Butterfly - Abie Rotenberg & Shulem Lemmer | Reaction

[@JudithYD]

This guy was Rabbi Zechariah Wallerstein, may he rest in peace. He was very involved in Jewish education for girls and women who were coming back to Judaism or who were older and wanted to learn. He set up Ohr Naava Women's Seminary in Brooklyn and he set up a high school as well for girls who were not thriving in a standard yeshiva setting. He was a dynamic speaker and his death (so young) was a tremendous loss for our community. Do a search online for Rabbi Zechariah wallerstein and you will see what i mean. The butterfly imagery here very much fits his whole philosophy. He believed that every soul had the capacity to connect to Hashem and he spent his life working to encourage that transformation of Jewish girls and women to be avdei Hashem - servants of Hashem - to connect them to their heritage.

[@chanieschwartz7317]

Toward the beginning you said Rabbi Wallerstein must have been an important person. Later in the video you said special. You learned an important distinction between Judaism and society at large. In Judaism we do not revere important people or positions. We revere special people. No one could possibly explain the depths of Rabbi Wallerstein and how many lives he saved and changed. He lived to selflessly help others. When he saw a communal need he stretched himself to fill it. When he saw an individual in pain he went above and beyond to help. No matter if it was 3 AM.

[@hannahaguirre2972]

I think the fact that you were moved to tears and to moments of not being able to talk, but to listen, was the best reaction you could have given.

[@Meow-ks3dj]

😭💜this video is talking about what Rabbi Wallerstein Zt”l preached in his speeches a lot. He saved so many lives!!! So many lives that wanted to end their life and he opened organizations for them took them in treated them like his children. When he passed away so many people were shaken… because they relied on him, Including me. He was my teacher, he’s so amazing and so special. I was depressed for around 2 weeks when he passed and then I forced myself to move on and I think that’s what this song is about.

[@shaneem.3186]

I was waiting for you to react to this when it first came out. Your reaction made me cry. Rabbi Wallerstein was a really special person and inspired hundreds of thousands of people around the world. He saved many lives. He passed away last year and the world hasn’t been the same without him.

[@ayz92]

Thanks soo much for the reaction!! (Was so happy to see it pop up in my feed finallyy!) Abie Rottenberg is a legend. Almost all of his songs are in english. He's exceptionally gifted in writing deep lyrics and composing touching songs. As for his voice, it's more the soft way of him performing, the emotion that comes out of him, than the quality of voice. I think a lot of people shed some tears by this song. (I cried hearing it the first time 🥹), so you're good 😄.

[@familyfirst4ever]

Growing up with his songs, I've grown accustomed to his voice and connect it with the most amazing songs. I honestly go to sleep at night listening to all his songs.

[@rdbitb7980]

Yeah, Abie isn't known for his voice (although it was also better when he was younger), however his songwriting is a cut above, often extremely emotional, usually with a great lesson. His songs have the power to make you cry and make you laugh, often at the same time. He has gone through some tragedies which he has said has shaped his life and has given him the ability to express raw emotion to his listeners.

[@rrm41]

Shulem lemmer went through a tradgic time in his life too when he lost a sister in a horrific car accident few weeks after her wedding.

[@fatfatat444albertkagan]

This is shocking. I'm only now learning about this.

[@Anonymo613]

Beautiful reaction. Great to see you appreciate the message and song itself as usual 😊 Yes, I believe Abie purposefully chooses English for most of his songs as his music was originally meant to target less religious, or more secular, religious Jews, with Jewish concepts, in an easier to understand way. I could be mistaken, but I believe that was why. It could also be that he writes more meaningful lyrics in English, but either way, he's an icon in Jewish music. I recommend checking out other songs from his "Journeys" Albums.

[@sh.michal]

🎉Thank you for another special reaction of yours.. Indeed, Abie is better known as a composer and writer, for many years. It's no wonder you were exited - because it's a song by Abie❤, always exiting, he himself was orphaned by his mother when he was about 14 years old, and then Rabbi Eli Teitelbaum entered his life - a special person in his own right, and he introduced him to music. There is a video from a concert they did in memory of Rabbi Eli and there A lot of artists sing along with Abie, it's called something like Somewhere a star.

[@moh4162]

The voices indeed blend beautifully. Whilst Abie isnt known for his voice, his singing is very authentic and raw, and that makes listening to him a very rich experience. He has made a massive contribution and impact on the Jewish music. I don't know him personally, but I would suggest he sees his music as a mission rather than a vocation. It has been a dream to see him link up with Shulem. There are so many qualities that come together between the two of them.

[@HGadfree]

For anyone who was affected by Rabbi Zechariah Wallerstein, this is heartbreakingly beautiful.

[@YLvids]

Abbie Rotenberg- as others have said- is an absolute legend. He’s the best songwriter/lyricist in the Jewish music world, hands down. I’m not a crier, but this song squeezed a tear out 😂

[@PortuguesePai]

Haha ya I was not expecting that myself from the title of the song. Got me good 😅😂

[@YLvids]

@@PortuguesePai haha yeah, I hear that. Great review, as always!

