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
And dance once again
