PROFILE ‘IT’S ABOUT SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER THAN YOU!’ EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY BORUCH MERKUR WRITTEN BY CHANA KATZ Friday afternoon. Music superstar enters and immediately starts to sing moving in their seats, if you can Matisyahu is being trailed by a a melody, “Dum, dum, dum, dum, imagine. The audience is ignited. reporter from one of America’s most dah, dah...” and then vocalizes a Matisyahu finishes, gives a shy prominent newspapers, The series of sounds that sizzle and but appreciative smile and is ushered Washington Post. Erev Shabbos and explode into song. into the interview seat. Taking in his the reporter is barely keeping pace The cameras occasionally flash on Chasidic composure, the host asks with the Chassid as he navigates the the crowd in the audience and no one with great interest, “How did you streets of New York City. is sitting still. Everyone is literally become this rapper?! The article is published with the Matisyahu smiles and says, headline, “Funny, He Doesn’t Look “Basically, I wasn’t always religious. I Jamaican!” referring to the reggae A SIGN THAT GEULA IS NEAR! was raised in a non-Orthodox Jewish roots of his music. Still, the essence family and listened to reggae like any “The success of Matisyahu is of the story is G-dliness. “Matisyahu high school kid.” does this (gives up Shabbos nothing short of pure G-dliness performances, etc.) because, as he and certainly the work of the Host: “You get criticism from the sees it, he has what he had because Rebbe MH”M. He’s good. In Orthodox? he put G-d first,” she writes and then fact, he’s really good, excellent. Matisyahu: “Not so much. The continues with a quote from But that millions of non-Jews Lubavitcher Rebbe said, ‘Go out and Matisyahu, “That’s what real passion are crazy over him is a miracle turn the world over,’ and you is, and that passion comes through a and it seems clear that he knows should try to help people connect to divorce of self. And the way to do it, which is a big chiddush. G-dliness.” that is to give your self over to Another sign that Moshiach is The host: “What sort of things something greater.” here and Geula is near!” can’t you do? Are there any ––Rabbi Tuvia Bolton restrictions? AIN’T GONNA WORK mashpia Ohr T’mimim, ON SATURDAY Matisyahu: “I can’t perform on Kfar Chabad Fridays,” he begins to answer, as the ABC television network host A WHIRLWIND host interrupts and prods: Even if it’s Jimmy Kimmel asks the audience to a really BIG gig?!” give a warm welcome to the “most “It’s been chaotic. Like a Matisyahu: “No.” popular Jewish rapper” whom they whirlwind. One minute you’re a flew “all the way” from Brooklyn to bachur and the next you’re All this is getting very interesting the West Coast. The six-foot-four, 27- selling a half a million records.” to one of the other stars on the show year-old singer, Chassidically-clothed ––Matisyahu Miller and he interjects: “One million? Two from his blacks to his white tzitzis, million?” 10 BEIS MOSHIACH - 14 Iyar 5766 “No,” Matisyahu says. To make a long story short, for now, a lot has “Let me bump it up to four million,” he persists. happened in Matisyahu’s life in a relatively short time. On the one hand, he found his other half in a NYU graduate “Four million?!” Matisyahu responds, his eyes lighting student, Tali, and settled down to married life in Crown up, playing along, and then says, quite clearly, “No!” Heights and to being a loving, hands-on father to their * * * infant son, Levi Yitzchok. On the other hand, his career – A few short years ago, it may have been difficult to and perhaps unique shlichus – began to spiral in an distinguish Matisyahu from other baalei t’shuva whose upwards soar that still sees no bounds. He has signed thirsting, restless souls struggled through the pits and with the world’s leading recording company, Sony, and his passions of life in search of meaning. He learned at Hadar latest release, Youth, has sold half-a-million copies, HaTorah after his soul was ignited by N.Y. University peaking at number 4 in the Billboard charts and so far shliach R. Dov Yona Korn. Music had always held a staying on the charts for 9 weeks at the time of this prominent place article. He has in his life, but for been written this period, the about by leading immersion into newspapers and Chassidus took entertainment precedence. magazines across America and is But his music currently touring wasn’t put on the globe. hold completely. He performed at * * * little clubs which