Eli made them a promise — that im yirtzeh Hashem, he would sing at the child’s bar mitzvah
The Feiners — now rav and rebbeztin of the “White Shul” in Far Rockaway — believed with all their hearts that the day would come, and even commissioned the writing of a Sefer Torah to be dedicated in honor of Shaya Feiner’s bar mitzvah. And as the years passed, every time Rebbetzin Aviva would speak with Eli, she would remind him of his promise as well. When he was finally able to fulfill it last week, Eli says it was “one of the most emotional singing experiences I have ever had.”
And what could have been more appropriate than to add his recently-composed song of gratitude — “Nodeh Lecha” — to express the wonder and the joy of the bar mitzvah which, at the shalom zachor 13 years ago, many doubted would ever happen?
(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 866)
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