By COLlive reporter
Crown Heights residents enjoyed a very personal performance last night of Chassidic star entertainer Lipa Schmeltzer, who declared himself a “Lupavitcher” in the making.
Schmeltzer, star of the annual Soul II Soul 5769 concert, manifested his talent and energy at this sold-out gathering which began with lighting two candles and ended with a Baal Shemtov story, as customary on Motzoei Shabbos.
Dubbed “Lipa In Lubavitch,” Schmeltzer entered the stage at the George Wingate Auditorium on Kingston Avenue with a Chinese-letter illustrated blue Kapota, explaining: “This is my Chinese Kapota. I’m wearing it tonight because Lubavitch is the only one that has a Bais Medrash in China.”
The endless references to Lubavitch terms – such as Shlichus, Mivtzoim, Tanya and Bitul – didn’t seem to repel haredi participants from Boro Park, Williamsburg and even the Litvish stronghold of Lakewood, NJ.
“Lipa is having The Event (March 1 at the Madison Square Garden’s WaMu Theater),” a Bobover Chassid told COLlive while smoking at the 10 minute intermission. “But here he is at his best. He could do all his shtick – you guys like it.”
And shticks there were plenty.
Switching glasses and outfits (as did the members of the Shira mens choir), Schmeltzer juggled between his fidgety songs – Wake up, Raboysai and others – and the two ballads he dedicated to “our brothers in Israel” and his newly composed song for the evening “Moishe’le Neshama’le.”
Many emotional faces were evident in the crowd as he sang his letter to Moishe’le. For the few who didn’t yet figure out the identity of the child, Yanky Teitelbaum’s slide show showed Chabad’s slain Shluchim to Mumbai, Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg and their two year old descendant Moshe.
But the concert, produced by NO/IT productions, was benefiting other children in need. The Chasdei Zahavi Foundation, headed by Shmuel and Tzirel Goldman, is for the education of Crown Heights children with special needs.
Now in its seventh year, the concert gathers much anticipation. As one blogger wrote: “It is a very not typical show. Three solid hours with one performer and you don’t get bored for a moment. More of a Melave Malka feel than a concert feel.”
chaim looks upset he would rather another singer
im in full agreement with #42 unfortunetly he is 100% right and we in CH are wrong
maybe this is a wake up call for all of us
to #42
who is looking for role models? Lipa is an entertainer and he was hired to entertain. Hopefully, you and your negative attitude will not be a negative example to those around you.
smile and enjoy life and look to your Mashpia as your role model.
as someone that likes Lubavitch a lot i was very disapointed with the glorification of somebody that is ostercized and rejected in his own community
instead of Chasidim Mashpiyim our children are looking to LIPA as arole model
people that r chasidim of the REBBE should know better
I was waiting to hear from someone like you. Well said. The positive is what counts…. simcha…refuah…. see you soon
na vanad
NICE PICTURE WITH THE MEYERS
FINALLY A CHABAD EVENT WITH SEPERATE SEATING!!!! YOSHAR KOACH SOUL II SOUL ORGANIZERS — YOU SHOULD BE AN EXAMPLE TO TZIVOS HASHEM!
i am so glad to see that there was separate seating unlike others.
SORRY FOR ALL THE SPELLI NG MISTAKES
LIPA, throught his songs dances and shtick really shows true BITUL. Everything comes from his heart not scaring what others will think . He is all SOUL TRUE BITUL. ggREAT CONCERT THANKS SHMULY AND TZIRL. Your many hours off work putting this together really came to great fruition. YASHER KOCHACHEM. For all the negative comments. As my wise father taught me. If you have notheing nice to say do not say anything.. kol tuv to klal yisrael. refuahs and yeshuos to alll sh;olom in eretz yisroel AD MOSAI. MOSHIACH NOW.
Haha, the back was where its at!
Y arent there any pics of the pple in the balcony! also there were some kids dancing in the back it was really nice!!
i like his concerts but can someone tell me please WHY DOES HE SHAVE HIS BEARD????? he used to be so matzliach with his kind of chassidim, now is he going away from them? please someone explain
perhaps he just had to cut it for other reasons?
#29. who do you think you are? who are you to judge people. oh…you must be related to Mr. Holy!!
Lipa totally ROCKED!!!!
getting some real chassidim to join, all these young crowds thaink they are taking over lubavitch? and Lipa, who is an oisvorf in other communities, only finds a home in LUbavitch?? and the poster in front of 770 – Oi Rebbe!!
