Sing, dance, and reconnect along with the Thank You Hashem nation
Photos: Naftoli Goldgrab
Its a frigid winter night, but inside this comfortable Lawrence home there’s a warmth generated by something other than the heating system. It’s a spark that emanates from a group of friends huddled around, kumzitz-style, jamming and brainstorming their newest ways to spread a message of ahavas Yisrael, spiritual connection, and, above all, THANK YOU, HASHEM!
Yep, these are the guys — Aryeh Blumstein, his brother Elimelech, singer Joey Newcomb, and Yakov Josephy, with the help of a cadre of friends and supporters — who launched that quintessentially grassroots, infectiously exuberant movement to promote gratitude, positive thinking, and chassidic ideas throughout the Jewish community. You’ve surely seen their swag: the stickers, bracelets, hoodies, and keychains sporting the logo of a little crown and the words “Thank You Hashem!” Their online posts compel thousands. Every song they release goes viral. An idea that might have once been dismissed as a fad has become a badge of cool consciousness and dveikus.