To preface what I’m going to write, this is to be clear – this issue doesn’t warrant an asifa, but it’s an issue nonetheless.
We all grew up with composers and singers in our lives. They weren’t singing to be role models, rather singing as a parnassah. Even today, I believe most of them are still like that.
This letter isn’t about protesting them.
We also grew up with children singing in different contexts – shuls, choirs, and small groups. In the earlier days, it was the London Boys Choir, Pirchei etc. For the last 40-plus years, it was the Miami Boys Choir. There were some others recently, like Yeshiva Boys Choir, Shalsheles Jr, Sheves Chaveirim, and so on. These choirs and groups were led by people of stellar character e.g. Yerachmiel Begun, Eli Gerstner, Ari Goldwag, etc, who composed and produced beautiful songs with messaging properly given.
Recently, however, a new group began taking over the scene. This group has been very successful at getting themselves out there, and have proven to be far more influential than any other choirs or youth groups in recent memory.
This wouldn’t be an issue at all, if the songs and messaging contained within them were proper and good for chinuch. However, due to this groups messaging, combined with their meteoric rise, we must speak up.
Childrens’ brains are not fully developed, and thereby are very impressionable, being influenced by what they hear and see. This is true when the influence comes from adults, and fifty times truer when coming from other children, due to them being much more relatable. Again, this is great when the messaging is proper.
But the songs coming out of this group are just atrocious for chinuch. Songs aspiring to be like other singers, to be a “billionare”, in “Hashem’s army” are just not the right way. They defend them and say “No – the messaging of the song is about that they are in Hashem’s army, or that איזהו עשיר השמח בחלקו.”
This is incorrect. Maybe those are the words of the songs, but that’s not what the kids see and internalize. All the kids absorb is that being an “influencer” is a thing to aspire to be, and this happens by seeing this group clad in different forms of “swag”, singing that they want to be like Zusha, or in army fatigues in a military jeep, singing that they fight battles.
I believe it’s accurate to say that most parents aren’t raising their children to be influencers, so why are parents letting these songs play in their houses? We all remember the major protests that occurred against the songs “Ben Bag Bag”, “Hashem Melech” etc. Those songs are nothing compared to the latest round of songs being released by this group. Why don’t I hear anybody discussing this?
This would’ve been maybe a smaller issue, but now they’re having livestreams with these kids to talk directly to your children’s brain. Do you want that as a parent?
Signed,
Y.D.
Cedarhurst, NY
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8 Responses
The hashkafa of this generation went down the toilet it seems like everyone acts without guidance in anything anymore. This is aside from the ongoing new trend of bashing and belittling rabbanim and Torah authority that often presents itself right here. When people stop listening and respecting those with proper hashkafa it is a very fast spiral down to the wrong hashkafa. It seems like today anything goes as long as it has a hint of Jewish taste in it which gets people to fall for it
Agreed 100%
We just had a conversation at home about this and were wondering if anyone was bothered by this. Thank you for bringing this up. I think its important that at the very least we have a conversation about this and make concious descisions about what is or isnt acceptable.
Bravo!!! Thank you for speaking up on behalf of us. Mind boggling what’s going on…
You should identify who these criminal “singers” are so they can be outed and blackmarked. It is difficult to know who you are talking about.
It all comes along with the disgusting advertising that is allowed into “frum” publications, and sites. “Real Cheirus” means self indulgence?! You can probably make a whole museum of these tasteless “kosher” concepts. Put it on your bumper and now it’s kosher?
Wow just found & watched the music videos. I hate to criticize another Jew or say anything negative about youngsters especially with all the tzirus we have going on now.
What I will say as someone who watched MTV in the late 1990s it was giving me major “boy band” music era flashbacks. 😳
I may be mistaken, but I think the writer already identified the group in his letter, succinctly, in one word: “Zusha.” That said, I agree that a lot of music today can be, frankly, over the top. And it’s not just from fringe groups; even at the most yeshivish or Chasidish weddings, some of the songs and dances can feel outlandish. Add in the volume, which may not make you deaf but will certainly leave you hoarse if you’re trying to carry on a conversation, not to mention give you a headache, and it’s understandable why some people are frustrated. Having said that, I don’t think it’s fair to single out individual groups or singers. Not everyone needs to listen to everyone’s music, and parents can choose what their children hear. Not every style is meant for every person. There are young people today who have not been dealt well by the system that works for most, and for them, this type of music can be deeply inspiring. Surely it’s preferable that they connect to something Jewish, rather than to secular music filled with immoral or obscene messages. We also need to consider the impact on other people’s livelihood. Just as you might dislike red tablecloths, they exist in stores because some people want them. Judging others can be short-sighted, no one knows when their own children, or others close to them, might need music like this to stay connected and avoid drifting away completely. Finally, much of what may sound “wild” to some of us actually contains profound spiritual messages, and for certain individuals, it is their only source of inspiration. It’s worth remembering that inspiration comes in many forms, and it doesn’t always look the way we expect.