[@proudjewgirl2489]

this is my new favorite song/reaction

[@chanyhalpern6603]

It's so wholesome 😌 😭 I love ur reaction, pure joy😀❤

[@shiradiamond5188]

I love how this song touched your heart. Rabbi Wallerstein was one of a kind. He devoted his life to helping girls who were struggling. He has probably saved tens if not hundreds of lives

[@fatfatat444albertkagan]

Thousands

[@mamagold7200]

This song strikes me as a coming of age song. My teenage daughter is at a stage where she is trying to find herself and this song sounds like a lullaby to her.

[@yechiellevine712]

Ya the house is my family friend from New Jersey and ab rotenberg is amazing

[@CarrieSchonfeld]

I love Abie's voice. It triggers all kinds of happy memories from my youth, starting with Marvelous Middos Machine. All his songs are fabulous, this one is a real gem. ❤

[@TovaKahn]

I grew up listening to Abie Rotenbergs albums. Every time a new song comes out from him I get excited! This song is a beutiful tribute to a Rabbi that filled a void in the jewish community. Specifically with struggling teens and women who lacked proper support and options. He wanted every jewish girl and woman to feel empowered and hopeful no matter their background or situation. Your reaction was great, and left me even more inspired by this song. The message here also feels like a tribute wholesomeness and simplistic hope and kindness 🌸

[@avigdorf]

Abie's albums are called Journeys. Almost all the songs are mostly in english and each one is quite moving in it's own right. A worthwhile endevour to go through his songs.

[@bengoldstein26]

Totally agree There are many heartfelt songs on those albums I know many ppl who cry when hearing those songs (no matter how many times they heard it)

[@JustMe-fy7lq]

I would edit that Abie's *English* albums are called Journeys. He's BH very prolific. Dveykus is full of his Hebrew songs, and Marvelous Middos Machine for kids, to name a couple of other collections...

[@Anonymo613]

​@@JustMe-fy7lq Oh right. I had forgotten he wrote the D'veykus and Marvelous middos machine songs. Thank you

[@yechiellevine712]

Ya the song was sang in memory of a famous well known speaker and great person in the Jewish community that died not to long ago

[@ygross18]

Abie definitely has a knack for English songs. He has a series of 5 albums called "Journeys" of exclusively English songs. He has other albums with more classic Hebrew songs as well

[@clh6618]

You were not the only one crying!!!! 🦋

[@gingi5799]

Beautiful reaction to a beautiful song! I was waiting to see your reaction to the first line Shulem sings “but theeeere is” bc when I heard it for the first time I almost fell off my chair, and you didn’t disappoint! I commented before and included a link to a song called Our Little Town (which got mysteriously deleted again) which is another Abie composition that Shulem sings which is the most heartbreaking but unique approach to a holocaust tribute song that brings you on a literal journey of emotion and allows you to feel the tremendous loss of people, life, communities and culture that was wiped out in the holocaust. There is no music or lyric video, just audio on KZbin if you search the title. It’s six minutes long but definitely worth a listen. Just have a tissue box handy and be prepared to have chills up and down your spine.

[@joeldick6871]

Abie is like the Elton John or Billy Joel of Jewish music. An absolute legend of a songwriter.

[@rdbitb7980]

Another great song of his that they made a video of is Al Hatzadikim, sung by Avraham Fried. Visually stunning video and quite a beatiful song.

[@avramherzog5490]

And yes, Abie has written hundreds of English songs, many on a series of albums titled Journeys.

[@tobyfogel6980]

Rabbi Wallerstein (may he rest in peace), was an amazing person. He helped children who were having a hard time finding their place. Whether it was in school, at home, or in society, or even with themselves. He helped many teenagers feel loved and accepted. The meaning of this song is pretty much, a caterpillar goes into a canon and it can come out and be whatever kind of butterfly it wants… it just has to find comfort in being itself and fly and soar. The lyrics “our lives are a chorus in praise to HaShem and when your voice is missing the songs incomplete” it means pretty much that we’re here for a person… if we don’t try, or we’re not here, the song is not the same. Life is not the same when someone is missing. I think this is the beauty in the song. It’s taking what Rabbi Wallerstein has been telling children for years. The world is not complete without you. You matter. You belong. You’re important. I didn’t know him that well but I knew many people whom he has saved and that’s why I have a special attachment with this song.

[@Conversight]

Yes, Abie Rotenberg isn’t know for his voice. He’s known for his incredible lyrics and story telling ability’s. Listen to all the Journey CDs 💿 ty for this post! Lemmer has one of the most incredible voices hard to sing next to him 😄

[@ChaimS]

Abie Rotenberg lives in Toronto :) See if you can bump into him!

[@z-ro]

Going with the theme of the song of each person having a significant impact, your commentary on these songs truly brings them to the next level. I watched this video before, and it was beautiful, but it didn't quite touch me the way it did this time around. You brought out the meaning of the song in the best way.

