Pesach has come
and gone, but most of us can still remember the amount of energy expended into
making this special Yom Tov. In case you did forget, or erased it from your
memory, I ask you, what does one do the week before Pesach? Some people are
kashering their kitchens, while others are shopping and cooking. And then there
are those who decide to spend time in a recording studio producing a song just
in time for Pesach. This is the story of some local creative individuals who
used their G-d given talents and energy to record a beautiful song and make an
accompanying video in addition to kashering, cooking, and Pesach
shopping.
It started out
with two former Simchas Esther cast members, who were itching to do something
creative as there hasn’t been a play in two years. One cast member, Michelle
Anflick, who released her own single “Please See,” (available on YouTube and
Spotify) sung and produced by local artists Pinny Schachter and Moshe Siegel,
collaborated with another cast member, Judy Landman, author of Seasons of the Rain (available on
Amazon). In a very last moment of
insanity and altruism, the two women/actresses joined forces to make a song,
which would be fine and fun, but who produces a song the week before Pesach!?
Combining their writing and composition talents, this would be a song to honor
the Ichud Hatzalah and the Chabad Shluchim in Ukraine who have worked
tirelessly and continue to do so as they save hundreds of thousands of people
there.
The idea was
conceived shortly after Purim, but the magic happened over the course of just three
days. Just to give you an idea of how the music world works, it can take months
to years to make one song – and lots of money along with that. The song and
video, “Mission to Live,” was produced in record time (pun intended) on a
shoestring budget, and was born as it hit the cyber-world on Thursday night,
April 14, 2022: the night of bedikas chometz.
Due to the nature
of the project, one that would ultimately create a worldwide kiddush Hashem and honor our noble
heroes, there was a lot of siyata dishmaya in getting this all done – in true
Jewish and Pesach-flavored, bechipazon
(speedy) style, no different than when the Jews hurried out of Egypt! With Judy
writing the lyrics and Michelle composing the music, Uri Meltzer joined in with
his vocal and musical gifts, including the piano intro he composed years
before.
The next step was
to contact Jeremy (Yaakov) Englander of BlueDoorStudio to see if this was even
a remote possibility given the time of year and calendar date! After hearing
what the project was about, it was a yes!
In another Simchas Esther moment, Jeremy, having worked on the sound for the
previous plays, used his recording abilities and his experience in the field to
produce a rich and inspiring track. Vocalists Uri Meltzer and Yaakov Rosenblum
(who has released other songs as well) gave this song its mission with their
voices and harmonies. Yaakov Cotton of Y.C. Production created the vision of
the song in a moving video that highlights the great moments and the tragic
ones of our People, bringing to life the song’s theme of “we have a passion to
give, we’re on a mission to live.”
The video was sent
out to Chabad shluchim around the
world, as well as to the Ichud Hatzalah. The song was played on Chol Hamoed on
the Nachum Segal show; it was featured on Baltimore Jewish Life, and is now on
Baltimore Jewish Scoop. It is posted on YouTube as well (search: “Mission to
Live Yaakov Cotton”), and there are links available indicating places to donate.
Finally,
there is another message in this local interest story, one that surpasses the
15-minutes-of-fame idea, and really encompasses the idea of our national holiday
of freedom that we just celebrated. We are all very much connected as a People,
and the raison d’etre of our very lives is in the name itself: “Mission to
Live.” It is truly incredible and inspiring to see individuals who have a
passion for the greater good come together and give so generously and
creatively of themselves. After all, that is indeed who we are as Am Yisrael Chai. Yaakov Cotton sums it
up with this concluding thought: “I had a great experience working with
everyone involved for an amazing cause. It was something really special to be a
part of.”
Please
enjoy and share the song and video! There is much work still left to be done,
and support is vital to continue the efforts of all the brave people there. May
“Mission to Live” inspire you to tap into your creative self and surprise yourself
as to what you too can do for our People.
