pre-Spring 2005 Issue 23 www.afterword.ca Seventh year FREE

INSIDE: Nazi Toy Soldiers Controversy

‘Trendy’ Jewish clothing: the best and the worst

MMaattiissyyaahhuu:: boychick beatboxer, rockin’ reggae rebel and hip hoppin’ Hasid ...all rolled into one page 8-9 8, pre-Spring 2005 Interview

Hasid from the Hebrew ’hood

By Dave Gordon

As a teenager in White Plains, New York, Matthew Miller was a Grateful Dead fan who sang rap songs, wore baggy pants, dreadlocks, and tie-dyed tees. Raised in a non-religious household, Judaism never played a large role in his life. Today, he's a reggae singer who is gar- nering attention, raising some eyebrows and receiving accolades from critics all over. Things have changed in the past few years. Over the course of time, the dreads turned into peyyot; he traded in his baggy pants for black slacks and the raps have turned into reggae. Matthew Miller became Matisyahu. Now going by his Hebrew name, the 25- year-old Lubavitcher from Crown Heights is definitely an uncommon face in the reg- gae scene, wearing traditional Hasidic garb of black hat, black coat and long black beard. "The image is not something people are used to seeing. It's really a trip for peo- ple. I think hopefully once people hear the “...yiddishkeit is the music, the music speaks for itself and they'll get into it," he says. emes, the truth. I bring Matisyahu's music brings to the fore a unique fusion of styles, from Bob Marley to that with me and I think Jewish folk singer Shlomo Carlebach, yet remains original. "It's about beating nega- people sense that.” tive forces, using music to bring people back to Judaism," he says. of his hip-ness point, watching the sun setting, singing Matisyahu is the latest in a string of says, “I never had Judaism presented to me to attract all those of too-cool-for-shul songs, hearing chanting in the background," Jewish singing acts that have gained audi- as something joyful.” young Jews who are hanging out at New he says. ences among the mainstream and secular Along with the music itself, what many York's club scene, like the Mercury Lounge "Everything was a moment of feeling, Jews. Jewish-themed pop music has been find compelling about Matisyahu is that and the Knitting Factory. really for the first time, in my soul and my gaining steam over the past ten years with that he made his whole transformation heart. I was feeling the depth and richness, acts like Neshama Carlebach, as well as from wild-kid Matthew Miller to It was a high school trip to Israel that davening, intellectualizing, on a completely Hoodios, Shlock Rock, Reva L'Sheva, Lubavitch Matisyahu and still somehow opened his eyes to the joys of Judaism. A pure and emotional level." Lazer Lloyd, Moshav Band, Pey Daled and kept his hip tastes. His rabbis not only let sunset on scenic Mount Scopus began it all. There were several more experiences that Beis Groove. For his own sake, Matisyahu him do that, but he is actually making use "It was a transitional moment, at that solidified his path to observant Judaism. The following Rosh Hashanah he arrived at the Wailing Wall and saw a few hundred Hasidim davening with intensity. "That made an impression for sure, and that's Centre for Jewish Studies @ YORK U something I thought about for years." Those • the largest Jewish student population of any university in Canada images of Israel would often stay in the back of his mind. "I'd always pull some- • a rich and varied Jewish Studies Programme thing out from these experiences in my • a unique Jewish Teacher Education Programme raps," he says. • an active engaging Jewish student life Soon after, on Simchat Torah, he heard drumming echoing through the streets of Jerusalem. He followed the rhythms to a Programs FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: trail winding through the Old City, and B.A. (Religious Studies) Professor Martin Lockshin, Director came to a shteible [a small house of prayer]. Centre for Jewish Studies B.Ed. (Jewish Teacher Education) Wearing dreadlocks and a tie-dyed shirt, he 241 Vanier College, York University looked in, and again saw hundreds of M.Ed. (Jewish Education Specialty) 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3 Hasidim dancing around the bimah, carry- M.A./Ph.D. (by Department) Telephone: 416-736-5823 ing bottles of wine, dancing, and laughing. Fax: 416-736-5344 "It was the first time I ever saw a Hasid Certificate in Hebrew and Jewish Studies E-mail: [email protected] smiling. Before, religious people were Graduate Diplomas in Jewish Studies Web site: www.yorku.ca/cjs ...continued on next page Interview pre-Spring 2005, 9

