5 Towns CentralBDE: Passing of Tanchum Gershon Portnoy Z”L, Composer of “Eitz Chaim”
We regret to inform of the passing of Tanchum Portnoy A”H, a beloved member of the 5 Towns community.
You may not know his name, but you almost certainly know his melody.
Tanchum Portnoy, composed the beloved melody for Eitz Chaim sung in shuls around the world.He composed it at just 22 years old.
Since then, his melody has become part of the soundtrack of Jewish life, sung by generations as the Torah is returned to the Aron Kodesh. It was later popularized by leading chazzanim and musicians, including his good friend Shlomo Carlebach, and became a cherished part of Shabbos in shuls across the world.
For the world, he gave us all a melody. For those who knew him, he filled their lives with kindness, generosity, and love. The warmth so many of us hear in his music was the warmth he brought to the 5 Towns everyday of his life.
Born July 22, 1951 in Brooklyn, New York, he was a longtime resident of Lawrence, New York, and his kevurah was in Beit Shemesh, Israel. He is survived by his wife Sara, his children Eli, Amichai, Ilan, and Gali, and their families.
The original 1975 recording of Eitz Chaim can be listened to below: The 1975 album “Tanchumim” – sung by Avraham Yanon (Rabbi Alvin Wainhaus), arranged by Yisroel Lamm.
This Shabbos, Shabbos Shuvah, September 19, 2026 (8 Tishrei 5787), shuls around the world are are encouraged to sing his Eitz Chaim in his memory.
Yihi Zichro Baruch. Hamakom Yinacheim Eschem.
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Levaya & Shiva Info:
The Levaya will be on Tuesday, September 15, at 1:00pm at Eretz HaChaim Cemetery in Beit Shemesh. The family will be arriving in Israel on Tuesday, on El Al flight 02
On Thursday, September 17, shiva will be observed at 1118 Warren Street, New Milford.
* Selichos and Shacharis at 7:15am
* Mincha/Mariv at 6:45pm
* Please do not visit between 12:00-1:00pm and 5:00-6:00pm, nor after 10:00pm.
Shiva on Wednesday, Friday, Motzei Shabbat and Sunday, will be observed at 148 Sutton Place South, Lawrence, NY
* Shacharis: Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 8:00am
* Mincha/Mariv: Wednesday at 6:45pm