"This is the ticket to get out of galus— looking past the differences and connecting to our brothers"
Music is an integral part of the camp experience, the backdrop of summers both past and present. As another camp season comes to a close, Rabbi Avrumi Neiman, who’s about to wind up his 15th summer as head staff at Camp Agudah, shares some of his camp’s favorite musical choices, and some of his own.
I have many favorites from different periods of my life. But every album of Shlomo Carlebach, Abie Rotenberg, and Avraham Fried are very close to my heart. Their music is so hartzig and deep.
“Together Forever” [the “Ahavas Yisrael” song on The Marvelous Middos Machine, Vol. 3] by Abie Rotenberg. The words are so powerful. This is the ticket to get out of galus — looking past the differences and connecting to our brothers.
The fast songs that rock the dining room on Friday night are the Simchas Torah-type niggunim. Songs like “Ashreinu Mah Tov Chelkeinu” — to which we add the words “Shabbos in Agudah,” “Baruch Elokeinu Sheberanu Lichvodo” and “Ashrei Ha’am Shekachah Lo.” As for slow songs, there are many that engage the crowd — “Acheinu,” “Yaaleh Veyavo,” “Lemaancha,” and “Al Zeh” on Tishah B’Av are a few of the favorites.
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