“It's about beating negative forces, using music to bring people back to Judaism”

...pretty one dimensional and serious was off to yeshiva and now I saw another side." But while and stopped play- his perceptions had changed, his own ing music. The religious direction didn't change for a timing wasn't quite few more months. right. He com- After high school he attended New pletely stopped School college in . His new- performing and lis- found Jewish experiences culminated in tening to music, a sudden urge to pray -- to want to con- and just learned nect to G-d. So he borrowed his father's Talmud all day. tallit and asked his Reconstructionist But Matisyahu rabbi for a siddur. He'd go on the roof of didn't write off the his school at sunset and pray, even idea entirely. He though he didn't know what the words told Bisman that if meant. the record label While at New School, he took music, became a reality, and earned a B.A. It was there he met he'd join in. And Rabbi Eli Cohen of New York University, so, after corralling and began learning Torah with him. "I his New School was pulling religion in from a lot of musician pals, and places, like the Carlebach shul, Aish gaining permission HaTorah, and Seagate Yeshiva." from his rabbi, The latter he attended during a winter Matisyahu hopped break, but left after a day, disillusioned. on board. JDub But it was his leaving that helped bring decided to tout him him back in. As he left, the rabbi of the as their biggest act. yeshiva called a rabbi of New Their first album is York University, to see what was bother- Matisyahu's ing Matisyahu. The Chabad rabbi and "Shake Off the Matisyahu talked, and something Dust…Arise," and clicked. it's gaining effu- "He was someone I could really relate sive reviews from to," says Matisyahu. "He had been on there was a lot of stress," he says. changed his name to Matisyahu and the media. Grateful Dead tours. It's kinda what I needed "But now they are super supportive, attended yeshiva for two years in Crown Even the non-Jewish mainstream at that point." Matisyahu ended up moving super positive about the whole thing. Heights. world is paying attention. What has fol- into the rabbi's family's apartment, due to Even when we were stressed out, I "I used to wear baggy pants. I wasn't lowed is a flurry of articles in the New family tensions stemming from his new- always knew it would work out. It wasn't representing something real. But from the York Times, Boston Globe, and The found religiosity. a rejection of them; it was a positive second I wore a yarmulke and wore a New York Post. "At first it was hard for my family, and thing. I knew there would be initial fear, beard I felt there was truth and confi- Things have begun to snowball with that's why I needed to move out. I couldn't but now they're very accepting and posi- dence that I never had. I think I bring that appearances on CNN, NBC, and the TV eat on their dishes. At first my family, like tive." into my music, and yiddishkeit is the talk-show Jimmy Kimmel Live. But he many families, took it personally and It took about a year for everything to emes, the truth. I bring that with me and I doesn't let it get to his head. "I don't real- thought it was a rejection of their ways, and settle down. During this process he think people sense that. They don't sense ly get too nervous about being on TV. I the wavering learned Talmud for an hour before the and they sense Kimmel interview, so not to be too car- truth," he says. ried away with Hollywood. My mission While taking is to promote Moshiach and G-dliness, classes with and the more I learn, the more I daven, Rabbi Cohen, and stay close to the real reality." Matisyahu met Matisyahu explains that religion and Aaron Bisman, reggae have always gone hand-in-hand. who was start- "In Jamaica, reggae music's message ing a new grew from the Bible and a connection record label with G-d," he says. "It's not so different called JDub. if I borrow their music to help people They hung out know G-d better, too." and jammed, with the vision For more information about to be partners Matisyahu: on the new http://www.hasidicreggae.com label. But Matisyahu had other plans - he 10, pre-Spring 2005 On-line Dating Feature

Dating Religiously ... In the olden days, there were matchmakers. Today, more and more observant Jews are turning to the Internet to find true love...

