Tanchum Gershon Portnoy

You may not know his name, but you almost certainly know his melody. Tanchum Portnoy, who composed the beloved melody for Eitz Chaim sung in shuls around the world, passed away this week on Shabbat Rosh Hashanah at the age of 75.

Portnoy composed Eitz Chaim at just 22 years old. It was included in the 1975 album “Tanchumim” sung by Avraham Yanon (Rabbi Alvin Wainhaus), arranged by Yisroel Lamm. The words are from Proverbs 3:18.

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 Shabbat in shuls across the world.

For the world, he gave us a melody. For those who knew him, he filled our lives with kindness, generosity, and love. The warmth so many of us hear in his music was the warmth he brought to everyday life.

Tanchum Gershon Portnoy was born in Brooklyn in 1951 to Harav Eliezer Portnoy and Fruma Miriam. He studied at Chofetz Chaim and the Mir, received semichah from Rabbi Chaim Shmulevitz, and later earned a master’s degree in psychology at Queens College. Torah, music, and a deep care for people were enduring threads in his life.

Portnoy was a longtime resident of Lawrence, New York, and was laid to rest in Beit Shemesh, Israel. He is survived by his wife Sara, his children Eli, Amichai, Ilan, and Gali, and their families.

On the tribute page, one person reflects, “Those who knew Abi remember his gentleness, his humor, and his extraordinary generosity. Around the Shabbat table, with Sara and their family, there was the warmth of a man who made each person feel especially loved. He could make people laugh and put them at ease. His kindness was steady, woven into everyday life.”

This Shabbat, September 19, we join communities around the world in singing Eitz Chaim in memory of its beloved melody’s composer, Tanchum Gershon Portnoy. We invite shuls everywhere to sing his Eitz Chaimin his memory, and to share a few words about the man behind the melody (before singing, during announcements, or in the shul bulletin).

Please join in singing his melody in his memory.

Watch the original 1975 recording of Eitz Chaim: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LRKx-5ENJM

Visit the tribute page: https://eitzchaim.co