[@essiestrasberg1569]

A beautiful thing about the butterfly is that it starts off as a caterpillar, crawling on the ground, its color dull, nothing special. It then enters the cocoon, a dark, cold, gloomy place, where it has to sit with itself for a while. As it is in the cocoon, it grows, it changes, it matures. When it's ready to leave the cocoon, it has to come out by itself. When it's finally out, no longer is it that dull colored caterpillar that only knows how to crawl - it's now a beautiful, colorful, much bigger and mature, butterfly! It has come out of the cocoon. It has "unlocked the door". In the cocoon it grew wings, and now that it's out, it can "fly and soar"! We too, go through these stages. Everything can be going fine, nothing special. Then all of a sudden we find ourselves in a cocoon! A dark, gloomy place, where we feel all alone. But we're not alone! Hashem, G-d, is with us throughout it all. In the cocoon we feel trapped in the dark. It's painful. That is the time, however, we mature most. We change. We grow. We develop our wings. We learn all about ourselves, because we're kinda forced to really sit with our thoughts, reflect, and FEEL the pain! Cuz pain hurts, and we can't ignore it. There comes the time, however, that we have to leave the cocoon. Sometimes we need a nice reminder, "it's time to leave your cocoon my dear butterfly", and once we do leave the cocoon and we "unlock the door", then we will surprise everyone, including ourselves, by showing "just how very high you can fly and soar"! If we can recognize that we matter, we're special, and that we're not alone, it can help our individualized journeys become less painful. I wish everyone luck on their own journeys. Thank you, sir, for the video.

[@jmw939]

I wish you’d react to Abie Rotenberg’s song from Journeys: Joe DiMaggio’s Card. It’s a classic song about friendship and was written and sung when he was much younger. And yes, Rabbi Wallerstein, May his soul rest in peace, was a very special man, whose organization, Ohr Naavah does amazing work.

[@ypdmd]

All the "Journeys" (Abie Rotenberg) albums are English. After many years, he just released a new one.

[@gzt7136]

Abies songs are real emotional tuggers

[@Izzy_Miami_Planes]

Wow! That packs a punch.

[@izzym1]

Yes, while Abie is also an incredible songwriter in hebrew he has five entire albums of pure english songs (called "journeys"). He's one of the greatest jewish composers of all time. You're also correct that Abie is primarily known for his songwriting skills tho some like his deep, soft, voice too.

[@PortuguesePai]

Yea his voice did shine in certain places. His song writing is fantastic though. Hope you're doing well Izzy and have been enjoying the beautiful weather, been awhile since I've seen you in the comments 🥰.

[@izzym1]

@@PortuguesePai I've been watching but as your channel continues growing (7k!!!) i guess it's harder to find me. I'll forever by subscriber #28 tho (or something like that) 😄

[@GoodDayYall]

THANKS FOR DOING MUSIC VIDEOS LOVE YOU

[@mfs452]

you cried because of Abie so does everyone listening to his compositions

[@crispychippy8997]

Eli Marcus just released a new album, imo the best song is Mah Od, would love to see you react to it

[@kivateit5100]

Rottenbergs voice isnt his flex. He's a composer whos brave enough to sing.

[@gzt7136]

Nice to see you back at the music even with the PTSD 😉 especially starting off with this song

[@EliSteiner-h8h]

i'm pretty sure that th song "Man from Vilna" that you reviewed of Shulem and his brother Yanky is also one of Abie rottenberg's gems

[@avramherzog5490]

For those unaware, Hashem is a reference to God. It literally means "the Name." It's a way of saying God (Adonai in Hebrew) without actually saying it, out of respect.

[@fatfatat444albertkagan]

You should do a reaction video to Sleeping At Last - Saturn. It's a beautiful song

[@reelguydid]

the reaction matches the inspiration of the song!

[@Conversight]

Yes a lot of his songs are written in English ! Little kite !

[@TrumpFan-k6p]

Please check out Retzoneinu - Mendy H Band ft. Meilech Braunstein & Shira! Meilech is lately a new Jewish singing star And i'm confident u'll go crazy over him. Thanks in advance

[@sh.michal]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZy2e6akfbd0oqc Avraham Fried years ago...completely different, young and jumpy🕺. This is a full show, suggest going to 17:52, happy song. Then at 23:00 - a special song in English

[@Tulyleser]

Do the latest song by tuly leser it's for the holiday chanukah and it's sick brent lechtele Is the name!

[@joey-ye8yz]

you have to check out jerusalem by itay david

[@bB-oy2rw]

Thank you for doing this song, would you do Little Kite by Abie Rotenberg and Avrumy Kalter, it has a little bit of a western sound, I know you don’t usually do the same singers one after the other but I feel you would appreciate this one. m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2HcnqyerbR9fqM&pp=ygUSbGl0dGxlIGtpdGUgcmVtYWtl

[@Hanna_katz_5779]

There's words in Hebrew as Hashem (God) Neshama (soul)...

[@josephhalpern2994]

There's a few new jewish music clips out

[@lisaabroad1192]

What made you start watching Jewish music videos?

[@PortuguesePai]

Got sent the Miami boys choir video, and got hooked haha.

[@lisaabroad1192]

@@PortuguesePai Thanks. I'm really enjoying your reactions. Cracking up at Tanya right now! (I assume you've been set straight since then)