“A place called prison,” as Reb Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin referred to Otisville Federal Correctional Institution, is an unusual setting for uplifting music. It was some years ago that Yaakov Shwekey first went to visit, in the early days of Reb Sholom Mordechai’s eight-year incarceration. Overcome by emotions at seeing Reb Sholom Mordechai behind bars, Yaakov called Yitzy Waldner on the way home.
“We just have to make a song dedicated to him,” Yaakov told his composer friend. The words he chose were “Keili Keili lamah azavtani — my G-d, why have you forsaken me?” (Tehillim 22: 2). Yitzy sat down and composed a tune, but when they discussed their plans with Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz, editor at Yated Neeman and one of Rubashkin’s close friends and supporters, he vetoed the idea.
“There is no way you can attach those words to Reb Sholom Mordechai,” he said. “He doesn’t feel abandoned by the Ribbono Shel Olam at all — he feels Hashem’s presence right there with him!”
“Lamah Azavtani” got shelved, and soon Shwekey and Waldner wrote another song dedicated to Rubashkin: the upbeat “Maamin Benissim,” an Israeli-style dance song with lyrics that translate: “I believe in miracles, I know there is a G-d and he is the Creator of the world, He hears my voice and will send my miracle. Despair is forbidden… continue to ask and keep up hope.”
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