Dear Readers,

In the world of Jewish music, few artists capture the essence of a story quite like Joey Newcomb. His newest album features a song with a particularly meaningful backstory, one that many Baltimoreans will immediately connect with. Heiligeh Rabbi Lefkowitz was inspired by a recent trip to Morocco, where Joey encountered a Yid who never put his gemara down.

While the group visited kevarim and historical sites, singing and dancing along the way, one man stood to the side, fully immersed in learning. It didn’t matter where they were- on the bus, in a shul, or at a centuries-old Jewish landmark- his eyes never left the gemara in his hands. Watching him, Joey couldn’t help but wonder: Why was he even on this trip? The only sights he seemed to take in were the words of his seforim. Eventually, he turned to someone and asked who this person was. “Rabbi Lefkowitz,” came the answer. That was all Joey needed. He went to the back of the bus, started singing, and soon the entire group was joining in, celebrating the presence of this remarkable masmid.

For those who know him, the story comes as no surprise. Because Rabbi Lefkowitz’s real song is the song of Torah- one he has been singing his entire life.

Rabbi Hirsch Lefkowitz is a name well-known to those who lived in Baltimore during the 40-plus years he spent in the city. He was, by profession, a baalabos, working at the Social Security Administration. But anyone who knows him understands that his work does not define him. If you see him at his desk, a sefer is open. If you see him at shul, a sefer is open. If you visit his home, there’s no doubt- a sefer is open. His life is one of learning, a relentless pursuit of Torah knowledge, not for accolades or recognition, but because that’s simply who he is.

He and his wife, Esther A”H, built a home deeply rooted in Torah values, raising a family with the same dedication. Though he never sought leadership or public roles, his reputation as a talmid chacham was well known. Then, about 20 years ago, as the Greenspring neighborhood began to expand, a group of baalei batim saw in Rabbi Lefkowitz something unique. They recognized that his learning was not only remarkable in its consistency but had the power to inspire others. They urged him to step into a new role- as a Rav.

Reluctantly, he agreed, becoming the Rav of Heichal Melech, a small but serious makom Torah. His shiurim and drashos were known for their depth, but what left the deepest impact on his kehilla was his hasmada. Here was a Rav who wasn’t just giving over Torah, he was living it every second. It wasn’t only his words that inspired people, but the way he carried himself, the way he never wasted a moment, the way he made it clear, without ever saying so, that a life of Torah was the only life worth living.

Every Shabbos, he would walk from Upper Park Heights to Greenspring, sometimes multiple times, to be with his kehilla. No shortcuts, no compromises. Rain or shine, hot or cold, he made the journey, leading by example. Heichal Melech did not last forever; after his wife’s passing, Rabbi Lefkowitz eventually remarried and moved to New York, where he lives today. But his impact remains. For those who were fortunate enough to daven with him, learn from him, or even just see him lost in a sefer, the memory of his unwavering dedication continues to inspire.

And so, when Joey Newcomb met Rabbi Lefkowitz on that trip, it was not the first time this masmid had left an impression. It was simply another moment in a lifetime of learning, another instance where his very presence conveyed what a life of Torah truly looks like. For many, a journey to Morocco is a chance to witness Jewish history and connect with the past. For Rabbi Lefkowitz, there was no need; his connection to Torah, uninterrupted and unwavering, is his history, his past, present, and future.

The song that Joey composed captures a single moment, but the real song of Rabbi Lefkowitz is one he has been singing for decades. It is the song of Torah that never stops, the melody of a life devoted to learning. And for those who know him, his learning is the most beautiful song of all. 

Have a peaceful Shabbos!