Rabbi Yishai Engelman Releases Song Inspired by Jerusalem Funeral

Rabbi Yishai Engelman has released a new song titled 'Shomea Kol Bchiyot' (He Hears the Sound of Crying), inspired by his experience leaving a funeral at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. The song's genesis occurred on the day of the funeral, which was prolonged and held under hot, crowded conditions. Unable to stand for extended periods in the sun, Rabbi Engelman left the ceremony early and listened to the remainder of the eulogies from his car on the way home.

During the drive, overwhelmed by the sense of loss and the sheer volume of grief, he sought words of solace and found himself drawn to the simple plea for mercy found in the song's lyrics. He described the feeling of transience that loss brings and the shift from detachment to prayer. Upon arriving home, he sat at the piano and developed the basic melody within an hour, recording a preliminary version on his phone the next morning.

However, he set the song aside for over two months. The melody resurfaced on the piano, prompting Engelman to collaborate with childhood friend and musician Mordechai Shnold. Shnold, who had previously been hospitalized in the same rehabilitation facility as Engelman, took the lead in production, adding violin accompaniment. Other contributors included Harel Haddad, who completed missing parts while on leave from Lebanon, graphic designer Miriam Ben Yitzhak, and Naoam Harmos.

Rabbi Engelman expressed his hope that the tears and sorrow captured in the song find a place in the world and are transformed into streams of life and prayer.