From Rock Star to Chosid

Photos by Harold Bergstein

Chabad of Baka, Jerusalem, hosted a Yud Tes Kislev Shabbos dinner, featuring Rabbi Tuvia Bolton of Kfar Chabad.

BH about 150 people gathered at the Pninat Haosher Hall in Jerusalem to enjoy the warm, community atmosphere at Chabad of Baka, which is directed by Rabbi Avraham and Nechama Dina Hendel, and to be uplifted in honor of the Rosh Hashana of Chassidus. Rabbi Bolton enthralled the crowd with his fascinating journey, from being a secular rock’n’roll star to becoming a Chabad Rabbi.

Tamir Goodman, basketball star and coach and devoted community member, introduced Rabbi Bolton. “When I was playing professionally in Tel Aviv, everyone was concerned with my body. But there was one person concerned with my soul. Rabbi Bolton, whom I had never met before, kept on calling and urging me to learn with him. Eventually, I agreed and am so grateful for the Chassidus that he taught me.”

Rabbi Bolton shared the hilarious story of his first Shabbos meal in Crown Heights (Rabbi Kagan from Detroit brought him there), which culminated in his first poignant meeting with the Rebbe, and his first exposure to a niggun. Seeing the Rebbe’s holiness together with his pragmatic approach and hearing the depth of a Chassidic niggun stirred Bolton’s neshama and convinced him that this was the path of truth which he had been seeking.

Interspersed throughout his stories and insights, Rabbi Bolton sang his original music, including the catchy and inspiring song, “Elokut.”

The Chabad of Baka community enjoyed more of Rabbi Bolton over the course of Shabbos, as he taught Chassidus, shared stories, and sang more songs.

“This was the best Yud Tes Kislev ever,” a community member reflected, expressing the positive sentiment of so many others.