Rabbi Benzion Shenker - Lecha Dodi (Modzitz)

Описание: Rabbi Ben Zion Shenker (1925–2016) was a world-renowned American Hasidic composer and cantor (hazzan) who is widely credited with revolutionizing and preserving Hasidic music in the 20th century. Born and raised in Brooklyn to Polish immigrants, he became the primary musical figure associated with the Modzitz Hasidic dynasty.

Musical Contributions and Legacy
Shenker's influence on Jewish music is profound, with several of his compositions becoming so deeply integrated into Jewish life that they are often mistaken for ancient traditional tunes.

Prolific Composer: He composed over 500 original melodies, including some of the most famous songs in the Jewish world today:

"Eishes Chayil": A staple at Friday night Sabbath tables worldwide.

"Mizmor LeDovid": A ubiquitous setting of Psalm 23.

"Yossis Alayich": One of the most common songs played at Jewish weddings.

The "Musical Secretary": In 1940, at age 15, he met Rabbi Shaul Taub, the Modzitzer Rebbe, who had just arrived in America after surviving the Holocaust. Shenker’s ability to read and transcribe musical notation led to him becoming the Rebbe’s "musical secretary," preserving hundreds of complex Modzitzer "operas" and melodies that might otherwise have been lost.

Pioneer of Recording: In 1956, he founded the Neginah record label and released the first-ever commercial recording of Hasidic niggunim (spiritual melodies) in the United States. This sparked a revival that led other Hasidic groups to begin documenting their own musical heritages.

Personal Life and Career
Despite his immense fame in the musical world, Shenker lived a life characterized by humility and dedication to his community.

Dual Career: Though an ordained rabbi and a legendary musician, he did not make his living from music. He worked primarily in his family's sweater manufacturing business and as a partner in a diamond dealership.

Rabbi and Cantor: For nearly six decades, he served as the cantor and later the rabbi of a Modzitz synagogue in Brooklyn (moving from Crown Heights to Midwood).

Artistic Integrity: His music remained strictly rooted in Eastern European traditions, avoiding the modern "pop" influences found in much contemporary Jewish music. He continued to compose and record until the very end of his life, releasing a final album with mandolinist Andy Statman shortly before his passing at age 91.