I was thinking the same at the begining, but then i think it got better…
the concert was awesome, but am I the only one that thought the sound was pretty bad?
even our beis rivka productions get better sound. unless its just me…
but the concert was amazing!
lipa is the man he did such a good job wowowowowowowow
To: “7 Wasn’t there” Why are there no pictures of “the haredi participants from Boro Park, Williamsburg and even the Litvish stronghold of Lakewood, NJ.” The picture show a lot of bais Shmuel people, a lot of young children and some uncovered female elbows and knees. As someone who wasn’t there in person the pictures create the impression that the average Crown heightser didn’t attend nor did the haredi participants from Boro Park, Williamsburg and even the Litvish stronghold of Lakewood, NJ.. A picture is worth more than a thousand words. ============== Dear Mr. Holy Firstly, I have had a… Read more »
How can we get in touch? jk. but really, its always done during the last song… its alright!
go yossi, shabi and moshe eli!!!
Jumping on stage (liek we always do). I am sorry. I was in the audience and I find it very selfish and dangerous to just jump on the stage. If we wanted to see people jumping on stage, we can set up another concert (I am sure you talents will sell out the seats).
1) Elbows and knees were not seen.
2) Good cause yes definitely.
3) Chassidish vite vite from Chassidish. We all know the Rebbe’s opinion about concerts. The Rebbe was quite vocally against concerts and expressed it strongly . On Shabbos by farbrengen he refused to give mashhke for any concerts while giving mashke for every other function. On lag B’omer by the parade we know what almost happened. I’m sure we could find a more chassidishe fund raiser for this very important Tzdaka
First off, i was there… it was amazing! Lipa tottaly rocked the house! But i feel i must say something about the Shomrim, Torwards the end of the concert, I, along with some freinds jumpd on stage to dance a bit (Like we always do…) After like a minute or two, shomrim CHARGED the stage and started screaming at ppl to get off, there was a small boy on stage, one of the shomrim PICKED him up and pushed him off… the poor kid said “Clam down, I am going…!” GOSH! I was shocked. Next time get real normal ppl… Read more »
I try to instill in my son the importance of being in Shabbos cloths on Motzoei Shabbos. Your photos of the yumge lait not in Shabbos garb, created a problem for me.
Otherwise, the event looked like a great party. Much success to the sponsoring organization and the Goldmans.
Also, if Lippa is to be a role model for our kids (and all performers are) he should have worn Bigdei Shabbos throughout the concert, as well.
Please take this as “constructive criticism” only.
the concert was great enjoyed the funny and heartfelt songs even though i couldn’t always understand his yiddish and most important the cause is very worthy thanks again for all your hard work now when can we buy the dvd i would love t o see it again and by the way the video screen presentation was unbelievable with the 3 cameras such a production i would like to point out that i was surprised to note that there wasn’t any tehillim said for the soldiers and what about the rebbe’s kapital?
hey benshimon, your looking good!!
what pictures are you talking about?
you are a sad person, try cheering up and see the good in things, jeoulosy just makes you misrable.
nice concert there
You did it again! May hashem bench you with koach to keep on doing the superb work and bringing simcha to our community….. Your son was adorable on stage!
next time bring your own photographer to the event
as someone that was there, these photos really don’t reflect the concert and its excitement
Avremel and Lipa bring very different styles to the stage – and each has what the other dosen’t.
I would agree that Fried preformed the Soul 2 Soul song much better [I remember the whole crowd singing with him, unlike last night]
http://therealshliach.blogspot.com/2009/01/soul-ii-soul-5769-lipa-in-lubavitch.html
I love Lipa but he’s no Fried.
lipa outdid himslef!! this is what a concert should be! thank you so much for organizing this amazing concert! true jewish entertainment!
the soul to soul concert is always a hit!!!!!!
however Lipa takes the cake with talent and entertainment!!!
the concert ROCKED!!!
we cried we laughed and we were proud!!!
welcome Lipa, hope to see you in crown heights again!
hopefully he will keep to the simchas beis hashoeva request!
we want moshiach now!!
Why are there no pictures of “the haredi participants from Boro Park, Williamsburg and even the Litvish stronghold of Lakewood, NJ.”
The picture show a lot of bais Shmuel people, a lot of young children and some uncovered female elbows and knees.
As someone who wasn’t there in person the pictures create the impression that the average Crown heightser didn’t attend nor did the haredi participants from Boro Park, Williamsburg and even the Litvish stronghold of Lakewood, NJ.. A picture is worth more than a thousand words.
the concert last night was so entertaining and enjoyable. thanks Lipa for giving us an amazing experience!
looking good Benshimon and Yoni!
My mom was there!
this was the best concert I have ever been to. no one can do it like Lipa. what an amazing production team who put this all together. and his Moishele song…I was in tears. any chance of posting just that song online?
Hi Osher! hope you enjoyed the concert with your son