וְהַגְּבָעוֹת תְּמוּטֶנָה וְחַסְדִּי מֵאִתֵּךְ לֹא יָמוּשׁ – The mountains may be moved and the hills may falter, but my kindness will never be removed… (Yeshayahu 54:10).

Which brings us to today’s song.

By now, many of you have heard the name Michael Shapiro. Although most of you don’t know his music, one of his songs has risen to world fame thanks to some good ol’ fashioned musical mazal. Allow me to explain.

Singer/songwriter Michael Shapiro began putting out albums in 1986 (Beyond 12 Gates was the first in a series of seven albums). Most of Michael’s songs are original compositions inspired by a wide range of musical styles – from folk through modern and classical. The song’s lyrics are often drawn from liturgical sources that touch the soul and awaken the heart.

In 1991, Shapiro released his fifth album of heartfelt compositions, this one entitled Lev Basar – Melting Stone, which contained another ten inconspicuous melodies including our subject song, V’ahavas Olam. The original recording is attached below for your listening pleasure. For years, this tune, as well as all the rest of his music, remained relatively undiscovered.

Fast forward to 2019. In honor of Rabbi Moshe Weinberger’s Aish Kodesh’s 26th anniversary, Shlomo Katz collaborated with a team of artists and musicians to release a collection of Shapiro’s little-known niggunim. The album was called Meshorer Ha’Teshuvah – Only You, and included Shlomo’s rendition of V’ahavas Olam – now renamed An Everlasting Love. But while the album was beautifully done in its own right, none of the songs made their way into the wider realms of accepted setlists or mainstream kumzitz repertoires.

Later that year, on the second day of Chol Hamoed Sukkos 5780, Shlomo was invited to the stage by his brother Eitan to sing An Everlasting Love for the live recording of Eitan’s 2020 Live in Jerusalem Vol. 2. The crowd took to it right away, and from then on, V’ahavas Olam was little-known no longer.

{For more insight into the release of Only You and the providential tale behind the discovery and subsequent recording of An Everlasting Love, I highly recommend you listen to R’ Dani Kunstler’s The Spirit of the Song – “Inside R’ Shlomo Katz’s Everlasting Love” on 24Six or wherever you enjoy your podcasts. You can check it out on the JMN website as well, at www.jewishmusicalnotes.com/an-everlasting-love-with-r-shlomo-katz}

Wishing all of you an enchanting Shabbos!