My brother Ariel's favorite song, titled Shir HaGeulah (Song of the Redemption), has been in my head since he left us.
My brother learned this melody from Rabbi Yisroel Gordon one summer in "Yeshiva Camp", Morristown New Jersey. He sang it often, with much enthusiasm and enunciation of each word and turn in its intricate melody. His whole being swayed to the tune, filled with yearning for better times.
The song was composed and sung by the Chassidim who escaped the war and found themselves in Shanghai, China, in the 1940's. During those dark, bitter and lonely days, they wondered what had become of their loved ones. They would hear about their home-towns being wiped out, taking away their families forever - and without even a date to mark as "yartzeit" because of all the unknowns....
I can just picture the singing, the yearning. This soulful melody expresses their deep desire to reunite with their family and with their Rebbe. A desire to escape to a more familiar world, where they can truly celebrate their faith in peace. And I can picture the joyous ending of this song, with a room filled with hope and trust in better times.
The lyrics of this song were printed in "Hakriya VeHakedusha" - a periodical magazine edited by the Previous Chabad Rebbe. There are those who say that the lyrics of this song were written by the Previous Rebbe himself! When this song was sung at Farbrengens, our Rebbe cherished it very much.
The one line that replays in my head again and again, and the line that we all loved singing together with Ariel is "Ariel yakum kelavi"- "Ariel will rise like a lion"... In this context - the Holy Temple is referred to as a lion (as brought down in the Talmud). The Temple resembled a lion- in its glory. And the word Ariel means 'lion of Hashem'.
My husband and Ariel were study-partners in yeshiva. The boys would often sing that verse playfully when Ariel would come in. Sometimes Dov would wake up Ariel in the mornings with those words "Ariel yakum kelavi" - Ariel rise like a lion!
Ariel was a lion! He was a gentle yet giant and powerful soul! And all I could think about as I witnessed his burial was "Just wait and see everyone, Ariel will rise like a lion....!" - He will join us and sing for us again with the coming of Moshiach!
The words are so special, they speak for themselves.
I feels like Hashem, in His kindness, prepared this song for us (through Ariel's love for this song) so we can sing it now when we need it most.
The words fill me with hope...
Hachayenu kel - Please G-d! Let us live to see the time when our redeemer will reveal himself!
Give us strength UNTIL he comes!
And then we will talk about it - in past tense - about the difficulties we experienced while still in exile.
The song ends with "In the third redemption we will be found living"
Yes! We need to live!
Live forever! Abba live forever! Imma live forever! We need you forever! The Rebbe told us that this generation - the seventh generation since the founding of Chabad Chassidus - is the generation that will march towards the final Redemption! "Chayim nitzchiim bli hefsek" - everlasting life without interruption. It may seem like we've had an interruption here... Yet somehow we still believe and pray.
Ariel yakum! Rise Ariel!
You can listen to this special melody, sung by Rabbi Yisroel Gordon, Ariel's teacher, by clicking here.
I am thankful to my brother-in-law Rabbi Yosef Muchnik who wrote meaningful words to this powerful tune, to honor Ariel.
Click here to see a video of him singing it at the Evening of Tribute we had last night. Words below.
Ariel Hachai
A giant man
A Talmud chacham
So filled with wisdom
Depth that was matched by none
His sensitive nature so sweet and so rare
His care for others truly beyond compare
His children and wife he adored
To him their life meant the world
A father to them so special he was
His attention and devotion stood above
Ariel yakum kelavi
His smile we'll once again see
On that day he will sing a song with eight notes
Filling heart and soul with high hopes
Hashem Hashem keyl rachum
Oh why take a father so young
Bring him back to his children
Vehaishiv es aviv el banim
Tirachem of zayna kinder
Far zi es iz zeir finster
They can't take one second longer
The pain gets stronger and stronger
Send Tatty back to us soon
The pain fills up too much room
Soon this pain will end
Moshiach will descend
Tears of sorrow replaced by joy instead instead
And then we will sing
And dance once again
With Ariel our father and our friend
Then Ariel you will know
Why the tears all had to flow
The reasons clear once and for all
The Galus dream unmasked
No more questions asked
Hashem's glory revealed to all
A great simcha it will be
So many loved ones you will see
May it happen right away here tonight,
Oh what a sight
The joy will be so strong
We’ll know it was all wrong
We'll wake up from this dream that took so long
They will run into your arms
Mendy, Chani, Levi, Shaina, Sarala
Hindy, Avremele, Miriam, Abba and Ima too,
It will be soon
Dark will turn to light
The Mikdosh built on site
The Rebbe biroyshainu, bimhera viyameinu!
I tip-toe into the children's room early in the morning. My 2-year-old is sound asleep. It is time for me to take her older siblings to school, so I need to wake her and bring her to the car. I feel so bad to interrupt such a peaceful and deep sleep!
. I am feeling too rushed and overwhelmed to smile. Yet just making eye contact with me brings a huge smile on his face, as he flaps his arms excitedly. 
contagious and care-free laughter!
