Chasidic Singer Motty Steinmetz Inspires Jews in Russia and France

Chasidic singer Motty Steinmetz recently visited Moscow, where he performed at a bar mitzvah celebration for the son of Rabbi Gershon Liss, who had recovered from a severe COVID-19 illness. During the visit, a man named Pinchas Koch, a kosher supervisor in Moscow, shared how Steinmetz's music inspired him to connect with his Jewish heritage. Koch, who had previously felt distant from religious life, discovered Steinmetz's songs in his youth and felt a spark of Jewish identity ignite within him.

Steinmetz recounted his own experiences, including an incident where he left a stage during a performance in Israel because the gender separation was not as promised. He also shared a story about a young athlete who, after a spiritual crisis in Romania, found solace and a renewed sense of purpose in Steinmetz's song "Atah Bchartanu" (You Have Chosen Us), leading him to become a Torah-observant Jew. Steinmetz emphasized his commitment to maintaining his religious standards, even when faced with potential backlash, citing an instance where false accusations were spread online about an event he attended in Italy.

Separately, a significant event took place in Kaliningrad, Russia, marking the 130th anniversary of the city's grand synagogue. The synagogue, rebuilt after being destroyed during Kristallnacht, hosted a performance of "Sha'u Sh'arim" (Lift Up Your Heads), a piece composed 130 years ago for its original opening. The event also highlighted a historical connection between Kaliningrad (formerly Königsberg) and Jerusalem, where a synagogue built 130 years ago was funded by a Königsberg resident. The current Chabad emissary in Kaliningrad is a descendant of a founder of that Jerusalem synagogue, symbolizing a full circle of Jewish connection.

The article also touches upon the spiritual significance of the 18th of Elul, the birthday of both the Baal Shem Tov and Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, founders of Hasidism and Chabad respectively. These figures are credited with bringing joy, Torah study, and prayer to the masses, particularly during times of persecution. The narrative emphasizes the importance of faith, humility, and the belief that divine providence guides all events, even those that seem negative.