By Chaim Marcus
Rabbi Yitzi Hurwitz has become a household name in the Chabad community.
A husband, shliach and father of seven, living with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Yet, despite being 95% paralyzed, unable to speak or swallow, somehow Rabbi Yitzi manages to be happier than most of the people on this planet.
As observant Jews, we believe in Divine Providence, we believe that everything is for the good. But, its one thing to believe it, its entirely different to live it in the face of one of life’s unfathomable challenges
Rabbi Yitzi is living it. And every person that has the privilege to come in contact with him personally or read his extraordinary weekly blog, comes away inspired to a deeper connection with our Father in heaven.
We live in a “celebrity” obsessed society.
Yitzi however, is a genuine celebrity. The kind you want to get a selfie with, read his incredible weekly blog or if you’re lucky, get to spend some time with him.
I hope these short videos will introduce the inspiration that is Yitzi, to people around the world.
“Shine a Little Light” – Written & Composed by Yitzi Hurwitz
Original vocals and guitar by Yitzi at the opening and closing of the song. Recorded on Yitzi’s cell phone in 2008.
You can help Yitzi and his family shine a little light by giving what you can at http://www.hurwitzfamilyfund.com
To read Yitzi’s inspiring weekly blog please visit http://yitzihurwitz.blogspot.com
Video: Behind the song:
—
Music Video & New Track – Produced & Directed by Chaim Marcus
Edited by Berry Cohen
With a big thank you to Danny Finkelman & Sparks Next
Special Thanks
Rabbi Shlomo & Brocha Friedman
Danny Shatzky
Eli Marcus
Bentzi Marcus
Chaim N. Cunin
Daniel S. Wise
Mendy Pellin
Music Mix & Master: Eli Lishinsky
Additional Guitars: Alex Bodnar
Bridge Lyrics: Yitzi Hurwitz & Bentzi Marcus
Color & SFX: Yossi Margolin
Photo Credit: Zalmy Berkowitz
Artists & cast in order of appearance:
Rabbi Yitzi Hurwitz, or “Yitzi” in his home, Los Angeles, California, 2016
Alex Clare, London, England
Original vocals and guitar by Yitzi
Rabbi Yitzi Hurwitz, at his wedding, Brooklyn, New York, 1996
Rabbi Yitzi Hurwitz, Camp Gan Israel, Montreal, Canada 1992
Benny Friedman, Bushwick, NY
Yossi Green, Seagate, NY
MBD, Seagate, NY
8th Day, LA, California
Rabbi Baruch Chait, LA, California
Yehoram Gaon, Tel Aviv, Israel
Rivi & Eli Schwebel, Dumbo, NY
Gad Elbaz, Tel Aviv, Israel
Eli Marcus, Williamsburg, NY
Avraham Fried, Brooklyn NY
Yehuda Green, Williamsburg, NY
Boruch Sholom Blesofsky, Bushwick, NY
Maccabeats, NY, NY
IDF Pikud Haoref, Jerusalem, Israel
IDF Givati, Israel
Students from Harkham Hillel, Los Angeles, CA
Campers from CGI NY
Campers from Camp Rayim with Benny Friedman
Campers from Camp HASC with 8th Day
Isaac Bitton, Bushwick NY
Yitzi & Dina’s sons: Moshe, Eli Chaim, Mendel & Shalom Hurwitz, Hollywood CA
DP’s:
-Mauricio Arenas
-Steve Kamilar
-Daron Keet
-Eliana Alvarez Martinez
-Ronen Oz
-Mendy Pellin
-Josh Saltzman
-Pullman Sawyer
-Yisrael Silman
-Eli Singer
-Marco Vitale
-Dudi Yitzchaki
Recording Studios:
Danny Shatzky, Vibromonk Studio, Bushwick, NY
Robb Holt, Bell Sound, Hollywood, California
Tino Passante Avatar Studios, NYC
Nir Graff, Graffwerks Studio, Williamsburg, NY
Eli Lishinsky, Lishinsky Studio, Staten Island, NY
Udi Turgeman, Habayit Ha’adom, Tel Aviv, Israel
Yehuda Glantz, Abu Bueno Studios, Jerusalem, Israel
Thank You:
Amichai Bacharach, Yashar Lachayal, Fitche Benshimon, Naftali Berkowitz, Robb Bindler
Leon Blankrot, Yashar Lachayal, Alex Bodnar, Isser Brickman, Camp HASC, Camp Rayim, Camp Gan Israel, Parksville, Rabbi Baruch Chait, Rabbi Danny Cohen, Zalmy Dubinsky
JJ Duchman, Rabbi A. E. Friedman, Simcha Friedman, Yehuda Glantz, Tamir Goodman, Yossi Green, Mendel Grossbaum, Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy, Naftaly Marasow
Yossi Margolin, Itzik Neymark, Meir Kalmanson, Mike Kampler, Sammy’s Camera, Daron Keet, Wendy Kellner, Oshie Kluwgant, Berel Okunov, Aharon Orian, John Osiecki, Levi Plotkin
Moshe Momo Rosner, Israel Schachter, Yuval Stupel, Udi Turgeman, Shalom Vagshal, Shmuli Weber, Students at Y.O.E.C, Chapin Wilson, Boaz Yacov, Menachem Weinstein and Avram Zamist
Dedicated with love to Yitzi & Dina Hurwitz
Lyrics:
Can’t you see
I’m trying to be
All that you
want of me
But it’s so cold now
It’s so dark here
What could I do
It’s not very clear
Chorus
Shine a little light
Show us the way
Lead us to
a brighter day
Shine a little light
Show us the way
Lead us to a brighter day
If I’m a little light
You’re a little light
Together we are
So very bright
A little light here
A little light there
See the smiles
It’s so very clear
Chorus
Bridge
When we stand together as one,
there’s nothing that we cant do
so lets lead the way,
to a brighter day
and the whole world will join along
We can bring a brighter day
for everyone,
it’s only up to me and you
we can see it, we all believe it,
so let us shine our light right now..
