Lazar Lipa Schmeltzer Was born March 17, 1978 in New Square, New York, His father Reuven Schmeltzer was one of the 1684 Jews who escaped Nazi-controlled Hungary on the Kastner train and spent time in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp before being released in Switzerland. He and his wife had 12 children of which Lipa is the second-youngest.

Lipa married his wife Miriam also a native of New Square, on August 27, 1998. After his wedding, Schmeltzer tried to find work as a badchen (entertainer) for weddings. Though he had no formal musical training, he began performing