By Riki Goldstein May 4, 2021
The songs are soulful, and the pesukim Binyamin chose reflect where his mind was focused, even as his body was wracked by the disease
Binyamin Zwickler a”h, a young man who passed away in 2017 at age 25, had a passion for music that helped him through the challenges of his seven-year-long illness. The Far Rockaway native, diagnosed with cancer in his senior year in high school, composed a collection of deeply personal songs that he mostly kept to himself, but a few months before he passed away, he decided to record them in a home studio and shared them with his family and close friends. And now, those friends have partnered with Madraigos, an organization dedicated to helping young people overcome their challenges, to bring Binyamin’s music to the wider world.
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 the