Over 30 years ago, a young Chaim Tovshteyn emigrated from the Soviet Union to Crown Heights and took a part-time job with R’ Sholom Bruchshtat’s rental service. Each Yud Alef Nissan, he tried composing niggunim without success. Thirty years later, after losing both parents, something shifted.
By Anash.org reporter
Over 30 years ago, a young bochur named Chaim Tovshteyn emigrated to Crown Heights from the former Soviet Union with his family. Starting over from nothing, his family worked hard to rebuild their lives. While studying at Hadar HaTorah, Chaim took a part-time job with R’ Sholom Bruchshtat’s chair and mattress rental service.
Though the work was difficult, it felt like a dream. R’ Sholom was constantly composing new niggunim for Yud Alef Nissan, singing and sharing both his latest compositions and the older ones. His melodies filled the van as they worked, creating an atmosphere that warmed Chaim’s neshama and made him feel truly at home.
As the Rebbe’s birthday approached each year, Chaim was inspired to compose his own niggunim, eager to learn from R’ Sholom. Though his early attempts didn’t come out as he had hoped, sitting beside R’ Sholom in his van was an experience that left a lasting impact.
Life moved on, Chaim got married and pursued a career in programming, but the warmth of those moments in the van never faded. Then, during COVID, he suffered the heartbreaking loss of both his parents, A”H. In the midst of grief, something shifted. Perhaps it was the endless support of his parents that had always pushed him forward, but suddenly, the door to composing niggunim miraculously opened.
What began as a source of comfort in his time of loss eventually led Chaim to finally join as one of the creators of a new niggun for Yud Alef Nissan this year.
Credits to musical arranger Israel Edelson and a singer who is an amazing mench and a chosid that wishes to be unknown.
LISTEN:
Very inspirational
Does anyone know when the picture is from?
Great Nigun! Would
Love to know singers name