That’s it, eh? Vacation is over. Sfirat HaOmer is behind us, Shavuot is behind us. Back to work.

But I was away from my desk for quite some time, so let’s catch up a little, you and me.

So, first there is the wrapping up of my Israel trip. In short, it was a great trip, a great ride, a great experience and great exposure. I have to thank Davidi, of Davidi Productions, for putting that trip together and making it happen. Todah rabbah! (Oh yeah, I picked up a little Hebrew along the way.) I would like to thank my dear friend Chazzan (Chattan) Zalman Traxler for so graciously hosting me for the duration of my trip. Mazal Tov guys! There are a few more people I would really like to thank for making that trip so memorable. Rabbi and Mrs. Yossi Swerdlov, and the OldCityTish.Com crew, Chaki and Chana Abehsera, Rabbi & Mrs. Meir Abehsera and family, Leibale Lipskier and his family, and all the Jerusalem taxi drivers who never fail to entertain you as they transport you to your destination. Thank you all, and all the families who so courageously invited a rookie to your personal Simchas. Shkoach!

Then, back in the states, I spent a few days in New York, and then it was Pesach. That’s when I got sick. The traveling, the weather changes, the lack of sleep all caught up to me. And I have three concerts Pesach. What to do? I don’t know. Pray and practice, practice and pray. That’s what I did. the first night of Chol Hamoed I was in Pittsburgh, PA, hosted by the Chabad Youth and Rabbi Shmuly Rothman. After a nice amount of Kosher for Passover chicken soup, it was off to work. B”H the show went well, and after the curtains went down a woman came up to me and gave me the nicest compliment I think I have ever received. She is not a very religious woman, as far as I could tell, and she walked up to me with a stride that said I want to say something. I wasn’t sure what it would be (as you probably have assumed.) And she says, “I know you like to consider yourself an artist,” and I thought to myself Oh Boy, here goes. She’s about to give me a lecture about my dancing. But then she continues with, “But you should really be wearing a lab coat and a stethoscope because you really healed a lot of people tonight.” I’m not going to lie to you. I was very touched by those words. She walked away before their meaning could really sink in, but sink in they did, and those words gave me a whole new respect for my job, the music and the work that all this entails. Oooh, and I got to sing a duet with Agent Emes. That was awesome.

Then it was off to Scottsdale, AZ, to a Pesach resort. I was feeling a lot worse than I was feeling the night before. I tried sitting out in the Arizona sun for a while, but that didn’t work. My head was throbbing, and my throat felt stiff. So I ran to take a nap, and hoped that when I woke up, it would all be gone like the dreams I might dream. But I woke up a few minutes before showtime, and it was still there. But I gotta tell you this: When I walked out into the field where the concert was gonna take place, and saw the stage setup against the lake, with the seats arranged bleacher style up the hill, I was taken by the site. It was gorgeous, it really was. Avi Begun, thanks for helping me out with that show. And also, thank G-d. Thank G-d the folks enjoyed the show, and we went way overtime, just because we were having so much fun. So that was nice.

Then it was off to Whistler, B.C. where my parents were spending Yom Tov in the Four Seasons Resort, KMR kosher Pesach retreat, or something like that. My ears were exploding, my throat was stiff, my eyes were droopy, and my family was gonna watch. So I warmed up, jumped up and down a little to get into the groove and then it was time to give the last show before Sfirat Haomer would begin. My brother Shmuli sang with me, and the rest of them laughed at my jokes, and together we all put on a very good show, so thanks guys, for all the help.

After Yom Tov I went to California for a friend’s L’chaim. While I was there I went to visit my voice teacher. We had a good time, and he really helped me out of the little jam I was in. Then I went home to Minnesota for a bit. That was nice, as was to be expected. Then I came back to new York, to hit the studios for the album that we are working on.

We worked on two songs now, two songs that have an electronic foundation, so that we didn’t have to wait until after our Israel visit (the recording visit, not the live show visit) to start working on them. One Elimelech Blumstein song and one Yitzy Waldner song. Good times.

Now it’s off to Cali for a wedding, then Kansas, the Chicago, then San Diego (I know) and then back to Israel for some studio hours.

Will keep you posted, BEz”H. Until then, don’t give up. (yes, I made that up myself, thank you.)

Signed: Benzion