Sholom Bruchstat
Born on 3rd Sivan 5709 (1949) to his father R' Yehoshua from a family of Boyan chassidim in Eretz Hakodesh. In his youth, he studied in Yeshiva Ketana Tomchei Tmimim Lod and in Yeshiva Gedola Tomchei Tmimim Kfar Chabad.
He first traveled to the Rebbe for his Kvutza year which began on Pesach 5728. When the new Kvutza members arrived at 770, they stood in the hall near Gan Eden Hatachton, and when the Rebbe passed by them, he blessed them with "A kosher and freilichen preparation for Pesach."
At the end of his Kvutza year, after Pesach 5729, he had to return to Eretz Hakodesh due to the agreement reached with the IDF regarding their travel to Kvutza, requiring immediate return at the year's end.
Early Work and Personal LifeEdit
In Eretz Hakodesh, he served as activities coordinator for Tzach under R' Meir Freiman.
In 5734, he became engaged to his cousin Miss Nechama Rosenberg, daughter of Rabbi Berish Rosenberg. Tragically, during the period between the engagement and wedding, on Isru Chag Shavuot, she was killed in a tragic car accident together with Rabbi Gerlick.
In 5735, he traveled to the Rebbe and married the daughter of Rabbi Sholom Mendel Kalmanson, the Rebbe's shliach in France. After the engagement, he had a yechidus with his kallah and asked the Rebbe whether to study in kollel after marriage. The Rebbe replied that this would be very appropriate. After the wedding, he asked the Rebbe whether to go on shlichus to France under his father-in-law. The Rebbe answered negatively and instructed him to remain living in Crown Heights.
Musical CareerEdit
As a child, he participated extensively in children's choirs and performed at Chabad events at the Tel Aviv Culture Hall and Binyanei Ha'Uma in Jerusalem.
Even before his marriage, many niggunim in the Sefer Haniggunim were recorded from him, including niggunim 273, 274, 279, and 319.
In 5730, baalei menagnim began composing chassidic niggunim to the words of the Rebbe's annual kapitel Tehillim. In 5742, the Rebbe's 80th birthday year, R' Feitel Levin first composed a new niggun for singing the Rebbe's kapitel.
Notable CompositionsEdit
After seeing that in 5743 a newly composed niggun was accepted rather than an old one, he decided to compose a niggun himself. In 5744, he composed his first niggun on kapitel 83 in Tehillim, on the words "And they will know that You, whose name is Hashem alone, are supreme over all the earth." When the farbrengen where the niggun was first sung began, the Rebbe immediately encouraged the singing, signaling the niggun's acceptance.
List of Niggunim (Melodies) Chosen and Played Before the RebbeEdit
- Year 1984 - Chapter 83: "V'Yadu Ki Atah"
- Year 1985 - Chapter 84: "Yeilchu Mechayil El Chayil"
- Year 1986 - Chapter 85: "Ratzisa Hashem"
- Year 1987 - 'March Didan Natzach' - After the victory in the seforim trial (not referring to the famous niggun with these words) -
- Year 1989 - Chapter 88: "Shir Mizmor L'vnei Korach"
- 10th of Shevat 1990 - 'Shnas Ha'Arbaim' Niggun "Vayiten B'fi Shir Chadash"
- Year 1990 - Chapter 89: "Karati Bris"
- Year 1992 - Chapter 91: "Orech Yamim"
- Year 1993 - Chapter 92: "Mizmor Shir L'yom HaShabbos"
- Year 1995 - Chapter 94: "Kel Nekamos Hashem"
- Year 1997 - Chapter 96: "Shiru L'Hashem Shir Chadash"
- Year 1998 - Chapter 97: "Hashem Malach Tagel Ha'aretz"
- Year 1999 - Chapter 98: "Zachar Chasdo"
- Year 2000 - Chapter 99: "Yodu Shimcha"
- Year 2022 - Chapter 121: "Esa Einai El HeHarim"
See AlsoEdit
- Niggunim on the Rebbe Shlita's chapters
Further ReadingEdit
- Interview with R' Sholom Bruchstat about the niggunim he composed for the Rebbe's chapters - HaTamim (Beis Moshiach) Issue 27 (p. 42 onwards)
- Shlomo Berman, The Soundtrack of Yud Alef Nissan, festive interview with R' Shulum Bruchstat ahead of Yud Alef Nissan 2014, in Kfar Chabad weekly, Issue 1554