Avraham Fried Rocks Boston at Mega Hakhel Event

The heart of Downtown Boston was buzzing with excitement this past Sunday, as close to 1,000 members of Boston’s diverse Jewish community converged at the historic John Hancock Hall for a night of unity and song.

An enthusiastic crowd greeted Chassidic Superstar, Avraham Fried, who electrified the audience with a wide array of Jewish songs– classic, pop, rock and jazz — catering to a diverse audience. Fried noted how “music is the pen of soul,” and the soul pursuit for peace and positivity, is the perfect antidote for the chaotic scenes the world continues to witness.

Rabbi Shalom Ber Prus, director of Beth Menachem – Chabad of Newton, master of ceremonies and a major force behind the Mega Hakhel event, opened with a chapter of Tehilim for the safety and security of the Jews in Israel and for world peace, and paid a special tribute to the victims of the barbaric attack in France.

With the recent terror attacks at a concert hall in Paris looming large, the event organizers were encouraged by the Department of Homeland security to proceed with the concert as planned, without any worry.

“Tonight we counter a “Night of Horror” the world just witnessed with a “Night of Happiness” and a “concert in the darkness” with a “concert de la luminaire” – a concert of light,” noted Rabbi Yosef Zaklos, director of Chabad of Downtown Boston, in his address highlighting the theme of Hakhel “One G-d, One People, One Purpose”.

The Hakhel gathering was project led by Rabbi Chaim Prus –Director of Chabad of Eastern Massachusetts and many Chabad centers as well as the CJP (Combined Jewish Philanthropies) and IAC (Israel American Council).