In this powerful video below entitled ‘Halleluya‘,
Darren Glick, singer/songwriter, incorporates American Sign Language making his music accessible to our Jewish Deaf brothers and sisters. His song captures our suffering as Jewish people and also our resilience, spirit and our destiny of light.
FROM DARREN:
“…We are one family and that includes every part of our Tribe so Todah Rabah for helping my music reach our Brothers and Sisters in the Deaf Community. 🙏💙”
‘HALLELUYA’ in ASL:
The tragedy of October 7th
and its ongoing suffering imprisons us. “Never Again” is not a Slogan but a call to action. A call to unite us and remind us of who we are and what our purpose is; “to be a light unto the Nations” (Isaiah 60:3).
When Darren and I discussed bringing Jewish music to Deaf viewers, he chose this song because of its relevance today. We are suffering and imprisoned again. As Jewish people have done through history, so too today we must find a way to praise Hashem especially during calamitous times. We praise HaShem during jubilant, victorious moments but also we must praise even in our darkest hours as everything has a purpose even that which we don’t understand or that we might experience as punishment. As a Nation, a People and individuals we are not okay but we will overcome this current struggle as we always have throughout our long history.
‘Halleluya’ was originally dedicated to honor Darren’s grandfather, Stephan Igra and his brothers and sisters (Yurek, Michael, Christina, Theresa, Leon) who survived by pretending to be gentiles in Warsaw, outside the ghetto, during WWII. His grandfather helped shuffle his siblings to different safe houses while other siblings fought in the Polish underground. In respect and recognition of their actions and their survival, their photos are shown throughout the video. As Darren says, “I am because of you!”
One Jewish family can represent us all.
From Darkness & Suffering to Hope & Light
Thank You and Halleluya
Love, Raquel רָחֵל
p.s. Below is the video on Youtube for any who don’t have access to Instagram.