31 Oct REMEMBERING SHEYA MENDLOWITZ REPRINTED FROM THE JEWISH VUES JANUARY 14, 2017 EDITION AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH LEGENDARY JEWISH MUSIC PRODUCER SHEYA MENDLOWITZ
The career of Sheya Mendlowitz is one of great magnitude. His name is prominently
displayed on hundreds of stereophonic systems, tapes, cassettes, and compact discs. He was
the first to combine a fundraising affair with a musical celebration. He is the essence of
everything professional. From the start, Camp HASC and Sheya Mendlowitz were hooked
together, behaving like partners, soulmates, and steadfast friends. The strongest bonds, of
course, were the children. He is the creator of the HASC “A Time for Music” concerts.
This year, the Camp HASC concert producer, Eli Gerstner, decided to honor the legendary
Jewish music producer Sheya Mendlowitz for all the great work he has done for Camp
HASC. Last week, Ari Hirsch from The Vues had the honor to interview Sheya to discuss
the Camp HASC concert, his career, and numerous other topics.
Walk us through the idea of year 1. How
did the Camp HASC concert come to
be?
My family’s first encounter with Camp
HASC was on the Sunday prior to the
beginning of the three weeks in the
summer of 1987. My friend, Mordechai
Ben David Werdyger (MBD) and his
wife Rebbitzen Esther Werdyger called
to invite me to come and participate in a
mitzvah he did the year before, singing
for special children in this special camp.
I must admit, at first I was reluctant to go.
After spending a short period of time with
the children, my mind was made up. There
was no reason for any reluctance, just the
opposite.
Being in the music business, I have
arranged and attended many concerts.
None have ever been so unique and special.
I was left in total awe and amazement.
The response was overwhelming. When
we pulled into the driveway the whole
camp was waiting in the parking lot. As
Mordechai got out of the car, the children
erupted with excitement and eagerness,
which words can’t describe. We proceeded
to the dining room where the concert was
to take place. As the music started and
Mordechai began to sing, the room started
to shake, the energy which emanated from
the room was great. At the end of the
evening, I approached Mr. Moishe Kahn,
the director of Camp HASC. I told him
how much I had enjoyed the experience
and asked if I could come to camp for a
Shabbos with my family. His response was
“Yes, of course, come any time.”
I decided to go the following Shabbos
Parshas Pinchas. It was love at first
sight. Shabbos was filled with ruach and
excitement. The Shabbos was inspirational
from the beginning of Shalom Aleichem to
the end of Havdolah. It was a Shabbos I
will never forget.
I told Moishe Kahn that he had an
incredible camp, and that the work that
they do for the kids and the parents is just
as incredible. He then told me that this
was likely going to be the last summer
because the government was taking
away their funding. The government
felt that this was a luxury and the kids
could attend schools at home. I said
that he couldn’t close the place down
and I had an idea. This is all while I had
one foot in the car ready to go home. I
proposed something that had never been
done before- a gala benefit concert for
the HASC Summer Program. Originally,
it was supposed to
be at the theater in
Madison Square
Garden but Ding
suggested we have
it at Lincoln Center.
The rest is musical
history….
The first concert was
January 17, 1988.
Nearly 3,000 people
gathered at Lincoln
Center to participate in
“A Time for Music.”
Never before had
such an undertaking
been ventured under
Jewish auspices. It
was the first time
that three Jewish
superstars Mordechai
Ben David,
Avraham Fried, and
Yoel Sharabi, had
performed together on the same stage.
Rivie and Leba Schwebel were involved
from the beginning. The inspirational
evening climaxed with spontaneous
dancing on stage by Camp HASC
counselors with Camp HASC directors
Moishe and Shmuel Kahn together with
Principal Rabbi Shlomo Stern. B”H it was
a tremendous success!
How does it make you feel that this show
“A Time for Music” is still considered
today the premier show in the world
and that the funds from this concert still
keep this amazing camp open?
Hashem makes it that when people are
successful it is because he puts the idea
in their heads. I was chosen as a shaliach.
Hashem put it into my head to give THEM
this idea to help keep the camp open. And
I wasn’t just producing
the show, I was
fundraising too, and I
didn’t know anything
about fundraising. I
was flying around the
world with Moishe
Kahn helping him to
make this happen.
We went to anyone I
knew who I thought
could help out. So
even though I’m not
involved anymore
with the production
of this show, it’s still
benefiting the children
and the families so
that Camp HASC can
stay open. I hope that
it’s a zechus upstairs
in shamayim for me
and everyone involved
ad meah v’esrim. I’m
very proud of it. I’m glad that the people
who have taken over production of the
show and the entire camp are doing good
things with their success. Chairman of the
Board of Camp HASC, Jeremy Strauss,
who now took over the reins, was a young
staff member when I was involved. I’m
glad we’ve inspired others to do good
things. It’s not just about music, it’s about
using music as a vehicle to do good and
inspire. It’s an outlet for the children and
the families of the children to have a well-
deserved respite. The Chairman of the
Board, Jeremy Strauss, is a person that
continues to set an example of chesed and
tzedakah without any fanfare. He makes
it look easy, even though it’s extremely
difficult.
What do you think about Eli Gerstner
as a producer?
First of all, I like Eli Gerstner a lot. He’s
a big Tzadik. He’s a young man that is
very talented and B”H very successful.
