Matisyahu's Public Transformation: What The World Doesn't Understand About Religious Jews' Reaction

[rug]

Posted: 06/05/2012 1:12 pm
Elad Nehorai

Six months ago, Matisyahu shaved off his beard. And while it made headlines in the mainstream press, few realized how much this seemingly simple act had rippled through the religious Jewish community. Jewish blogs, newspapers and more buzzed with the news of what Matisyahu had done.

Now, Matisyahu has done something again, and very few people are reacting, especially the mainstream press, mostly because on the outside it's not quite as dramatic as it was when he cut his beard.

Yesterday, Matisyahu posted a picture of himself not wearing a kippah, and then another one that showed him sitting next to another musician who was smoking a joint.

The world didn't react, but the Jewish world let out another anguished cry.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elad-nehorai/matisyahu-transformation-religious-jews-react_b_1571249.html

Elad Nehorai is a writer living in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Five years ago, he became a religious Jew in the Chabad Hassidic community and has since written about his experience extensively, most recently in his blog Pop Chassid. You can find him on Twitter as @PopChassid and Facebook.

sometimes I lay
under the moon
and thank God I'm breathing
then I pray
don't take me soon
cause I am here for a reason
sometimes in my tears I drown
but I never let it get me down
so when negativity surrounds
I know some day it'll all turn around
because
all my life I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
for the people to say
that we don't wanna fight no more
there'll be no more wars
and our children will play
one day x6
it's not about
win or lose cause
we all lose
when they feed on the souls of the innocent
blood drenched pavement
keep on moving though the waters stay raging
in this maze you can lose your way (your way)
it might drive you crazy but don't let it faze you no way (no way)
sometimes in my tears I drown
but I never let it get me down
so when negativity surrounds
I know some day it'll all turn around
because
all my life I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
for the people to say
that we don't wanna fight no more
there'll be no more wars
and our children will play
one day x6
one day this all will change
treat people the same
stop with the violence
down with the hate
one day we'll all be free
and proud to be
under the same sun
singing songs of freedom like
one day x4
all my life I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
for the people to say
that we don't wanna fight no more
there'll be no more wars
and our children will play
one day x6
ooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!


i get the feeling he and Cat Stevens passed each other on the street.

[Mosby]

1. This isn't that unusual for a baal teshuvah

and for the record religious Jews do not necessarily wear a kippah and a tallit katan all the time, just the orthodox do.

[rug]

3. Yes, he was raised in the Reconstructionist movement.

It seems he's now moved from the Lubavitch.

He's got some damned good songs regardless.

&feature=related

[Mosby]

7. He does indeed

[rug]

8. Delightful!

[EvolveOrConvolve]

2. One of my favorite artists

Thanks for the post, rug.

[rug]

4. I've just recently heard about him.

He's on an interesting path for sure, leaving great songs in his wake.

[JoDog]

5. He has a new album coming out

The first since his break from the Lubys. He released the first single "Sunshine", appropriately, on Lag b' omer (traditionally marked by bonfires, outdoor gatherings and fire scrying). It is a wonderful song about parenthood and feeling connected to the rest of the world. As a convert to Conservative Judaism and a writer, I can see that Matis is on his own journey as a soul and an artist. I look forward to seeing where it takes him.

[rug]

6. I look forward to it.

Thanks for the heads up.