Beis turned into Moshiach: Given bigger clubs and your incredible seemed to attract success and the a growing fact that you’ve number of become a admirers. From household name his early days at virtually the YAM Jams overnight, you’ve (Youth Action come to Movement represent various gatherings) things to all people began to kinds of people – take notice of his Jewish and immense G-d- l’havdil, non- given talent. You Jews alike. How could tell that do you see this young man yourself? Do you was different as a see yourself performer. He foremost as a was an utter natural, a star. By the time he was at the shliach or an entertainer? Hadar HaTorah summer program in the Catskills, other Matisyahu: No, I definitely don’t see myself at all as an students learning with him noticed that a film crew was entertainer. I always thought of entertainment as following him around! something like wrestling or a circus. I always thought of * * * music as being something spiritual. So I guess I see myself In cyberspace, the name Matisyahu is readily found – as like a modern-day Chassid. but nothing, at least initially, on the Kohen Gadol of CHABAD TIME! Chasmonean fame. There are websites for his fans, websites for his critics, websites for his music, and Anyone who has waited in line for hours to get a endless ranting in blogs. L’chayim or dollar from the Rebbe, knows the preciousness of each millisecond with the nasi of our Issue Number 554 - BEIS MOSHIACH 11 generation, the Rebbe, MH”M. Within Beis Moshiach: What kind of lives in Chevron. He’s a therapist. You the seconds that it took to be shuffled people do you take influence and might have heard of him before. He along in line, literally, an entire life advice from? works with a lot of young teens. He’s could be changed and permanently Matisyahu: Halachically, I count really a good guy and someone who I elevated. Minutes in a yechidus were on my wife [to seek advice on my feel like I can trust. I feel that he even more precious. behalf] because she’s amazing and really understands; he doesn’t get A Chassidic farbrengen, on the sharp in terms of picking up on caught up in definitions but searches other hand, was an occasion to something that doesn’t seem right. for the meaning. elaborate, to expand, to replenish the She goes to Rav Osdoba. Spiritually, I BODY AND SOUL, BRAIN l’chaim cup, break for a niggun, and receive most of my guidance from a go higher and higher until late hours guy named Efraim Rosenstein. He AND HEART turned to morning light. Music critics and reviewers and It was more of a farbrengen-style lots of people with vocal opinions interview we had hoped to have with have certainly attempted to Matisyahu. This wasn’t how it turned categorize, peg, label, understand, out. After being put in contact with analyze and meditate upon his lawyer and then several Matisyahu, his music, and everything publicists, we reached a New York else related under the sun. City-based public relations firm, Beis Moshiach: Given the title of which initially explained that your latest album, “Youth,” are they Matisyahu’s schedule was full and the group that you most want to could not include any new interviews reach out to? for what could be months. And Matisyahu: Not necessarily, but I besides that, he was about to leave on Matisyahu with Jimmy Kimmel feel that’s definitely the group of his first international tour. people I’d like to be there for. It’s good that the media are Beis Moshiach: What message do interested in hearing about G-dliness. you most want to impart to people? We persisted to publicist Aliza Matisyahu: I don’t see that I’m Rabinoff, who called the two years trying to impart a message as much she’s worked with Matisyahu “a as I’m trying to just provide support, wonderful experience” – but this is a support for people that are searching little like the shoemaker’s family that and for people that are looking for doesn’t have shoes. “I’ll do what I G-d and need to have hope, that have can,” she said with understanding pain and problems. I just hope that and honesty. An early concert the music I had growing up that was In honor of Yud-Aleph Nissan, the there for me, providing strength and Rebbe’s 104th birthday, we received a providing guidance – I hope that my strictly-monitored 15-minutes. WEEP WITH JOY music fills that role for Jews and non- * * * Every time I listen to “King Jews, for young kids... Beis Moshiach: Do you have time Without a Crown” it makes me Beis Moshiach: Do you see the to be a person, to do the things you weep with joy.