By Baruch Arnold whirl. "I felt that using the Internet to meet You meet her at midnight. You're in a guy was very sleazy. I lost a lot of trust in your pajamas, munching popcorn; she's in men and I wasn't interested in mess- her nightgown eating her way through a ing up my life with the pint of B & J. You share your inner thoughts wrong guy. But. creations, especially nature, since I am a and feelings with one another -- and hope what have nature lover and outdoors person," she she'll look as good in person as her online I got says. ChannieBraun and Tzvi Michanik picture suggests. Making sure your obser- to were married last March. vance levels are the same, you check out Unlike many other dating sites, Saker her references with your Rabbi. Welcome to says that Frumster engages in an on-going the online world of observant Jewish dat- review process to make sure only serious ing. members apply. "It's extremely demand- Derek Saker, Director of Marketing ing," he says. "It's managing a pool of near- at Frumster.com, says that Internet dat- ly 14,000individuals. We build a close rela- ing has caught on like wildfire tionship with our members and our sup- amongst the observant single crowd. port team is quick to respond to any mem- What has become the leader in online ber question, difficulty or complaint." dating for observant and marriage- Due to the success and size of Frumster, minded Jews, Frumster.com is one of it has a full-time team of professionals, the most successful online Jewish dat- based in Passaic, . ing services of its ilk. But the site is not all about plugging "In the traditional Orthodox information into the website, looking matchmaking environment where many through profiles and fishing for a date. singles can be too dismissive, Frumster "Some members still have an idea of enables members to gauge more of an in- Frumster as a simple cyber-database that is depth perspective of an individual through self containing. meaningful communication," he says. In Nothing could be further from the fact, Saker says many are surprised to hear truth," says Saker. that half the time women initiate the com- A new feature unique to the site is munication. lose? "The Frumster Connect®, a third party facilita- The site touts itself as a virtual meeting And if I real- problem was that tion service that assists in the initial stages place for religious singles that run the spec- ly hated it I could I had I did not have of the dating process. A third party facili- trum from Modern Orthodox to Yeshivish just time to wait tates off-line communications between two Black Hat. In three years, Frumster has stop," Suri and Simcha Fulda: a “frum” match made in Cyberspace for shad- members who have already been in direct boasted over 280 matches resulting in mar- she says. chanim at all e-mail communications, and who mutually riage, crossing all observance levels, ages, After chatting online with Simcha, and hours. I needed something that would wish to move forward, but feel more com- states, and continents. thoroughly checking him out through allow me to respond on my own sched- fortable by engaging a facilitator in taking One such match involved Simcha 'Jewish geography', she gave him her ule. Reluctantly, I decided one day to the next step. Fulda, a young chap from England, and his phone number, and they hit it off. Simcha check out Frumster and at least see the The facilitator sets up a time for the wife Suri, from Israel. "I've always hated and Suri have been married for almost two website. When I saw how the website first phone call between members, assists in singles weekends, and I am very weary of years and Suri still can't believe how it was set up, I was quite impressed. It was the exchange of personal contact informa- shadchanim [Jewish matchmakers]. I high- happened: "I mean, what are the chances of modest, serious, and extremely easy to tion and reference information, and acts as ly recommend trying to meet someone over two nice good, frum people meeting over navigate," Tzvi says. a point-person before and after dates. the Internet," says Suri. "It is much less the Internet and actually getting married, Indeed, the key to Frumster's suc- Members can also request matchmaker stressful then blind dating, and it is also a especially when they live in two different cess, says Saker, is hands-on support, involvement without ever partaking in much easier way to meet. This is so much countries?" In this case, pretty good. readily available online advice and rigor- direct e-mail communications. simpler, and the best part is, if you really Suri and Simcha's experiences aren't ous screening by a