Shwekey Sings For Rubashkin

By COLlive reporter

The upcoming new album by Jewish music superstar Yaakov Shwekey includes a touching tribute to the former executive of the country’s largest kosher meatplant.

“My dear mother was born in a DP (displaced persons) camp, to an amazingly strong woman who against all odds survived the brutal attempt of her death,” Shwekey wrote about the album.

“So look around and recognize the Nissim – all of them. All then together we will witness the next big one! Because, we are a miracle!”

Indeed, the album is titled “We Are a Miracle” on which Shwekey writes: “If we’ve failed to see them perhaps we’re distracted by the relentless challenges we face. Maybe we’ve just forgotten, we are one. Every time they try to wipe us out, we rise again, reaching even higher.”

One of the songs is called “Ani ma’amin b’nissim,” a theme song of hope, a tune that will no doubt prove a rallying cry for so many others who need the liferaft of emunah in troubled times.

It was composed by Yitzy Waldner and its lyrics in both English and Hebrew were written by Miriam Israeli.

The dedication of the song reads: “To the man with the fire in his eyes and the faith in his heart: We are all believing along with you Reb Sholom Mordechai Ben Rivka Halevi (Rubashkin).”

Rubashkin has led the Jewish community in Postville, Iowa, where his family’s meat plant was located. He was sentenced for 27 years in prison in what many legal experts consider a blatant injustice.

This month, it was reported that the state case accusing Rubashkin of child labor and the mistreatment of workers was expunged from the record, the closest thing to an apology one can expect from the government.

Shwekey met Rubashkin during a summertime visit to uplift Jews incarcerated in the Federal Correctional Institution in Otisville, NY. The singer from New Jersey was clearly impressed by the chossid he spoke with.

“Yaakov was taken by the simple faith, optimism and courage of the Lubavitcher chassid and found himself moved to prayer on Sholom Mordechai’s behalf,” a person who had details of the visit told COLlive.com.

“Reaching into his own heart, he found himself unable to stop thinking about what he’d seen, this unfortunate Jew separated from his beloved family, cut off from shuls and seforim, distant from his friends, deprived of a nourishing meal or warm bed.”

But rather than despair, Shwekey created a prayer that reflects Rubashkin’s attitude as one who never lost his smile and never stopped waiting and believing in the great miracle.

Pre-order the album on MostlyMusic.com or iTunes

Audio sampler