Anyone who stays updated with the latest in Jewish music has surely seen the “Real Yidden” song “Emese Yid” that decries the TYH (Thank You Hashem) brand. I was, as I’m sure many of you were as well, shocked that Jews have descended to writing diss-tracks on each other in an effort to communicate about our culture. This on its own is an unfortunate slide in the perceived integrity of Jews on the public stage. Nonetheless, this debate has sparked a conversation of which values we hold dear as Orthodox Jews in 2026.
Thank You Hashem is a Jewish hype brand that makes religious Judaism more accessible and palatable for today’s younger generation. Such a cause is a great cause. For so many who have had negative experiences with their Judaism now have an inclusive, welcoming, and inspiring movement to be a part of.
Unfortunately, such a message of inclusivity and “Hashem loves me no matter what” is not without pitfalls. Yes, Hashem loves you no matter what. And yet, Hashem still has expectations of you. If coming close to Him means connecting to a Tzaddik for guidance and inspiration, then that is appropriate. But to supplant traditional Jewish values such as Torah study and adherence to Halacha with pseudospirituality is a mistake.
The problem is not that TYH followers consciously reject Torah – they don’t – it’s that the branding can unconsciously shift priorities for impressionable youth. The issue is subtle drift, not outright rebellion.
The real problem, however, arises in the practical implementation of this Hashkafa. To put it succinctly, “how am I to find my way in serving Hashem?”, “which avenues of connection are genuine, and which are imitation?”. That is the crux of this controversy.
Before assessing the arguments on both sides, it’s important to ask, “why is this controversy happening now?” The answer is that we find ourselves in a digital landscape. An environment where ideas are shared faster than they are conceived. A platform where anyone can build a following. Before social media, the barrier to becoming a leader was steep. One had to prove their authenticity to their community to become a valued source of wisdom. Mesorah trumped entertainment. This standard is eroding. For better or for worse, anyone can profess their philosophy online and attract a following. This cultural shift has set the stage for this controversy.
The implications of this shift are important. The burden of identifying reputable sources of Torah and Hashkafa has increased. Slop (drivel at best, obscenities at worst) is served around the clock. But more narrowly, we now have a schism in our own values.
So who’s right, Thank You Hashem or Real Yidden? Both and neither. This debate calls for a dialectical synthesis: Each position contains truth, but the real answer transcends both. When Real Yidden says, “If you want to be a real Emese Yid, open Shulchan Aruch it’s what your Zeidas did”, he is correct. A life without Halacha observance is a life squandered. However, the follow-up lyric, “It’s the only way Hashem wants to be close to you”, is false. There are many ways of connecting to Hashem that don’t fall squarely into narrowly defined Halacha observance. Character development, chesed, supporting one’s family, to name a few.
When TYH has children singing, “I want to be like Zusha”, and not “I want to be like Moshe Rabbeinu”, one has every right to object. At the same time, however, these lyrics need to be judged for what they are. These are song lyrics meant to inspire, not comprehensive Hashkafic statements. The danger isn’t in the songs themselves, but in letting them replace deeper Torah education rather than complement it.
Ultimately, neither side deserves the authority we’re giving them. Neither side is, or even claims to be, the standard of Orthodox Jewish Hashkafa. They’re just expressing what resonates with their audience – and yes, each captures some truth.
The real controversy isn’t TYH vs. Real Yidden – it’s whether we’ll let social media determine our Torah priorities, or whether we’ll reclaim the responsibility to seek guidance from our Rebbeim and Mesorah. The diss-track is just a symptom. The disease is thinking we can download Yiddishkeit from our feeds.
With hope and optimism for the future,
Zev Levin
The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review.
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
28 Responses
It’s very good to thank hashem, what’s not good is misleading people and teaching them that there’s no consequences for sinful behavior and that Hashem will love you and look the other way no matter what, which is the impression many of these ad campaigns give. Go look in Rambam hilchot teshuva for a very extensive list of people that Hashem does not love, until they repent
Perhaps it’s time to start pushing for Hasgachas on music like we have on food. One we put in my body, one we put in our soul. Both need a Kashrus.