dedicated Orthodox Saker says the site was created as a meet a creepy guy, you can get rid of him atypical. Tzvi Michanik tried Frumster management team.. According to Saker, reaction to both what he calls "the singles with just a click of a mouse!" because of a shadchan's recommendation, users are attracted to the insightful ques- crisis", and the demand of observant and How did this previously divorced although Tzvi had the same trepidation of tionnaire and the pool of sincere, mar- marriage-minded singles for a comfortable woman with two children find a mate in an most neophytes to Internet dating. "The riage-minded singles who are serious in and secure online dating environment. already complex and frustrating dating whole idea of placing my hopes and shid- their search to find their soulmate. Tzvi But Frumster isn't just simply a web- scene? One of her co-workers nudged her duch desires into a website did not appeal was just the third person Channie had site - it's a meeting place for singles in more for two months to register on Frumster, and to me," he says. But he quickly got over his met on Frumster. "I was captivated by despite Suri's hesitations, she gave it a reservations. Tzvi's fascination with all of Hashem's Continued on next page On-line Dating Feature pre-Spring 2005, 11 ... a 21st century matchmaker Continued from previous page “Frumster enables members to ways than one. For those who enjoy min- gauge more of an in-depth perspective gling and schmoozing in person, of an individual through meaningful Frumster hosts quarterly events in the communication,” says Derek Saker, New York area, all of which have been Director of Marketing at Frumster.com sold-out. From sushi and politics discus- sions to a lecture from relationship expert Rabbi Aryeh Pamensky, the crowds pack ple who surprised to learn that we lived only a in. would set us few minutes away from each other. We For online shmoozers, a special up without dated for a couple of months and we highlight on the site is "Frumster having the were engaged shortly after. We were Forum," which posts articles and inter- personal very surprised to learn that we had views for members to discuss. Recent insight into never met or had been introduced exclusive interviews included dating our lives to despite the fact we went to the same experts Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and make a sig- shul, had mutual friends, affiliations Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis, and a political nificant and common interests in the Toronto analysis from former White House match for us. area. speechwriter David Frum. We both We are both very happy to leave the Also in the planning is a number of Philip and Devorah Levy posted our frazzled world of being single and start "When people ask who our shadchan is," she admits, Mentor Training events, to educate "I say Hashem and the Internet." photos with a new chapter in our lives.... together.” laypeople in different communities who detailed pro- can act as a coach to someone who is dat- Frumster.com to find their beshert [soul- files of our education and the personal (Canada is the 3rd largest source ing for marriage and needs a more objec- mate]... qualities that we would each bring to a of members at Frumster.com, after tive individual to talk to concerning a relationship. Unites Sates and Israel.) possible dating issue. “We both wanted to meet someone, Much to my complete amazement, I With all of these new accoutrements, but we were experiencing similar horror received an e-mail from someone who liked Saker says he hopes to make it easier for stories of matchmakers and terrible dates. my smile and thoughts about Shabbos. We observant and marriage-minded Jews to We were both meeting well-meaning peo- corresponded a few times and we were both find their intended. For Jewish singles, finding that perfect mate within the tribe is a challenge. For frum Jews especially -who comprise of about ten percent of the Jewish population- the search can become that much harder. But despite the challenges, about one Frumster match happens every three days. One frum couple summed it up best when hav- ing combined faith and per- sistence to find one another. Devorah Levy, who married Philip Levy last October, unabashedly credits Frumster with helping her find her beshert. "When people ask who our shadchan is," she admits, "I say Hashem and the Internet." Ah, singles events are so 20th century...

A CANADIAN MATCH:

Beth and Geoffrey Carman -Frumster match number 39 out of 310 so far - were married December, 2003. They are one of dozens of religious couples from Canada who have used