16 Jan FUN QUESTIONS WITH AVRAHAM FRIED

Last Sunday, Ari Hirsch from The Jewish Vues had the honor to interview Jewish Music
Superstar Avraham Fried at the ”A Time For Music 37“ Camp Hasc concert.

How many years have you been performing “A
Time For Music” Camp HASC concerts?
I really can’t tell you!! The only thing I can
tell you is that I’m probably the only one on
stage this year that was at the first “A Time For
Music” Camp HASC concert.

The achdus in Klal Yisrael right now are off
the charts, what is the secret to keeping the
achdus going?
Unfortunately, it’s either a great miracle
or a great tragedy that brings us together.
Unfortunately, we’ve seen more tragedies in
our two-thousand-year history. I suggest that
the Aibishter should give us a big big gigantic
miracle and the achdus will also be b‘simcha.
Now, we’re in achdus, but we’re broken. He
can give us great miracles that will make us all
very happy. We’re Am Echad. So just keep each
other in mind and command Moshiach.

Since the war began, everybody was told to
take a kabbalah upon themselves, to improve
themselves, to help Klal Yisrael, what have you
taken upon yourself as a kabbalah?
I think Klal Yisrael has so many kabblos tovos
and so many good things until now that
Moshiach should’ve come a long time ago.
What haven’t we done yet? We’ve done it all.

Can you name someone that lived in your
lifetime that represents the power of one?
I would go with Dedi tonight. Dedi was a
force of chessed. He always called me to do
mitzvos. Even when he was sick, he wanted to
do a video for this kid or that kid, who needed
chizzuk. He had just a gigantic heart.

Name someone alive that you would call a
leader:
Shai Graucher. Out of nowhere, he’s become
a force of chessed that’s unparalleled. It’s
unbelievable! Hashem should give him koach.
He learnt from his father, so there you go.

Fill in the blank:
When Moshiach comes_______________
We will see Hashem face to face.

Fill in the blank:
Back in the day, we used to___________
Sing Jewish-sounding songs.

Moshiach is Im Yirtzeh Hashem coming
tonight. This coming Shabbos, we’re going to

be davening in the Beis Hamikdash. Friday
night, Kabbalas Shabbos, who should be
chazzan?
Now that’s a tough one! Let him come and I’ll
let you know.

What is your favorite Moshiach song that’s not
yours?
I like the Seudeny (Seudah Shel Levyason)
song where the song describes what will be
when Moshiach comes.

Favorite Emunah song (does not have to be
yours).
Reb Yom Tov Ehrlich when he sings about the
13 ani mamins.

What’s your favorite Abie Rotenberg song?
“Memories.”

What’s your favorite Mordechai Shapiro song?
“Ein Od Milvado.”

What’s your favorite Baruch Levine song?
והוא קלי – Keli Vehu

What’s your favorite Benny Friedman song?
B’sheim Hashem

What’s your favorite song that Sheya
Mendlowitz produced for you?
We did ten albums together. Every album has
amazing hits. Sheya produced a lot of good
stuff. It’s hard to pick one. The first song on the

album that became my first hit was the “Kel
Hadaos Adon Hashalom” Boruch Chait song.
It is still a hit song until today, so I owe Sheya
everything.

What’s your favorite MBD song?
There are so many. I like “Od Yeshvu.”

What’s your favorite Shlomo Carlebach song?
I like his “Mimkomcho.”

What does Avraham Fried like to listen to Erev
Shabbos to get you into the Shabbos mood?
L’chaim Tish Shabbos songs. They have all the
classing Shabbos songs that brings in a holy
vibe into the house. I recommend it.

What’s your favorite song to sing at the
Shabbos table?
I have my father’s zemiros that I sing that my
father taught us – Bobov melodies.

Do you have a pre-concert ritual?
Moving around, jumping, jogging and
keeping the breath going. Vocalizing a little,
praying, and having the pushka ready!

Name a person that has lived in your lifetime
that represents true Ahavas Yisrael.
My father was a great Ohev Yisroel. He
dedicated his life to helping Yidden, even
risking his life back in Prague where he was
arrested for helping yidden.

If you could ask the Lubavitcher Rebbe one
question right now, what would it be?
What’s taking so long?

If you could have three people for Friday night
Shabbos dinner, anyone from the beginning of
time. Who would your 3 dinner guests be?
Yosef Hatzadik, Esther Hamalka & Dovid
Hamelech

Fly on the wall: If you could be in a room
anytime in the history of mankind and witness
something, name some place that you would
like to be when something happened?
I want to be there when Moshiach shows up.

With all the amazing concerts that have gone
on this year, especially with this current
situation in Eretz Yisrael, which concert would
you say was the most leibedik?
I’ve done a few concerts in New York recently
and the crowd has come alive. We’re always
a little bit laid back like singing for me and
clapping a little bit sporadically. Let it go,
have a little energy because that’s what gives
the singer some energy, so I’m very happy
that in New York now the crowd has become
more alive. They’re letting loose a little bit and
enjoying the moment and they’re getting into
it and for the singer that’s amazing.

Can we narrow it down to one concert?
I did a concert a few months ago in Poland for
3,000 non-Jews, who the organizer discovered
“Abba” online and that’s their favorite,
they don’t understand a word of English
or Hebrew. So, 3,000 people in a beautiful

outdoor place, with 3,000 non-Jews, who are
loving the Chassidic songs and at one point
it started raining, do you think anybody left?
3,000 umbrellas opened up at the same time
and they were sitting there in the rain and
enjoying themselves. I got wet, but they were
sitting there and enjoying themselves. It was
a chiddush that non-Jews were listening to my
music.