By Binyomin Weiss, COLlive reporter
Like many Chabad Shluchim and Lubavitch Chassidim, Moshe Benasher was glued to the screen, anxiously awaiting news from the once great – and now infamous – Nariman House.
Benasher, 26, whose parents are Shluchim in New York, had never met Rabbi Gavriel and Rivkah Holtzberg, nor did he ever visit Mumbai where the couple operated a high-profile Jewish hub of activities.
On Nov. 26, 2008, when Indian terrorists invaded Nariman House, home to the Chabad House, and took the Holtzbergs and other Jewish people hostage, Benasher was devastated.
From his Flatbush home, surrounded by his wife and three children, he tried to gather bits and pieces of information from outlets like CNN’s Indian IBN channel and COLlive.
But when the ordeal came to a tragic end, he broke into tears.
“The only way I could respond was to compose a song about it,” Benasher told COLlive. “I sat near the piano and was crying while writing the song.
“You don’t want to let go of being sad. You want to mourn and feel the pain. At the same time, however, as a Chassid, you need to move on.”
A student of stenography at New York Career institute, Benasher composed in the past a musical album called ‘Soul Awake.’ He calls his new 6 minute song ‘Fallen Angels.’
“At one point, I thought to possibly not even release the song. I ended up sending it because I thought that many people don’t know how to express in words what they are feeling.”
Benasher adds: “The lyrics have even deeper meaning than just the face value. I didn’t just use the word angel because it was poetic or because it fit. Angel in Hebrew is malach. Malach is interchangeable with messenger, which means a Shliach.”
Fallen Angels – Lyrics:
She closed her eyes
He wiped her tears
He said Shema
It calmed his fears
He held her hand
Said it’d be alright
Knowing well they both could lose their life
And as my world watched it on the screen
We hoped and prayed and prayed again
That it would be a silent dream
But the dawn ushered in an unfamiliar light
The worst was heard confirmed
Now I cry to you, I lean on you,
my fellow Jew I ask of you
Chorus:
Tell me how do we say goodbye
to the angels that have fallen from our life
And how do we say goodbye
to the angels that have flown away at night
3500 siblings asking why
An orphan’s forced to cry
Mommy, Tatty hold my hand
One day I pray you’ll understand
The cowardly lion is not the king of the land.
But the question remains, I ask
Chorus:
Tell me how do we say goodbye
to the angels that have fallen from our life
And how do we say goodbye
to the angels that have flown away at night
Don’t judge me when I mourn
Today it’s me who’s torn
Don’t look at me
My tears are falling fast
They say it’s all a blessing in disguise
I can’t differentiate the lies from truth
What’s a mind to do
We were the super heroes of the night
We would illuminate the sky
They took away the torch but not your flame
What’s my mind to do
I will never forget you
I will light the sky from here to Mumbai
And nothing will ever look the same
Chorus:
Tell me how do we say goodbye
to the angels that have fallen from our life
And how do we say goodbye
to the angels that have flown away at night
Chassidim Never say goodbye
We want Moshiach Now
Moshe Benasher is available to preform Fallen Angels at Chabad Houses and Chanukah events. He can be reached at [email protected]
B”H
A Music Video Tribute to Rabbi and Mrs Holtzberg Z”L and all Mumbai victims by Moshiach Times Band
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nrT645R-fs
How about translating the song to Hebrew and singing it in Hebrew?
Amazing how we are all feeling the same exact thing! Thank you for this out let of expession for all of us
Its amazing!
-RB Yakobov
Ashdod, Israel
beautifully hartzig – what a tribute for all
very touching … I think it’s the first song that actually describes what it is that we all feel. it’s so true hassidim never say goodbye but it’s just so hard to move forward after this tragedy.
no words to describe this song that has jst the right words! we should all be zoche to moshiach!
Hey, number 9. I thought his name was moshe Benasher. Watts the “K” stand for?
-mr. curious
Such heart felt words!!
I hope the family hears this song
WOW… actually some introspective, heartfelt Jewish music. Great job Moishe K!!
Unfortunately, most Jewish music is either OVERPRODUCED or avodah-zarah reggae…
Moshe K is a real good Yid!!
Click on the MP3 file before the lyrics. A really nice song – I was in tears too
Amazing! So hauntingly lovely and painful to listen to.
Yashem Yerachem!
Where is the audio?
wow,,, such a powerful and sadly amazing song!
may the next song be composed on simchas!!!
AD MOSAI!
thank you moshe!
Go Moshe We are so proud of u!!!
The pain will never go away…. We need Moshiach.
B”H
Oh so beautiful!
Oh how painful!