Chorus
Shine a little light
Show us the way
Lead us to
a brighter day
Shine a little light
Show us the way
Lead us to a brighter day
This video is so…”you”…!!! Love, joy and sincerity…
We live in Paris and think and pray for you and your precious family every day…
I teach teenagers and you’re an example for them in so many ways… We love you so much…
Tanks so much for all you do and for who you are
I was with Dina last summer on a trip to Ukraine and she talked then about R’ Hurovitz’s smile. This video increased my emunah.
Reus Chaya
wow wow this is so nice
Our soldiers singing for Yitzi was so heartwarming!
They put all their hearts into it, as was clear to see
Thank you to all our soldiers out there for us, giving up , literally, their lives for us
Moshiach now!
What a beautiful video, watched it so far 7 times . . . and counting
Very touching, especially bring that he is the one who wrote the song by himself even before he knew what was gonna happen afterword. It’s also amazing how every one tries to give the best he can to make someone happy.
May he have a refuah Shelema and should be zoche to bring moshiach NOW!!!
Yitzchok Bitton the talent, adds a lot to the song!
No words!!!!!!!!!! Huge refuah shelaima
May Hashem be with Yitzi
The picture of Yitzi near the bbq the smoke is moving. Very cool.
Wow! Wow!wow!!!!!
The hurwitz family picture sitting on the piano Yossi green is playing.
Small detail, nice touch.
Thank you Chaim Marcus from all my heart. I know that this videos took a very long time to complete that you waited patiently to get all the pictures, movies and clips. You had to go thru everything very carefully and meticulously. You had to assemble the singers, players camera men , and the rest of the crew. To say I am grateful, is only a small word, I just don’t have the proper word to express my gratitude to you and whomever worked hard alongside you. I know you spent days and some nights to complete this beautiful amazing… Read more »
That gave me the chills!
very moving!
I can’t stop watching both of the beautiful videos.
I never met Yitzi before, yet I feel as if I know him and love him. May he have a refuah shilaima.
Chaim, this is a real master peice.
Thank you for sharing it with us.
ya, danny finkelman was a BIG part of this!!!!!!
danny finkelman was part of this?
to chaim marcus and danny finkelman: AMAZING video! you always make us smile!!!
All singers from around the world from the frumest to the Israeli soldiers unite together for one reason!
May this bring a speedy recovery to put dear yitzy and moshiach right now!!!!
I am in tears. We love u, Yitzi, dina and fam!
We should start a “smile for yitzi” campaign. Everyone make a hachlota to make ppl around them happy, and tell everyone abt him, the blog, the fundraising, and tehillim name. Simcha poiretz geder!
Cmb
This video brought me to tears. So touching and so deep and so beautiful. May Hashem shine light on Yitzi and his family, and may he have a speedy and complete refuah shelaima. Moshiach now!
When Yalili does something, he does it right.
Kol hakovod.
Moshiach now!!
Yosef Yitzchok Ben Brocha
Only good רפואה שלימה moshiach now
I just have to thank you moshiach now!!!!!!!1
Contact the family and add the info
(Confusion with yitzchak ben bracha or yosef yitzchak ben chana..??)
What is Name ben Mother’s Name?
we love you yitzi!!!
Hashem should heal you and make you health right now again!!!
Wow, you brought so many people/ singers together to publish this song! It’s incredible!
No words
Yitzi,
Your eyes are very radiant. I will add in my Tefillah in your Zechus.
absolutely so inspirational!!!!!
One word:
WOW!
…The humble director of this video
So inspiring , i only have tears
a Refua Sheleimo
Yitzy will see you IY”H in ten days on Chava’s Bar Mitzvah ,
this time my wife and son Yossi ,and daughter Miriam ,
we will all be by you IY”H
uncle Sholom Ber
Sitting here, tears absolutely pouring down my face
What a unique and special people we are!
Watching all our famous singers put all their koiach and feelings into this song that Yitzi composed is nothing short of amazing and incredible!
What an emotional, yet uplifting video
May Yitzi have a complete and total Refuah
I daven for him every single day, and beg Hashem to hear all our teffilos
wow what a heart wrenching video!!! incredible job to all who made it!! sitting here crying from such a beautifully done video depicting exactly what yitzi represents! yitzi we love you! REFUAH SHELAYMA!!
Its gonna be the greatest day Yitzy will jump out of bed dancing again to the sound of the Shofer we will all dance our way to Jerusalem with Moshiach
Yitzi, wow! What an amazing song! You are truly gifted & talented in so many ways! You continue to touch the hearts & souls of so many around the globe with your magical energy, warmth, intellect, belief and overall outlook on life! Hashem will certainly grant you with all the blessings & miracles that you deserve and need, with no doubt that you will Please G-d merit to have a complete & speedy recovery and witness imminently to see with your physical eyes the arrival of Moshiach and the Geulah now mamosh – Omein kein Yehi Ratzon! Kol hakavod to… Read more »
Refuah Shileimah
What a powerful message Yitzi!
Look how you pulled all yidden together!!!
No words…what an incredible dusplay of ahuvas yisroel and achdus! Rabbi Hurwitz is such an inspirational figure –may he have a refuah sheleima immediately!