> However, the follow-up lyric, “It’s the only way Hashem wants to be close to you”, is false. There are many ways of connecting to Hashem that don’t fall squarely into narrowly defined Halacha observance. Character development, chesed, supporting one’s family, to name a few.
The halachic parameters of the things mentioned are in fact defined in the Shulchan Aruch. However, in addition, learning Mussar Seforim are also necessary of course – but that never defies the practical Halacha as outlined in the Shulchan Aruch.
> it’s whether we’ll let social media determine our Torah priorities, or whether we’ll reclaim the responsibility to seek guidance from our Rebbeim and Mesorah.
The latter is precisely the message contained in the song!
Word for word:
“So make yourself a real Rebbi, connect to the Mesorah,
Of Yiras Shamayim, Torah and Avodah,”
Maybe this can explain, too , how Ele Stefansky baca,e so popular
justabout any pushback against the TYH trend is very welcome in my opinion, and ive never even heard of this “real yidden” thing.
“making religious Judaism more accessible and palatable for today’s younger generation” sound like a very bad mihalech to take. true torah judaism doesnt need to be made palatable, diracheha darchei no’am, so find a rebbi or chavrusa to learn real torah with, anddevote yourself to chessed and all the mitzvos and you will be a very happy fulfilled person. and if your too immature at your current stage then work on realizing the sweetness of yiddishkeit, dont invent a false replacement that claim to make it “palatable” bc i garuntee there is no substitute. dont change the Torah, work on yourself and change your bad middos and bad dayos. needhelp? learn mussar. seriously.
what nonsense (And kefira)! Hashem does NOT “love me no matter what”! He hates rashoyim and it is not too hard r”l to leave klal yisroel and join that group!
God does love you unconditionally but you are not exempt from the consequences of your actions and there are consequences. Consequences are the root of love.
But the thread in this post I see here is an ideology for groupthink against freedom of thought. And a push towards the old age of things which is censorship and conformity.
A new age is brewing one where freedom and learning right and wrong comes from true critical thinking which cannot live in a controlled box. But comes from being exposed to real dialogue. Your pushing the “let’s go back to zero dialogue” ideology which unfortunely and or fortunately is slowly becoming a visage of the past. We can’t go back the only thing we can do is become stronger in our understanding of right and wrong so that we are clear about our values despite the oppeness of the world. The new reality
What your pushing is ideological control. Just not saying it outright
I was fortunate enough to receive an authentic Torah-true upbringing. So I don’t need to turn to movements such as TYH for chizzuk.
But unlike the dark-hearted individuals – yes, that’s what it is – who always zero in on the fault and imperfection in these types of movements; I’m so happy that so many otherwise uninspired and disenfranchised brothers and sisters are now turning to Hashem. It’s a heck of a lot better than what they were turning to before.
To the individual who has sparked so much hatred and machlokes with his lousy “song”: you obviously did all this L’Sheim Shamayim, to help Yidden who are lost find their way to authentic Torah. And I’m sure that as I type this, people listening to your song are being inspired to do Teshuvah.
I just hope you didn’t forget to dedicate such a holy mitzvah l’illuy nishmas your ancestors.
Why would Boys Mesivta school system operate in a way to expect and make every single boy learn like a Rabbi and an expert in Mishna and Gemara? Why would that be the goal of every boy?? When you graduate at 18, you need to be kind, religious, and have a love for Yiddishkeit and lifelong learning. If you have a Shailah you can ask your Rav, you don’t need to be a Gemarrah expert. The whole system is warped and only benefits the rabbis who run the system.
