Earlier this week Rabbi Kalish received a call from an unknown number. The man on the other line claimed to be the manager for Yaakov Shwekey and proceeded to explain that Yaakov had been trying to set up a “one on one” since the first year of the Durham Campus but had been unable to get through. Rabbi Kalish, known worldwide as the prize matchup for anyone wishing to prove they still got it, respectfully declined but went on to invite Yaakov to Durham to see the Yeshiva and sit down with a strong cup of ice cold caffeinated coke. On Wednesday morning the thunderous roaring of first seder slowly subsided and Ari Sharf, a longtime friend of Yeshiva, gave a lengthy introduction punctuated by all manner of cheers and chants. Yaakov Shwekey was welcomed with song in true Durham style and then took the stage and delivered an inspirational speech in which he shared the journey a close friend and encouraged everyone to find and share their own unique song. He then went onto answer questions about the his experience within the Jewish music industry, the industry itself, his song writing process and his relationship with Rav Ovadia Yosef (confirming once again that hakaras hatov is indeed the gadol midah). After a group picture, the event came to a close and Yaakov Shwekey departed and his dreams of taking the court with the Rav once again went unfulfilled.
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