Lev Tahor
G C Just a deaf man in the shteeble, D C and to everyone’s surprise, G C He comes to shul each Shabbos, A D and he prays with tear-filled eyes. G C His son he is the Chazan, D Em though his voice he’s never heard, C D But he sits there, enjoying every G word. G C He watches every motion, D C every gesture that he makes, G C And he stays till the very end, A D however long it takes. G C And when the davening is over, D Em he’s the first to reach his son, C D And the deaf man in the shteeble says, G D “Well done”. Chorus: G C Now it’s right before Yom Kippur, D G and in the shteeble there is fear. G C They want to start Kol Nidre, A D but the Chazan’s still not there. Am D Oh, the shul is filled with people, G Em as the night begins to fall, C D But the deaf man’s chair stands empty, G by the wall. G C Then suddenly the Chazan, D C he comes rushing through the door. G C He’s wearing his white Chazan’s hat, A D he’s never worn before. G C He pauses for a moment, D Em at his father’s empty chair. C D G And quietly, he wipes away a tear. Chorus: G C And he runs up to the bimah, D G for there’s no time left to wait. G C And half the shul can hear the rabbi A D Ask, “How come so late?” Am “Oh, just getting ready D for Yom Kippur”, G Em is all he’d say. C A D “But now, I’m going up to pray.” Chorus: G C And he takes his place surrounded, D G by the holy Torah ring. G C And in a voice so beautiful, A D he begins to sing. Am D Oh, every heart was broken, G Em Oh, and every soul burned bright. C From his Kol Nidre, D G that Yom Kippur night. G C And when he finished davening, D C the rabbi asked to tell G C What was it he was thinking of, A D that made him sing so well. G C “Well you knew my dad was deaf”, he said, D Em “Last night he passed away. C D It’s the first time that my father’s, G heard me pray”. Chorus “And he takes his place...”