Boruch Dayan Hoemes: R’ Yossi Piamenta, 64, OBM

With great sadness and pain we inform you of the untimely passing of R’ Yossi Piamenta, OBM, a well-known and talented musician who merited to bring joy to hundreds of thousands of Jews with his music. He was 64 years old.

by Dovid Zaklikowski – Lubavitch Archives

Chasidic guitarist and musician, Yossi Piamenta, passed away today.

Referred to many as the Hasidic Hendrix, Yossi’s music was a mix of Mizrahi, rock and blues. “In all the music I ever played, including the Hasidic music, I was a rock guitarist,” he explained.

He enjoyed a long carreer, producing some 16 albums, but the last few decades he became a wedding musician, “Instead of becoming a cab driver, I chose weddings of Hasidim.”

In the Israeli army he began to search for his roots. “I was lacking something and I didn’t know what I was looking for, until I understood that I was on a search for Divinity. One day I arrived at the awareness that the world has a Creator.”

To Piamenta the important thing was his studies: “I don’t know how to turn on a computer. I don’t have the head for that. Just let me play the guitar. In my free time I read Torah and Psalms; every year I learn a new interpretation of the Torah. That is what is really important,” he said.

He concluded: “I make no separation between what I play and what I express in words. Everything returns to the same center: I am a Jew who grew up in Jerusalem and lives in Tel Aviv, who has been playing music all his life and uttering words that express what my soul feels.”

He would tell people that he still is on the journey of return to his Jewish roots. “I hope that on my last day I will be able to say that I have become penitent,” he said in a 2005 interview. “To become penitent is a day-to-day process, whether you are religious or secular. What do you think, that religious people themselves don’t become penitent – that they have no sins and transgressions?”

R’ Yossi passed away earlier today, Sunday, after succumbing to a devastating illness that he has been battling for years.

His successful career as a guitarist – often teaming up with his brother Avi from Kfar Chabad, who plays the flute – brought him fame and admiration throughout the Jewish world; he was often referred to as ‘the Jewish Hendrix’ due to his unique talent.

The Levaya will take place today, Sunday 7:30pm at Shomrei Hachomos, then passing by the Shul he frequented in Flatbush, then passing by 770 at around 9:30pm. The Kevurah will take place Monday in Israel.

Boruch Dayan Hoemes

11 Comments

  • Benzoin Turk

    BDE.

    He was a great personal friend, a music legend that loved to give his heart, with in each song he sang.

    He will always be loved and missed.

  • michael ruben-montreal, canada

    yossi o.h. played MANY times in my orchestra back
    in the 80`s……….. His enormous talent was most
    appreciated by the young and not so young…….

    His impact and genius was also a tremendous
    inspiration to countless of upcoming musicians…

    May his name be a true source of countless
    BLESSINGS for mamesh…..Klal Yisrael and
    may his family have the emesdigge consolation..

    Always a true and TOP friend…with Birkat Shamayim.

  • LEVAYA DETAILS

    THE LEVAYA OF YOSI PIAMENTA WILL TAKE PLACE AT 8 PM AT SHOMREI HACHOMOS CHAPELS.
    4218 FORT HAMILTON PARKWAY, BROOKLYN.
    TODAY, SUNDAY AUG. 23.

  • Kalman

    Very sad, saw Yosi a few weeks ago in Cornell hospital,had a very holy face, asked how I was doing and gave me a blessing in his terrible situation, we go back to the 1980’s , where is the redemption? too much bad news , hope moshiach comes soon , this is a bad lost for the jewish community

  • Zalmy.Schapiro

    B D. E Yossi Piamenta was one of the most famous Israeli superstar in the world he played weddings which I remember and the ballroom was vibrating and the speakers will be so loud I was totally awesome and of course the one and only Simchas Bais Hshahvah in Crown Heights he would perform with thousands of people with all the energy we should call him anymore Simchas

  • Levi S.

    very sad to hear this terrible news. piamenta was a great musician, but more importantly he was a very nice person who cared about others. this is a tremendous tragedy.

  • Eliyahou mizrahi

    B D HAEMET will never forget his lovely voice &music he maďe 1000TH HAPPY MAY HASHEM GIVE HIM MENUHA ELYONA &CONDOLENCE HISS FAMILY &FREINDS יהא זכרו ברוך תמיד אמן

  • Simcha Krause Family

    Very sad news. Our sincere condolences to the Piamenta, Lorber and Meer families. Never forget a chassunah we attended in Crown Heights which featured the Piamentas as the simcha music. Everyone, including the non-Jewish wait staff danced, sang and clapped along. Yossi’s music transcended all divisions between people. The loss of this giant is felt by all of klal yisrael. BDE