French
DeutschMichoel Schnitzler
Michoel Schnitzler | |
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 Schnitzler in 2023 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | August 7, 1961 Berkeley, California, US |
| Died | April 14, 2023 (aged 61) Monsey, New York, US |
| Website | michoelschnitzler |
Michoel Schnitzler (August 7, 1961 – April 14, 2023) was an American Hasidic singer and composer. He released over 150 mostly Yiddish-language songs.
Early life
[edit]Schnitzler was born on August 7, 1961, into a rabbinic family in Berkeley, California.[1][2] After his father died when Michoel was 15 years old,[3] he studied at the Tosh yeshiva in Quebec, Canada.[1]
Career
[edit]Schnitzler started singing in the 1980s after he was married and had two children, when he was at the Satmar Rebbe's tish on Succos and he was asked to sing. Initially embarrassed, he sang will turned to the wall, and was encouraged after he received a warm reception.[3] He was then hired to sing at a wedding, which was followed by more weddings, despite it being unusual to have a singer at Jewish weddings in those times.[4]
He released his first album in 2000.[2] He has since released 15 albums including over 150 songs.[5] He also composed songs for other singers, including Lipa Schmeltzer, Pinky Weber, and Motti Ilowitz.[6] He sung at over 4,200 weddings.[5]
Schnitzler sang Yiddish comedic tunes[2] and classical tunes and added his own style to them. He sung with a booming voice and interacted with the audience when singing at events.[1] His albums were mostly soulful Yiddish melodies, as well as upbeat songs.[2] Some Hasidic rabbis disapproved of his style, which led to him moving out of the Hasidic enclave of Kiryas Joel.[1]
Personal life
[edit]Schnitzler was divorced and lived in poverty for part of his life.[1] He suffered from a heart condition and was hospitalized several times, which once in February 2017 led to rumors that he had died, after which he released a recording joking that he had not yet died.[7][2]
Schnitzler died on April 14, 2023 from a heart attack in Monsey, New York.[2] He was eulogized by his sons, Rabbi Yosef Yechiel Mechel Lebovits, and singer Lipa Schmeltzer.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Labin, Meyer (April 18, 2023). "'So many broken hearts': Remembering Michoel Schnitzler, father of Hasidic pop". The Forward. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "Michoel Schnitzler, 62, OBM". COLlive. April 16, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
- ^ a b "Shocking Petirah of Beloved Singer Reb Michoel Schnitzler z"l". Matzav.com. April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
- ^ "Sea Gate, NY - Trendsetting Chasidic Singer Michoel Schnitzler in First-Ever Video Interview". VIN News. October 1, 2009. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Leading hassidic musician Michoel Schnitzler dead at 62". Israel National News. April 16, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
- ^ "Reb Michoel Schnitzler, 62, OBM". chabadinfo.com. April 16, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
- ^ Weisberg, Moshe; Har Zvi, Kobi (February 20, 2017). ""מיכאל שניצלר: "השמועות אינן נכונות, אני חי" [Michoel Schnitzler: The Rumors Are Not True, I'm Alive]. Behadrey Haredim (in Hebrew). Retrieved April 6, 2025.
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