Dedication by Sarah Kukin Gretah:
This album is dedicated in loving memory of my grandparents z"l, whose yarzheit’s fall during Sefirat Ha'Omer: Doris Kukin (א’ פסח), Dr. Ira Kukin (כב’ אייר), and Charles Gelman (ד’ סיון).

Grandma Kukin was a devout Jew and modest woman. Pesach was her favorite family holiday. She was an excellent baker and made hand-rolled Hungarian pastries. She was active in many philanthropic charitable causes. Above all, she was a devoted wife, loving mother, and a doting grandmother and great-grandmother who left a legacy of generosity and kindness for her family and entire community.

Grandpa Kukin was a successful businessman and philanthropist. He received a PhD in Chemistry from Harvard University in 1951, and built a company, Apollo Technologies, that created air-pollution control technology. He was generous to many Jewish causes. He served on the Yeshiva University Board of Trustees and as Chairman of the Board of Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim in Queens, working closely with Rav Henoch HaKohen Leibowitz z"l to build the Kew Garden Hills Campus. 

Zayde Gelman was a gentle man who had a beautiful voice and was a chazzan. He survived the Holocaust as a partisan resistance fighter. His entire family in Poland was murdered in the Shoah. The Soviet army awarded him the Order of the Red Star after the war and credited him with “14 killed Nazi officers, 2 derailed trains, 2 destroyed military trucks, and 15 destroyed railroad tracks.” His legacy teaches us not to stay silent in the face of evil. 

May their neshamot each have an aliyah and may their memories be a blessing.

- Sarah Kukin Gretah


Song & Lyrics by Ofir Cohen and Yagel Oshri
English and additional lyrics: Miriam Israeli
originally written for Chesed of Lakewood and produced by Shmuli Rosenberg fwd/NYC

Lyrics:
When there's a fire , there's a storm
When there is illness, pain, and war
You calm your fears
You dry your tears
You try to be stronger
You hope to make it through the night
You're looking forward to the light
And as you pray
You keep your faith
It won't be much longer

A better day is yet to come
I promise
A better day is yet to come

All through the night
Through the darkest of hours
You're gonna find a single star that will shine your way
Leading you home
As it gives you the power
Remember the darkest time is right before dawn
Hold on to your faith
Don't give up for a moment
We've weathered every storm in our history
And someday real soon
All the pain will be over
The world will unite in a harmonious song

So let me tell you how we do it
We're the secret - me and you
We help each other out, we'll make it together
And all that chessed goes around
It lifts us up when we are down
It's a zechus that will sustain us forever

A better day is yet to come
I promise
A better day is yet to come

גם בשעות החשוכות של הלילה
תמיד יהיה כוכב קטן שיאיר לך
את עצמך את הדרך הביתה
תמיד זה הכי חשוך לפני הזריחה
המון הבטחות כבר ניתנו מלמעלה
וזה לא רחוק היום שחיכינו לו
משיח יבוא ואלינו יופיע
ה' אלוקנו תרחם על עמך