Mendy Jerufi: Bringing Music and Joy, One Note at a Time

Mendy Jerufi grew up in the Ta’anach region, as the son of Chabad shluchim who were sent there by the Lubavitcher Rebbe. 

"Back then it was a quiet, remote place, without many cultural activities or programs for children. One day, a delegation from the city visited our school, and one of the guests was a violinist. It was the first time I had ever seen someone play the violin, and I was deeply inspired. That’s when my love for music was born."

“For months afterward, I would play at home with two sticks — imagining that one was a violin and the other a bow, and I would ‘play’ them. Years later, when I grew up, I had the privilege of performing together with that same talented violinist — a special Jew named Meir Rosen.”

A Jewish Concept You Feel Deeply Connected To?

“As a teenager, I was privileged to receive a special blessing from the Lubavitcher Rebbe when I passed by him on Sukkot. Usually, when people came by during the dollar distribution, he would give a dollar and bless them with ‘Blessing and success.’ That year, when I passed before him, he gave me a dollar and said: ‘Increase in joy.’

“I understood then that the Rebbe was giving me a personal directive — to connect to the point of joy in serving God, and to bring joy to others. In general, the whole subject of joy in Judaism speaks to me very deeply.”

What Is Judaism to You?

“For me, Judaism is the privilege of being a child of the Almighty. I know not everyone likes this expression, but we are the Chosen People. God chose specifically us, out of all the nations. And being chosen is a privilege — it is a great gift, a joy, and the source of life.”

A Mitzvah That Is Especially Close to Your Heart?

“I feel very connected to the mitzvah of kindness — especially as it relates to bringing joy. For me, a small private performance in a hospital room is worth more than any huge concert in front of thousands of people.

“To bring happiness to Jews who are struggling or ill, to lift up someone whose heart is broken and help them smile again — that to me, is the greatest thing in the world. And I thank God for the privilege and the ability He has given me to bring joy to people.”

Your Favorite Jewish Holiday?

“Passover. Partly because I was born on the night of the Seder, but also because it’s a time of renewal and cleansing — a special holiday of faith. The change in food, the Pesach kitchen, the spring atmosphere — all of it helps me connect to this holiday in a special way. It’s a holiday of closing one chapter and beginning a new one, with a fresh outlook.”

How Present Is God in Your Life, and How Does That Influence Your Work?

“Precisely as someone who works independently, I feel a very deep connection to God. I feel that God manages my schedule. When people who want to enter the world of music ask me for advice or tips, I always tell them: remember that God manages the calendar.

“What determines things is not PR, or a good word from a producer — but only what God wants to happen. Wherever you are meant to be, you will be. I’ve been singing for 23 years, and there is no manager greater than God.”

A Jewish Figure Who Inspires You?

“The Lubavitcher Rebbe, of course. He is my greatest influence — guiding me in every step of my life and shaping the path of my service to God.”

A Biblical Figure You Would Want to Meet?

“Definitely King David. It is written that when the spirit of God rested upon him, he would begin to play music. He merited prophecy and closeness to God through melody. And the words he wrote are so powerful — the simplest Jew can open a book of Tehillim and feel as if those words were written just for him.”

A Meaningful Encounter or Conversation You’ve Had?

“A few years ago I was performing at the inauguration of a yeshiva in Jerusalem, near the Western Wall. At that time, I was suffering from severe hoarseness and persistent throat pain. It was right before Sukkot — a season full of performances and Simchat Beit HaShoeva events, and I was very worried about how I would manage.

“Rav Mordechai Eliyahu was present at the event. I approached him and asked for a blessing for my throat and voice. He looked at me and said: ‘On your tie there is a cross-pattern — it must be cut off and thrown away.’ I examined the tie and indeed saw a woven cross-like pattern that I had never noticed before, because it was cleverly disguised.

“I tore the tie off and threw it into the trash. Then he blessed me that, God willing, I should merit ‘KOL (voice) — Refuah Kerova Lavo’ (a Hebrew acronym meaning ‘healing will come soon’). Shortly afterward, the pain and hoarseness disappeared completely, as if they had never existed. That Sukkot turned out to be one of the best I ever had, and I merited to sing and bring joy to many Jews.”

Professionally — Are You Where You Imagined You’d Be?

“My work is not a career — it is a mission. I don’t set professional goals. Every phone call I receive to bring joy to Jews — I know it is simply another part of my shlichut (life’s mission).

"I published a collection of teachings called ‘Marbim b’Simcha’ about Chassidic concepts of joy, and I try to expand this mission in every direction — not only through music. Branding and publicity don’t occupy a central place in my life, because they are not my ultimate aim. What I want is to bring joy to Jews and to work on the trait of happiness.”

Where Do You See Yourself in Ten Years?

“With God’s help, I hope that by then He will have mercy on us and rebuild the Beit HaMikdash — and that we will merit to see the Kohanim performing their service and the Levites singing their songs. I hope to see the Levites bringing joy to the people of Israel through music.”

What Do You Think About Baalei Teshuva, and How Connected Do You Feel to Them?

“I am deeply moved by them. My family and I live in Rehovot, and every Shabbat we invite baalei teshuva couples. Partly because they don’t always have family members to host them for Shabbat, and partly for the sake of my children.

“Every week, I ask our guest to share their life story, and my children sit there, fascinated — realizing what that person gave up, and how much they sacrificed. I think this instills in them both admiration for baalei teshuva and a deep sense of gratitude for having grown up as believing Jews.”