The story
אל תירא מפחד פתאום

It all began on שביעי של פסח in a Shul in Manchester, NJ where our son R’ Avrum Sheya Green שליט"א lives with his precious family and was hosting us for the “second days” of Pesach תשפ"ה. The world-renowned Magid, R’ Paysach Krohn שליט"א, also hosted in the neighborhood by his family for Yom Tov, was present in the Shul with us, and was asked to speak between Mincha & Maariv. He delivered a powerful & emotional speech addressing the uncertainties כלל ישראל had sadly been experiencing recently and the ביטחון we required to help us deal with them. But the centerpiece of his speech was the oft-ignored three פסוקים of אל תירא מפחד פתאום, the final passages that follow עלינו לשבח and complete each and every one of our תפילות. He pointed out that since this תפילה had been chosen and so obviously put in its place by the Anshei Knesses Hagdola, it had to be one of the Holiest of סגולות to help us deal with the challenges and uncertainties of our day.

Raising his tremulous voice, laden with emotion and caring, he boldly stated, “Pay close attention to the message, as this is the only פסוק in תנ"ך in which הקב"ה repeats the word אני - I am, FIVE TIMES! What is הקב"ה telling us here? He is not using the word אני as many of us do when they speak of themselves: I want! I need! I crave! Instead, הקב"ה is telling us, ‘Throughout your זקנה I am here for you! Throughout your שיבה I will carry you! I have created you! And I will lift you up! And I will carry you until ביאת המשיח!’”

After Davening, I approached R’ Paysach שליט"א to thank him and to say ‘Good Yom Tov.’ I was overcome with emotion for the great gift he had given all of us present and thanked him for the חיזוק. I told him then and there that I would love to write a song on these words, trying to bring out the newly-understood message behind its Holy words. He responded with a huge smile, saying that when it was done, I should please invite him to the studio so he could say a few words over the track. Right after Yom Tov בעזהשי"ת the composition was completed. It had the feel and style of melodies from our early years and I felt that the person who could best help me bring out both, the song as well as its meaning, was none other than the beautifully-talented singer/composer, R’ Baruch Levine who is a lifelong Rebbi of Talmidim. He immediately agreed to join me on the project. We were still missing the person who would arrange, produce, and bring it all together. We then approached the one who possesses all these talents rolled into one person, Doni Gross! Here again, Doni joined us at the helm of the production! Doni went on to explain that besides the message and the song itself, he felt an extraordinary element of אחדות between the four of us which excited him beyond all else. We then gave the project the working title of:

המגיד והמלחין המשפיע והמעבד
The Maggid, the Composer, the Rebbi & the Arranger/Producer
Then came the exciting day when R’ Paysach came to join the three of us in the studio! The mood of Derhoibenkeit (for lack of a better word in English that could describe this state) we experienced that day when R’ Paysach entered the studio, put on the headphones and began to speak over our track, will forever be carved into our memories and emotions.
וְעַד זִקְנָה אֲנִי הוּא...
וְעַד שֵׂיבָה אֲנִי אֶסְבֹּל...
אֲנִי עָשִׂיתִי...
וַאֲנִי אֶשָׂא...
וַאֲנִי אֶסְבֹּל וַאֲמַלֵּט.

Credits:
Inspired by R' Paysach Krohn Shlit"a
Produced by Doni Gross
Composed by Yossi Green
Performed by Baruch Levine & Yossi Green
Music Arranged by Doni Gross
Mixed & Mastered by Doni Gross


iTunes: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/yossi-green/1501796667
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