I’ve worked with him in the past and I’ve
enjoyed working with him very much. I
wish him continued success. I appreciate
very much that he (& Jeremy) disposed
on me this honor at this year’s Camp
HASC concert.
How is the Camp HASC concert #30
going to be remembered?
I’m in the dark about most of it, so I’m
not sure! The nature of being in the
entertainment business is that you have to
be somewhat in the public eye, but that’s
something I don’t like. One of my first
productions that I did was an Avraham
Fried concert. I didn’t put my name on the
front cover. My mother a”h said to me,
“If this is what you want to do for your
parnasa, you NEED to put your name on
the cover so that people know who was
responsible for this product.” I’m telling
you this because of course you want
Hakaras Hatov for the things you’ve done,
and you want to be recognized for what
you’ve done, but the whole honor thing is
really not my thing. It’s nice of them to do
and I’m sure it will be a success because
it’s in capable hands. Just as we said at
the first concert, it’s going to be a special
evening for special people.
How many Camp HASC concerts have
you actually produced?
I think 15. I took a break and did the first
two Ohel Shows and then Ding continued,
but after a few years I went back and did
more. The last Camp HASC concert I
produced was A Time for Music-18.
Did you ever do what Eli [Gerstner]
is doing now and not announce the
entertainers in advance?
Yes, numerous times. If you’ve earned
the reputation for doing the right thing,
then it adds to the hype and makes the
show more exciting.
What inspired you to go into the Jewish
music industry?
As far back as I can remember I loved
music. In Yeshiva, my second grade
Rebbe was Rabbi Eli Teitlebaum a”h,
who headed the original Pirchei Choir.
I tried out, made it, and appeared on the
fourth Pirchei Choir LP. I also sang on the
Sdei Chemed albums. I was in touch with
my Rebbe all the time, even until right
before he passed away. Avraham Fried
also sang for him, but he never wanted to
become a superstar. But R’ Eli told him
to send me a demo and I convinced him
to give it a try. So that’s how that part of
my career started. I come from a musical
family; no one ever did it professionally
but that’s what Hashem had in mind for
me.
Was Jewish music always your full
time parnasa?
I always did music as a main thing. I tried
to leave it in the late 90’s when it became
overwhelming to me, but I came back to
it.
Who was your favorite musician to
work with?
Most of the time I worked with the same
group of musicians, Yisroel Lamm is one
of my dearest friends, he was part of the
original production team of the Camp
HASC concert series.
How has the Jewish music industry
changed in the last 30 years?
Like anything, with technology everything
has changed. One thing I have tried to do
is to preserve Jewish music. Everything is
influenced by its surroundings and people
try to take the rhythms of secular music
and put Jewish words to it, but I wonder
if that’s really Jewish music. So what I’ve
tried to do is preserve the Jewish identity
of the music. The stuff that’s lasted
through time are the real old, old songs-
the chasideshe stuff and the Carlebach
stuff and the Modzitzer stuff, because if
you take all the arrangements and extras
out of it, you’re left with a beautiful, pure
melody.
What are you doing now?
I’ve been working on something for a
while. It’s been a dream of mine and I
hope to get it to the market soon.
Is there anything else you would like to
tell readers of The Jewish Vues?
People say that they have a גוט feeling
about something. But I would say I had
a “Gut” feeling, a feeling from Hashem. I
was zoche with Yisroel Lamm to put the
first Jewish symphony orchestra on stage.
Hashem let me realize all my dreams, and
I still have some more, and I hope they
become a reality. I hope that I have many
more years left in Jewish music and that
Hashem gives me the strength and the
opportunity to contribute more to a field
that I love so much!
SHEYA MENDLOWITZ FAST FACTS:
Born: Brooklyn, NY
Age at the first HASC concert: 25
Camp HASC concerts produced:15
Sheya himself composed one of the
most famous “Siman Tov U’mazel
Tov” niggunim of all time (still sung
at all simchas all over the world.)
In 1979, Sheya co-produced the
Amudei Sheish Boys choir LP, then
solo produced the Amudei Sheish
Wedding Album which followed
in 1980 and was distributed by
Menorah. Sheya credits the owner
of Menorah distribution, Sol Tischler
z”l, as being one of the reasons he
succeeded, especially at his start.
Sheya produced the first Avraham
Fried album “No Jew Will Be Left
Behind” in 1981.
In 1981, Sheya produced his first
concert at the Felt Forum in Madison
Square Garden, also with Mordechai
Ben David.
Largest venue Sheya ever produced
a show:
Radio City Music Hall and
Metropolitan Opera are the two
most prestigious places in the world
to produce music. He was zoche to
produce in both. He’s also produced
quite a few on his own in Israel but
he’s worked on a lot of shows in
Israel.
Favorite Shlomo Carlebach a”h song:
Almost everyone! Both Sheya and
his father were good friends with
Shlomo and they worked together
on numerous projects.
Favorite MBD song:
Very hard to answer but probably
Kah Ribon.
Favorite Avraham Fried song:
He loves all the songs from the first
7 albums (because he produced
them!)
Favorite Abie Rotenberg song:
He loves all his D’veykus songs & Lev
V’nefesh songs, especially Acheinu.
Favorite Ben Zion Schenker a”h
song:
He was a master musician- we were
all inspired by him- Mizmor L’Dovid.