Metro

Lieby Kletzky’s favorite singer pays visit, tribute to family

Leiby Kletzky’s favorite singer paid an emotional visit yesterday to his grieving family — and then recited a lullaby to soothe the broken heart of the little boy’s baby sister.

Lipa Schmeltzer, 33, a popular singer in the Hasidic community, wrote the piece, “As Long as You’re Alive,” several years ago.

He chose it to recite to Leiby’s little sister, Nechama, because their dad, Nachman, told him how the 8-year-old had once quoted it himself.

“One day, [Leiby] tripped and fell down on the way to school, and his father was sympathetic. Leiby looked at the father and said, ‘Remember the words “As Long as You’re Alive,” ‘ ” Schmeltzer said.

The performer chanted the lullaby because mourners are not supposed to hear music for a year after a death.

Leiby’s dad, he said, is “keeping very strong. He said he had the honor to have the soul for nine years.”

The tragic boy would have turned 9 this week.

Schmeltzer is now working on a song called “The Story of Leiby,” based on what he believes the child would have been had he been allowed to grow up.

“The stories we heard are unbelievable,” Schmeltzer said.

“One story is that they were playing a game in class. At the last minute, Leiby switched teams. Why did he switch? He said, ‘Because my team keeps winning and they keep losing, and I want to help them win.’

“He was a very smart boy.”