Singer’s whirlwind tribute to late grandma
Professional artist Michaela Silverstein writes heartfelt charity single to woman who 'meant the world to me and my family'
Naomi is a freelance features writer
A talented singer has paid tribute to the grandmother who “meant the world to her” by releasing a poignant charity single in aid of the hospice where she spent her final weeks.
Michaela Silverstein, 24, from Shenley, penned Whirlwind in memory of her grandmother, Judy Newman, who died from to pancreatic cancer 18 months ago.
The former JFS and Sinai student now hopes to raise money for The Peace Hospice, Watford, where Judy was looked after for six weeks.
Michaela, who now works as a music teacher at her old Kenton primary school, said: “She was only 72-years-old and meant the world to me and my family.
“I spoke to her almost every day and saw her at least two to three times a week.
“My grandmother was a massive part of the reason we are such a strong family unit. She and my grandpa brought us all together.”
In another nod to her grandmother, the song also features the picture of a stick woman.
“Every card my grandma ever wrote to her children and grandchildren would be signed off with a stick woman and a chubby stickman. She would pretend it was her and my grandpa.”
The professional singer collaborated with her friend and fellow music teacher, Daniel Marks, who handled the production “and helped bring the song to life.”
She added: “I felt with time I could come to terms with the loss. Music is the best way to express myself. The song is very personal to me and is about the whirlwind effect of heartbreak our family went through.”
Whirlwind is available now on iTunes for 79p: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/whirlwind-single/id1230034806
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
