Zusha, who on their website describe themselves as being a "World Soul band", led by vocalist Shlomo Gaisin, guitarist Zachariah Goldschmiedt and percussionist Elisha Mlotek, rolled into Waltham, Massachusetts fresh off a sold-out show at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City. Despite the travel weariness that accompanies being a band on tour, Zusha met the crowds that showed up at the Chabad House with the utmost joy and energy. Kabbalat Shabbat, the Friday evening service that welcomes in the Sabbath, was scheduled to start at 5:00 and students began arriving and taking their seats.

The service, though structured in the orthodox style with separate seating for men and women, and men leading the service, attracted crowds of people from all different backgrounds. The space buzzed with excitement and anticipation, though most people including the event organizers did not know exactly what to expect. At around 5:40, about forty minutes past the scheduled start time, Shlomo, Elisha and Zechariah began singing, jumping, tapping and praying, leading the one hundred plus crowd in soulful, joyous and spirited prayer.
The evening service for Shabbat typically lasts anywhere from forty five minutes to an hour, but the pure energy in the space blasted away any sort of awareness or attention to time, and the singing, dancing and davening, or praying, that took place in the Chabad house seemed to just go and go and go.

At some point in the night, the davening space evolved into the dining space, and Zusha took a breather during dinner, and Elisha even disappeared for a stretch of time (a quick snooze perhaps?) I had the honor and privilege of sitting and eating with Zusha at the Chein family table, and as the night progressed and dinner winded down, around twenty-five students drew up chairs around the table to listen to Gaisin speak, and to ask them questions. How did they meet? What drove them to become Zusha? Where do they get their inspiration to create such uplifting, soulful music? What is their goal? Do they have disagreements? These were some of the questions posed to the group, but it seems silly to just share all the answers here on blog post. If you have an interest in spirituality, soulfulness, singing and above all harmony, I urge you to check out Zusha yourself.