Brooklyn, NY – Lipa Schmeltzer, a popular and high-profile singer in the Hasidic community, visited the grieving family of slain 8-year-old Leiby Kletzky yesterday — and even chanted a Yiddish song to the boy’s younger sister to comfort her.
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The popular performer — little Lieby’s favorite — didn’t sing the piece because mourners are not supposed to hear music for a year after a death.
But Schmeltzer said that after Lieby’s dad told him a story about his only son, Schmeltzer formulated a story and called it: “As Long as You’re Alive.” And then he chanted the story to Lieby’s sister, Nechama.
“One day he tripped and fell down on the way to school and his father was sympathetic and Leiby looked at the father and said, ‘Remember the words As Long as You’re Alive.’ He was three years old,” Schmeltzer said.
Schmeltzer also said he was moved by the numbers of people who were gathering to offer solace to the Keitzky family at their Borough Park home.
“There were lines and lines. I never saw anything like it,” he said. “The people are very shattered and broken.”
The performer noted that Lieby’s father, Nachman, was devastated by his only son’s grisly death and dismemberment, allegedly at the hands of Levi Aron.
“He is very broken but he’s keeping very strong,” Schmeltzer said. “He said he had the honor to have the soul for nine years.”
Schmeltzer said he’s now working on a song called “The Story of Leiby,” based on what he believes the child — described as devout beyond his years — would have been like if he’d grown to be a grandfather.
“Everything came to an end because of that black day that we had,” the performer said. “All the goodness that came from Leiby is now vanished.”
He also said he’s been amazed by the comments from others who knew the remarkable youngster.
“The stories we heard are unbelievable,” he said. “One story is that they were playing a game in class. At the last minute, Leiby switched teams. Why did he switch? He said, ‘Because my team keeps winning and they keep losing, and I want to help them win.’
“He was a very smart boy.”
is the words as long as you are still alive talking about abi milebt?
lipa is a heilger yid that does great chesed in a quiet way
I’m sure there will plenty of bashers on here. Anyone knows lipa on a personal basis knows he is a great good person. Thanks lipa I hope u gave them some much needed chizuk
with so many ifs and buts being said and tears being shed is there a lesson a positive point that we can and will learn from this!!! and take away with us forever it will then be a tremendous merit and elevation for hashem and for the neshoma amen.
It is written then when a neshoma is taken from us part of hashem is as well taken from us. When know as well that when a neshoma is taken from us b4 the age of 13 some say 20 that neshoma is a sacrifice for the jewish people as a whole if one is taken away after the age of 13 or 20 he is a sacrifice for himself.
I am sure there are manny people with genius and ingenius reasoning and explaination for this happening!!! But lets just focus on the point that part of hashem is taken from us. Hashem isn’t interested in my friends behaviour and my families behaviour hashem is interested in my behaviour and way of life.
If i let hashem into everything i do as it is written that hashem is found in all of our impurities!!! which means that if we will admit to ourself what are impurities are then hashem has the ability to enter each and everyone of our lives to purify it.
If we blame eachother for the happening hashem hasn’t a place 2 rest
Can’t wait for the song.
Where can I her the song?
Lipa is the man!
Really he has one of the biggest hearts. I will never forget the BEAUTIFUL song he wrote for Moshe Holtzberg’s who’s parents were killed in Mumbai.
Lipa is a Tzaddik!
The family needs every bit of chizuk. Lipa who does much good (bashers aside) has now performed an act of chesed that can’t be imagined.
BTW, availut for a child is only 30 days.
just listened to it. I’m still crying. Amazing piece. Should be required listening.
Whatever money is gained by the sale of this record should go into a special fund for scholarships in Leiby’s name.Only then would it be an honour.
Well, in my opinion it ain’t sucha good idea to make this song about Leiby cause every time his parents are going to listen to it they’ll remind themselves of these horrible times!