Mood Mix with Rabbi Chaim Block

When he started singing at friends’ weddings and yeshivah dinners, Rabbi Chaim Block didn’t picture recordings on the horizon. But when Shalsheles formed in 1999, Chaim joined composer Yitzchok Rosenthal and fellow singers Rabbi Simcha Sussman and Baruch Aryeh to complete the group, which went on to release seven albums and collaborate on many others. Rabbi Block, originally from L.A. and today in Monsey, has been the chazzan at the AABJ&D shul in West Orange, New Jersey for the Yamim Noraim for the last 22 years. A mechanech by profession, he uses his talents for choir performances and creating music videos in a school setting.

A COMPOSER I MOST CONNECT TO

Many of my favorite songs come from Yossi Green or Yitzchok Rosenthal. Both of them write songs that offer not just a good catchy tune, but meaningful emotional expression. They often use words that are new to listeners, and they create music that has emotional value.

MY MOST MEMORABLE PERFORMANCE

Years ago, we were doing a Shalsheles concert at a high school in Silver Spring, and different kids were going to come on stage to sing with us. At one point in the concert, someone was going to come up, and we were going to sing his own song with him. We were a little dubious about that, but I remember Yitzchok Rosenthal saying ‘Just listen to the song first.’ We did, and all of the guys realized it was a good song. It was called “Lema’ancha,” and the guy was Eitan Katz! We were the first ever to sing it with him.

MY FAVORITE KUMZITZ OPENER

For a long time, it was “Vehu Keili” by Baruch Levine. Now it’s Naftali Kempeh’s “Emes Malkeinu.”

OUR BEST SHALSHELES MOMENT

The concerts we did at YU together with Avraham Fried were very special. There was a palpable energy, the atmosphere was less formal and more relaxed and fun, and everyone participated and sang along — while we got to sing with Fried.