V’omar – 1974 (Toronto Pirchei)

November 11, 2020

With all that’s been happening in the world around us, you may find it difficult to feel inspired – and that’s ok! That feeling is normal. It means you’re human, with human fears, and human doubts, and human worries. The unknown is certainly hard to deal with on a daily basis – especially when the stakes are so extraordinarily high.
Now, especially in times like these, we look to our Talmidei Chachamim for direction. Our Sages are granted Divine Insight and are thus properly equipped to show us the way. However, over the last several days, we have lost two of our brightest stars, two bastions of hope and light in both Hagaon Harav Dovid Feinstein, zt’l and Harav Yaakov Zvi (Jonathan) Sacks, zt’l. During their lifetimes, both acted as faithful shepherds to Hashem’s beloved flock, leading us through the mire of modern society and on to the safe, lush pastures of genuine Yiddishkeit. We heard many eulogies in which we learned of their unfathomable goodness and of how we are now left bemoaning our subsequent loss. What are we to do without our leaders? Where will we turn for the guidance that we so desperately need?

Once upon a time, we had Nevi’im at our disposal to know in which direction we should or shouldn’t head. However, even though we haven’t had any prophets for the last 2300 years or so, we can still look to their prophetic words for comfort and hope. In fact, during the funeral proceedings, you may have heard one particular pasuk that one customarily recites at the conclusion of a hesped. The pasuk relates the words of Yeshayah HaNavi (25:8) as he describes a time when there will be no more death – a time in which Hashem will permanently wipe the tears from our faces:
…בלע המות לנצח ומחה ה’ אלקים דמעה מעל כל פנים

Can you imagine? Very soon, when the long-awaited redemption finally arrives, and all the prophecies are fulfilled in every detail, all evil will be nullified and death itself will be swallowed up forever! And it is then that the Navi describes in the very next pasuk how we, the Jewish Nation, will be able to actually point to Hashem and proudly declare:
הנה אלוקינו זה קוינו לו ויושיענו זה ה’ קוינו לו נגילה ונשמחה בישועתו…

At the time of the geulah, the level of revelation will be such that we will be able to identify Hashem as the Source of our salvation with absolute and perfect clarity. We will revel and rejoice in this knowledge, knowing that it was in Him that we relied upon all along, despite our many hardships. Throughout this spiritually numbing exile, our Tzaddikim implore us to grab hold of Hashem – to hold on for just a little bit longer as the Geulah Shelaima is just around the corner. And when we do, we are assured by our Nevi’im that when that glorious day comes, we will all dance and sing like never before.

When looking for songs that are filled with optimism and emunah, look no further than the songs of Yerachmiel Begun. Since the age of 16, Begun has been composing songs with about the same relative ease that you and I breathe. I look forward to putting his work in the JMN spotlight, but for now we will focus on his first major independent venture – The Toronto Pirchei Choir. In 1974, with the backing of the Agudas Yisroel of Toronto, Yerachmiel Begun joined forces with Yisroel Lamm and the Neginah Orchestra to create his very own brand of boys choir. His first record, named for its title track, V’omar Bayom Hahu, put Begun and his chorale genius squarely on the Jewish music map, where he’s been entertaining and inspiring us ever since.

Lyrics:
וְאָמַר בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא
הִנֵּה אֱלֹקֵינוּ זֶה
הִנֵּה אֱלֹקֵינוּ זֶה
קִוִּינוּ לוֹ וְיוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ

זֶה הַ’ קִוִּינוּ לוֹ
נָגִילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה בִּישׁוּעָתוֹ
נָגִילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה בִּישׁוּעָתוֹ
נִשְׂמְחָה בִּישׁוּעָתוֹ

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