Today’s generation in many ways is far greater than the pre war holocaust generation. Yes they had great rabbis,far greater than our generation but look at the unity we have. You have Satmar rabbis visiting Chabad houses. You have Chabad houses in Lakewood and Monroe. There was a time streimels were banned from entering Lakewood. Today after we experienced a mossiach moment after Rubashkin was freed. Jews danced all over in every stripe. You want to know what our generation has that previous dont. Our generation started outreach to reform and unaffiliated Jews which the pre holocaust generation just stuck to their internal crowd. Do you think that the millions of lost Jews are not our brothers and sisters. Do you think Hashem is not longing they return. And that’s what the Lubavitcher rebbes began after the holocaust. Today you have Aish,ohr someach,Arachim,Amnon Yitzchok, and a host of others. It’s not enough to learn. There are people today with simcha and have no emunah. Haskofa is very important. Our generation has more chesed than the pre holocaust one. Hatzolah,shomrim,shmirah,chaveirim,chavevim,biker cholim,misaskim,etc. etc
Our generation has greater challenges.
1. There are TYH songs that are in a grey area, but having songs that are completely ridiculous like the Baba Sali on a carpet are an issue.
2. No clue what R Eli Stefansky has to do with this. He’s just made learning every day accessible to a lot of people; a very great thing indeed.
3. “There are many ways of connecting to Hashem that don’t fall squarely into narrowly defined Halacha observance. Character development, chesed, supporting one’s family, to name a few.”
These are all pretty squarely part of halacha
The song violates “illicit transference fallacy,” the oldest flaw in logic (aka association fallacy). Virtually all Orthodox Jews would agreed to the chorus (every person must know and follow shulchan aruch / halacha). That’s a catchy chorus and true and triggers association that the song is logically accurate. But that does NOT mean that writing beautiful songs or going to kevarim won’t help you on the yom hadin. Many believe it can help. But the songwriter tries to portray it as a coherent argument, take all or reject all. But they are 2 separate points. And the songwriter is either disingenuous or can’t follow this logic, so he portrays this kneejerk chorus to prove an unrelated point. I don’t get it
Think of a Business Owner listening to two management meetings at the same time.
In one room, the sales manager fires up the sales team—joking, exaggerating, even poking fun at the “nerdy accountants”—to get them energized, out in the field, hustling, closing deals. The goal is momentum, action, numbers.
In the other room, the accounting manager motivates the accountants by doing the opposite—laughing at the chaos of the salespeople, calling them animals, and telling the accountants to stay focused, precise, disciplined. Their job isn’t excitement; it’s accuracy, control, and making sure every dollar is counted.
The owner hears both—and agrees with both.
He wants the salespeople running, pushing, filling pipelines.
He wants the accountants quiet, focused, and exact.
Different styles. Different cultures. Different languages. Same mission.
Judging one group by the standards of the other misses the point. The owner doesn’t want accountants acting like salespeople, or salespeople acting like accountants. Each serves the company in the way they’re built to serve.
It’s just interesting that the salespeople make a lot more money.
Let’s call a spade, a spade. 20 years ago when Nanachs mindlessly walked around saying “N, Na, Nachma, …..,” the oilam was intelligent to write it off as lunacy. (If you don’t believe me, search on youtube, you’ll still see clips of fringe breslov chevra doing it). So now we’ve moved onto a motto “Thank you HaShem, Thank you HaShem.” It’s said over and over to the point of being meaningless. There’s a reason why tefilah has different components, and it isn’t all thanks. There supposed to be different modes and emotions (mind you Hoda’ah is at the end of Shemoneh Esray, other motifs come before). It’s like being stuck in a first year shiur where you can’t get to actually learning, you’re still “learning how to learn.” Take your thanks and do something with it. Go do a chesed, learn a blatt gemara, some halacha, etc. Being stuck in thanks is just that, being stuck (if it’s even REAL thanks).
My 2cents
The only thing that is more cringeworthy than TYH’s music is the fact that such a ridiculous amount of grown adults have debated the hashkafa contained within this AI parody song. Stop taking it so seriously. It was made by some triggered sefardi kid that wanted to troll the TYH chevra. That’s it. It doesn’t need to be debated or discussed. It is a comedy video.
How have we got to a stage where a bored teenager can knock together a viral AI comedy diss track against an up-and-coming Jewish movement whilst on the toilet, and yet the rest of the Frum world is so fickle that it feels the need to debate and discuss the hashkafas of this defecating teenage boy. We have all lost our minds. Why are we taking this so seriously?!
Get off of social media!!
lets ask the young people listening & following TYH what they get out of it? what they think are the messages…does it help keep halacha or farkert?
it i without question that all types of music being easily accessible FOR FREE has exposed the world and allowed trends too take root ( a few examples the Carlebach style explosion and most serious ppl will agree there is a huge power bruchnius to the music and the neshama speaks that language) the isreali music with its mushy core , yishay and so many others .. lifting a nation. what one sees in the subtle messages are the baal shem vetalmidov speaking to the masses in a 2026 american coating
finally TYH rav miller zatzl who was a s sharp a musar as they come put great value on TYH saying it out w your mouth even for small stuff like find a parking spot
“There are many ways of connecting to Hashem that don’t fall squarely into Halacha.”
This is dangerously misleading. In mesorah, everything authentic runs through halacha. That is REFORM LOGIC written in frum language
People today will literally do anything but learn and then claim to know what the Torah says about anything. But without opening some serious books your odds of knowing something are pretty much zero
You need to understand where TYH is from. The Rebbe of TYH has a congregation in Lawrence, NY, KMH. It is a place where on Tisha B’Av they have two kumzitzes where they sing together. People let that go (many are unaware of it I guess), so they continued with their deviations.
Great advertising for the song is all I can say.
rebEmes, both of your above comments are spot on
all the credit to this guy for calling them out! he opened up the discussion of how everone felt and brought it out beautifully! how does the name “tyh” have anything to do with the songs they push. huh?? there may be an arguement for a part of what they do. but their complete domininace on the narrative has now crumbled with the song totally exposing their tactics. it got ppl to wake up to them. next time “tyh” will think twice abt their song selection.
Oh and just for the record all those cute bumper stickers that say “hashem needs every yid” might seem harmless at first glance but it’s continuing the false culture that people are buying into which seems to heaven forbid label Hashem needy and all.loving of everyone including rasha and those who fight the torah and talmidei chachamim which is a clear lie. the correct wording is Every yid needs hashem. Oorah stop spreading happy illusions believe it or not it does get to people
The people from the “Thank you Hashem” are prusta peasants and hippies trying to shlep down Klal Yisroel to a spiritually low level and at the same time rake in $$$$$ from all the merchandise they sell.
Excellent article. In many circles, one’s Yiddishkeit is measured based on how many TYH songs he can sing.
No doubt “Zev Levin” is the same person who made the “Real Yidden” song “Emese Yid” that decries the TYH (Thank You Hashem) brand or whatever and then wrote a letter about his own song. Like most people with no life they are busy with stupidity and then writing letters about their own songs no one cares about. I want to be like zusha isn’t a song idolizing zusha, it’s a song with lyrics representing what an impressionable child is thinking in his mind. Healthy 10 year olds don’t fantasize of being Moshe Rabbeinu. They want to be Mordechai Shapiro. So the song says remember whatever you do, do it sincerely and from your heart, a great song if you weren’t so bitter. For the rest of you decrying who knows what, look up “projection” from freud. It is your autobiography. Go take 2 Xanax, or a mushr00m, and chill the out.
1. Is “TYH” against following Halacha? Do they actually do anything against Halacha?
2. Does the fact that their message resonates with so many FFBs suggest that something is missing from their experience of Yiddishkeit and people are looking for it there?
3. What do the opponents [misnagdim…] of “TYH” offer as an alternative solution to item 2?