Baruch Levine

Baruch Levine (born December 28, 1977) is a Canadian-born American Orthodox Jewish composer and singer whose songs have become popular and classic throughout the Orthodox Jewish world. His slow, soulful, heartfelt tunes have gained wide popularity at Shabbat tables and kumzits gatherings.[1][2] One of his most successful compositions is "Vezakeini" (Give Us Merit), derived from the ancient prayer recited at Shabbat candle lighting.[3]

Rabbi
Baruch Levine
Born (1977-12-28) December 28, 1977
Toronto, Canada
GenresContemporary Jewish religious music
Occupation(s)Yeshiva ketana rebbi (Jewish studies teacher)
Years active2006-present
Websitehttp://www.baruchlevine.com/

Early life and education

Baruch Levine was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. He attended Eitz Chaim Day School, where his father, Rabbi Michoel Levine, is currently a fifth-grade rebbi (Jewish studies teacher).[4] He also studied at the Toras Moshe and Mir Yeshivas in Jerusalem [4]

Levine earned a master's degree in educational leadership, as well as teaching degrees from several institutions. He received his rabbinic ordination from the Jerusalem rabbinical court.[5]

After Levine got married, he moved to Waterbury, Connecticut. In 2005, he joined the staff of the Yeshiva Ketana of Waterbury, Connecticut as a fifth-grade rebbi.[5]

Levine has four children - Nechama (19), Tova (17), Yisroel (14), and Yonina (8).

Music career

Levine first began singing at the age of 8 in his school choir.[4] Soon after he began studying keyboard, and performed at school and in summer camp during his youth.[4] He tried out for a spot on the album The Marvelous Middos Machine and was not accepted,[6] but he did sing on a Miriam Israeli album.[7]

After his marriage, Levine began writing songs which he sold to other performers.[4] One of his demos came to the attention of several music producers, who asked Levine why he wasn't performing his own songs.[4] This led to the production of Levine's first album, Vezakeini, in 2006.[7] The title song, which took him ten minutes to write,[7] has become a relative classic in the Orthodox Jewish world. Like many of Levine's hits, it is a heartfelt tune with a rising crescendo.[7] On his second album, Chasan Hatorah, Levine performed a medley of his compositions that other performers had made famous.[8]

For Levine's 2009 album, Touched by a Niggun, Rabbi Yechiel Spero, author of the Touched by a Story series of books, wrote the English lyrics to the songs, which are based on his stories.[2]

In 2010 Levine wrote two new songs and performed live in concert with Yaakov Shwekey; the resulting album, Live in Caesarea II – 5770, was later released on CD and DVD.[9]

Levine was a guest performer at the 12th Siyum HaShas on August 1, 2012, at MetLife Stadium,[4] which was attended by nearly 100,000 Jews.[10] He also performs at charity benefits.[11] On November 27, 2011 he performed together with Shwekey in a concert benefiting Hatzolah in London.[12] He was featured at the HASC 27 "A Time for Music" concert on January 12, 2013.[13][14]

Discography

Albums
  • Vezakeini (2006)[15]
  • Chasan Hatorah (2008)[16]
  • Touched by a Niggun (2009)[17][18]
  • Hashkifah (2011)[19][20]
  • Modim Anachnu Lach (2013)[1]
  • Project Relax with Simcha Leiner (2015)
  • Bonim Atem (2015)
  • Project Relax Again with Simcha Leiner (2017)
  • Peduscha (2018)
  • Off the Record (2020)

References
  1. "Baruch Levine: Modim Anachnu Lach". Jewish Music Report. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  2. BJL Staff (24 March 2014). "Touched by Nigunim and A Maaseh, Mechinas Ner Yisrael Melava Malkah Features Reb Baruch Levine and Rabbi Yechiel Spero". Baltimore Jewish Life. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  3. Ginsberg, Johanna (19 January 2011). "Morristown teen competes for slot at hasidic songfest". New Jersey Jewish News. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  4. "End Note: Dreaming of Redemption". Mishpacha. 13 December 2017. Archived from the original on 3 January 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2018. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. "Yeshiva K'tana of Waterbury: Administration". Yeshiva K'tana of Waterbury. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  6. Besser, Yisroel (23 September 2012). "Music Lessons". Mishpacha. Archived from the original on 3 January 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  7. Besser, Yisroel. "The Songs We Sang". Mishpacha supplement: "10 Years". Pesach 5774 (Spring 2004), p. 39.
  8. "Chasan Hatorah". Judaica Enterprises. 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  9. "Live in Caesarea II – 5770". Sameach Music, Inc. 2014. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  10. Nussbaum Cohen, Debra (29 July 2012). "Nearly 100,000 Jews to gather in N.J. to celebrate completion of Talmud cycle". Haaretz. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  11. "Concert on the Lawn with Baruch Levine". Yiddish Music. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  12. Shasha, Adam (1 December 2011). "Guest Review: Shwekey and Levine, Live in London". Jewish Music Report. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  13. "Video Collection of HASC 27 Concert". gruntig.net. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  14. "HASC – A Time for Music 27 DVD". eichlers.com. 2013. Archived from the original on 2014-07-13. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  15. "Baruch Levine - Vezakeini". Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  16. "Chasan Hatorah: Mostly Music". Mostly Music. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  17. "Touched by a Niggun". Mostly Music. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  18. "Touched by a Niggun". Amazon.ca. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  19. "Hashkifah". Sameach Music, Inc. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  20. "Baruch Levine - Touched by a Niggun". NME. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
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