Baruch Levine

Baruch Levine (born December 28, 1977) is a Canadian-born American Orthodox Jewish composer and singer whose songs have become popular and classic throughout the Orthodox Jewish world. His slow, soulful, heartfelt tunes have gained wide popularity at Shabbat tables and kumzits gatherings. One of his most successful compositions is "Vezakeini" (Give Us Merit), derived from the ancient prayer recited at Shabbat candle lighting.

Baruch Levine was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. He attended Eitz Chaim day school, where his father, Rabbi Michoel Levine, is currently a fifth-grade rebbi (Jewish studies teacher).

Levine earned a master's degree in educational leadership, as well as teaching degrees from several institutions. He received his rabbinic ordination from the Jerusalem rabbinical court.

In 2005 Levine joined the staff of the Yeshiva Ketana of Waterbury, Connecticut as a fifth-grade rebbi. He is also the sgan menahel (assistant principal) for the yeshiva.

Levine first began singing at the age of 8 in his school choir. Soon after he began studying keyboard, and performed at school and in summer camp during his youth. He tried out for a spot on the album The Marvelous Middos Machine and was not accepted, but he did sing on a Miriam Israeli album.

After his marriage, Levine began writing songs which he sold to other performers. One of his demos came to the attention of several music producers, who asked Levine why he wasn't performing his own songs. This led to the production of Levine's first album, Vezakeini, in 2006. The title song, which took him ten minutes to write, has become a relative classic in the Orthodox Jewish world. Like many of Levine's hits, it is a heartfelt tune with a rising crescendo. On his second album, Chasan Hatorah, Levine performed a medley of his compositions that other performers had made famous.

For Levine's 2009 album, Touched by a Niggun, Rabbi Yechiel Spero, author of the Touched by a Story series of books, wrote the English lyrics to the songs, which are based on his stories.

In 2010 Levine wrote two new songs and performed live in concert with Yaakov Shwekey; the resulting album, Live in Caesarea II – 5770, was later released on CD and DVD.

Levine was a guest performer at the 12th Siyum HaShas on August 1, 2012, at MetLife Stadium, which was attended by nearly 100,000 Jews. He also performs at charity benefits. On November 27, 2011 he performed together with Shwekey in a concert benefiting Hatzolah in London. He was featured at the HASC 27 "A Time for Music" concert on January 12, 2013.

Albums

• Vezakeini (2006)
• Chasan Hatorah (2008)
• Touched by a Niggun (2009)
• Hashkifah (2011)
• Modim Anachnu Lach (2013)
• Project Relax with Simcha Leiner (2015)
• Bonim Atem (2015)
• Project Relax Again with Simcha Leiner (2017)