Hasidic Hope in the New Year
Categories: Judaism, Music, Pop Culture
Author: Stiegemeyer
In 2006, I became a fan of an emerging American reggae artist who also happens to be a Hasidic Jew. He is Matisyahu, which is just the Yiddish version of his given name, Matthew. Perhaps you remember his hit album, Youth.
My family thoughtfully put some iTunes gift cards into my stocking this year. So I was downloading some great new music this week and reviewing the other songs on my playlist. And I came across the Matisyahu song King Without a Crown. I’d forgotten how cool this song is. This is his biggest hit so far and at one point was the most requested song on the famous rock station KROQ in Los Angeles.
Here are a couple of lines from the song:
Sing to my God all these songs of love and healing
Want Mashiach now so it’s time we start revealing…
Fight with all of my might and get these demons to flee
Hashem’s rays fire blaze burn bright and I believe
Hashem’s rays fire blaze burn bright and I believe
Out of darkness comes light…
Now for you Gentiles who might not recognize the Hebrew words, Mashiach is Messiah or Christ (in the Greek). It refers to the Anointed One, the savior promised to the people of Israel and all the world. We know this to be Jesus of Nazareth, born of Mary.
Ha Shem is how an ultra-pious Jew might refer to the Deity. It literally means “The Name.” So to avoid breaking the commandment about taking God’s name in vain, His actual name is not uttered at all. He’s just “The Name.”
I’m not up on yet on what Matisyahu has been doing lately, but the phenomenon is striking. Here we have a Hasidic Jew performing for hip Gentile kids, Jews of all sorts, and a smattering of Rastafarians, along with everyone else. He is successful at getting his message out there through his art form, a very explicitly religious message.
As a Christian, I can relate to Matisyahu’s longing for the Savior. I too want the Messiah to come and save us all from the present order of things. I long for the eternal glorification that awaits all the faithful. Of course, I believe that the Messiah did come 2000 years ago and has fully atoned for the sins of the world. Now I hope for His return. But were you aware of the Jews who are still serious about their expectation of a personal Messiah? Here’s a minor celebrity who is explicit about that expectation in his music. Interesting.
Be sure to check out this February 2006 article about him in Rolling Stone.
Coming Later: My review of The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible
