A Journey to Radin | Dirshu

 

I had the privilege of visiting Radin on a Dirshu journey marking the 82nd yahrtzeit of the Chofetz Chaim. It was an unforgettable experience from beginning to end — closing a circle that had begun decades earlier in the Rebbe’s yeshiva, and culminating in a historic journey of Gedolei Yisrael to his kever in our own time. The powerful words of chizuk touched every heart and brought us closer to Hashem. But perhaps the most unforgettable moment was the tefillah at the Chofetz Chaim’s kever. As we entered the Beis Hachaim in Radin, the rain began to fall. It continued throughout the tefillos, almost as if the heavens themselves were weeping together with the Gedolim as they davened for the thousands of names that had been brought with us. And then, as the tefillos came to an end and we began to leave, the rain suddenly stopped. The clouds parted, and the sun broke through — almost as if the heavens were saying: *“Your mission was accomplished.”* Following that journey, I composed In Radin and wrote these lyrics as a reflection of what we experienced that extraordinary day. In Radin is my personal musical testimony to the spiritual power, emotion, and unity we experienced when we came together at the resting place of the Chofetz Chaim in Radin. *Rabbi Nachman Seltzer* Credits Song composed, lyrics written, and vocals performed by Rabbi Nachman Seltzer Arranged by Eli Klein & Yitzy Berry Guitar and bass – Nachman Helbitz Strings – The Israeli Orchestra Piano – Eli Klein & Yitzy Berry Drums – Avi Avidani Violin – Ayal Shiloach Lyrics *Low* Our plane soon out of sight, as we traveled through the night, a promise of what lay ahead, there in Radin, A few hundred on the way, to a most auspicious day, it's the yahrtzeit of the Rebbe, there in Radin *Low* When we landed it was late, taking buses through the gate, destination up ahead, there in Radin, Then the darkness dissipates, morning sunshine in its place, we arrive and disembark, there in Radin *High* The gedolim file in, donning tallis and tefillin, what hargasha in our hearts, there in Radin Together, reunited at last, hearing voices from the past, as the walls themselves seemed to shake, there in Radin, there in Radin *Low* There's a mist in the air, droplets of rain everywhere, as we enter the Beis Hachaim, there in Radin, Words of chizuk, we're inspired, the gedolim are on fire, as we open our tehillims, there in Radin *High* Our tears mix with the rain, screaming "Rebbe, you're nation's in pain, crying out to shomayim, there in Radin Reciting thousands of names, "oy vey Tatte mir kumen aheim," and the heavens themselves seem to weep, there in Radin, there in Radin *Low* It is time for us to part, yet we leave behind our hearts, at the kever of the rebbe, there in Radin, Now we're walking across sodden fields, as the thunder and rain start to yield, and the sun's shining bright through the clouds, there in Radin *High* How we davened, how we cried, reaching deeper than ever inside, for our nation, on that day, there in Radin It is clear that we found the key, on the day of Jewish Unity, our tefilos ascending on high, there in Radin, there in Radin