The Zal

Oy. Yo. Shift a letter, shift the meaning. Nosson gets involved in the conversation about Jewish melody and rap, traditional and contemporary, differences and common ground. 

In this episode Dovid, Adam and Hassidic rap sensation Nosson Zand discuss how successful each of these art forms are at: evoking joy, breaking limitations, melting inhibitions and building inter-human connections. 

Toward the end of the episode Nosson captures his “drop the rake” moment and depicts what it felt like to collaborate with reggae superstar Matisyahu.

A playlist of traditional Jewish melodies (niggunim): [Youtube]

Nosson's catalog: [Spotify]

The first dance at many Jewish weddings is the Horah. It is replete with a medley of religious sounding (Klezmer-ish) music: that is, most of the lyrics are "Oy Oy Oy." Only once that box is checked can the celebration move into the 21st century.

But, what happens when those parts are mixed? When Jewish sentiments are delivered in a hip-hop package, is the religious sanctity lost? Is the song even hip-hop? What are the specific and shared values and purposes of older and newer music?

To answer some of these question, The Zal is thrilled to host its first ever guest: Hassidic Rapper, Nosson Zand.

The OG Hassidic reggae superstar Matisyahu said: “Nosson Zand is the real thing. In the world of ‘Jewish Music’ and Jewish rappers there is absolutely no one who if they asked me to write a recommendation quote, I would get behind, with the exception of Nosson. Religious Jew or not he can hold his own with an authentic style. The fact that he represents our people and his lyrics carry weight is unique in this age of the prostitution of hip hop music and the unyielding emptiness and spiritual death that is drowning American youth.”

For the music video of Nosson's smash-hit collaboration with Matisyahu, watch here.

The piece of Talmud discussed can be studied here (Talmud, Sanhedrin 101a).

To experience an uplifting Niggun (Hassidic Melody) with the Rebbe, watch here.

Envision yourself meditating. Seriously. In this vision, have you sprouted a 10-inch beard and teleported to the edge of a forlorn mountainside? The arts of meditation and prayer are so foreign to our existence that they're either too vague or too specific to grasp — do we need an app or a New Age album or nothing or...?

In this episode, Adam and Dovid discuss praying vs. just saying, meditating or just standing by a wall — and lots of the in-betweens.  What can different practices aiming towards accessing something sublime mean — or do? — for us in a usual day in our usual head. 

For information on Rabbi Yitzchak Ben Sheshet of Valencia, see here.

More inspiration from the Rebbe on making one's prayers selfless, watch here.

To purchase a book from Rabbi Adin (Even-Yisrael) Steinsaltz's writings, click here.

"Hassids don't say farewell, for they're always together" is an oft-quoted maxim but seldom understood. Maintaining closeness with a friend while gaining the advantages of distance, seems like having your herring and eating it. On this episode we discuss frames-of-mind and tactics for elevating the current, dull, Facebook friend era. 

Rebbe's Farbrengen, Shabbat Tazria 1957

High holidays wishes and jokes about fishes from The Zal — back after Yom Kippur, however you pronounce it.  Tell all the non-Jews: the pod's for them too! There might even be tips about making lox in this one...

Best fill-in for the blank in the title wins a prize. 

Much love from us & see you soon.

- D & A

Mazel Tov is arguably the most known Hebrew phrase to the English speaker. "Congratulations!" Literally, it means "good luck," but — do Jews even believe in luck? With the number of people wishing they should be billionaires, it appears that we’ve got little of it.  Where is the space for luck between destiny and agency, and what do we really mean (or want to mean) when we call someone lucky?

Follow along in the Talmud, Tractate Shabbat 156a,

Tikkunei Zohar 99b

and at the Rebbe's Farbrengen, Likkutei Sichot Vol. 15 Pg. 10

Music: Charles Butler, Daft Punk "Get Lucky" cover [YouTube] // Flow sounds by Finn Carrey

It was G.I. Joe in a 1980s cartoon who first said "knowledge is half the battle". The traditional Rabbinic phrase goes even further: "knowledge of the ailment is half the remedy."  In a time defined maybe most by its glut of information, how far will all this *knowing* take us? On tap: a discussion around physical ailments, mental health issues, the war and recent collapse in Afghanistan, and more.

Follow along in the Talmud, Tractate Sota Page 44a 

And at the Rebbe's Farbrengen, Toras Menachem Purim 5718 - 1958 Ch. 42

Music: Steph Chou, :Movement 3: Ensemble" from C for G Ballet [YouTube] 

When the devotee exclaimed "Rebbe, I'm full of crookedness!" he wasn't expecting to be told to think more about himself. Join Adam and Dovid as they explore instruction by the 19th century Rebbe Maharash* for self-improvement and hash out the differences between self-centering and self-centeredness.

Follow along here (Yiddish only, sorry Adam and co.): Sefer HaToldos Admu"r Mahara"sh.

Click here to purchase an English translation of this text.

Music: "Eye Contact" from Steph Chou's Prime Knot. 

*The Rebbe Maharash (1834 to 1882) was the fourth spiritual leader since the inception of the Chabad branch of orthodox Judaism. He is perhaps most known for his saying (known in Yiddish as “lechatchilah ariber”): “The world says: If you can't go under [an obstacle], leap over; I say: In the first place, go over!" Read more about his life here.