Avraham Fried - Maher (Composed By Mendel Brikman A"H)

I want to tell you about a chaver of mine.

His name is Mendel Brikman, a devoted husband and father of six. For years, Mendel struggled to take even a single breath. He was hospitalized numerous times; but while some patients focused on their own challenges, Mendel focused on his fellow patients. A devoted Chabad Chassid, he felt that his being in the hospital was a call to reach out to his fellow Jew - which he did at every possible occasion.

During one of my many visits with Mendel I saw how much his health had deteriorated and I let out an involuntary "oy." Mendel looked at me with a big smile and said, “No ‘oys’ around here!”

Mendel was a lover of Jewish music and chazonos. During one of my visits with him before his passing, he shared with me that he had written a song of hope set to the words from davening of Maher Vhaveh Aleinu.

This beautiful composition captures Mendel’s indomitable spirit, his deep connection and appreciation for the power of a niggun, and his heartfelt request for Hashem to 

ותוליכנו מהרה קוממיות לארצנו.

Thank you to the Brikman family for honoring me with singing Maher, to my nephew Chaim Marcus who produced the song and Avrumi Berko on a beautiful arrangement. The Brikman family along with Mostly Music have generously made it available at no charge.

So download, listen and be inspired by a man who made a powerful Kiddush Hashem right up to his last day and with his last breath.

This is Mendel Brikman’s ‘Maher.’

With prayers for Mashiach Now!

Avraham Fried