An Unorthodox Orthodox Jew
I just spotted this story and had to share. It’s about the Jewish rapper Y-Love — a black, Orthodox Jew who actually tried to convert at the age of 14!
His curiosity grew into faith, and at age 14 he began attending synagogue at Johns Hopkins University. Much against his Roman Catholic mother’s will, at the same time he approached the rabbi with plans to convert. He was turned down because of his age.
“I knew I wanted to be Jewish ever since I was a little kid,” Y-Love said. “Through a lot of time, I was just waiting to convert.”
Y-Love finally converted at age 21, traveled to Israel and studied at yeshiveh. You can visit the MySpace page over here, and hear songs in a variety of languages.
We all remember when Matisyahu hit the scene, people shocked at a rapping Jew, traditional garb and all. But I think it’s interesting to watch as worlds collide, and how people make the secular and religious worlds unite. So often Orthodox communities and liberal communities feel as if there is no way that such worlds can commit to one another without causing chaos. It’s why the left goes further left and the right goes further right, closing itself off from the secular world and influence.
But this convert is proving that two worlds — or really, three or more worlds — can collide and make beautiful music.
I’m hoping to write...
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Yup, great story. Thanks.
This is a very inspirational story for me. I have been sharing my
new experiences in Judaism — attending Reform temple, taking a
5-part "intro to Judaism" program, recently making hamantaschen,
preparing for Passover up ahead — with my 82-year-old Roman Catholic mother. Well, let’s just say it’s like talking to a wall of bricks. Now, I’ve always been the religious standard-breaker in the family — devout Catholic as a child, got to know two female religious orders while in high school and college — until she just about had a breakdown over the thought of her daughter being a nun, when ended that, married a nice Presbyterian boy, became a Unitarian, then a Lutheran. Of course, it all sounds and looks like crazy wandering in the desert. Except that while I’ve been a seeker all my life, deep down I’ve always been drawn to Judaism throughout all of it. When I was eight or nine, I seriously wondered why we weren’t studying seriously what Jesus studied and believed! I wanted more! And now, at 50, divorced and on my own, my only child turning 25 and family 2,000 miles away, I can FINALLY pursue my own spiritual calling and path.
I DO want to reassure anyone reading that I am NOT being stubborn,
militant, or disrespectful about my new experiences in Judaism with
my mom. I waited months to even bring it up (in response to the standard, "What’s new and what are you doing this weekend?" from her). I have also reassured her that she and my father gave me an excellent religious grounding and reminded her that I have been the one who has sought out information, traveled far afield spiritually, that this is not some wild throw-your-family-under-the bus fling or cult. Yes, I have
figured out that she is 82 (!) and has a pre-Vatican II Roman Catholic and American 1960s perspective of Jews and Judaism. She has made a few comments about "all the tradition in Judaism" evidently pulling as much as she can from her memory of "Fiddler on the Roof." Also, I know that given her age and where she lives (heavy, heavy Catholic) this whole
thing just doesn’t touch her. She has no reason to consider a religious search or learning. It’s not anything she did or would have done, although she had commented that she is just horribly tired of the hierarchy and the constant calls for money to support the local parochial school. For my part, I realize it’s time to sit down and write her a very gentle love letter, reassuring her again of the fine start she and my dad gave me, religiously, and tell her a bit more about the liberal Judaism of the 21st century, which I have found to be quite vibrant and meaningful…
Chavi, thanks for sharing this guy’s story. I love hearing about unusual people who bring to Judaism a liveliness and energy like Y-Love’s. It’s great to look at Judaism through fresh eyes, and to know that there is such diversity within The Tribe.
SFMichele, you seem to have adopted an attitude of great sensitivity in keeping your mother informed of your interest in Judaism. I, too, found that my mother needed some TLC when I was pursuing my conversion, and a "love letter" was a great help to her to remind her of what she had taught me. In the grace after meals, when one’s parents are at the table, it is customary to say a blessing over each of the parents, referring to them as "my father, my teacher" and "my mother, my teacher." The most important thing I had to reassure my family about was that I would not abandon them or cut them out of my life. Nearly 10 years after my conversion, my mom still has no interest in my religious beliefs; understanding Judaism is less important to her than knowing that I still love and honor her.
Yes his story is an interesting one.
Oh and BTW did you know, that he even knows about our little JBC.org blog? That’s right he does, see here (you will need to click on the comments link)!
Yitz and I went to Israel together last summer on ROI120, he’s a cool cat. He grabbed the mic on our bus and started rapping on our way back to the hotel one day. We were the JBCs on the trip and neither of us are quiet about our choice.
My son is biracial and thus when I see articles about AA or other minority Jews especially those who have converted… I get all excited! It’s rare for my son to see others in temple who look like him. We know they are there …somewhere… and seeing such diversity finally in the media really helps. Thanks for highlighting this young man’s story!
This guys story is almost exactly like mine! I also tried to convert at a very young age. When I was 16 I approached a rabbi to convert me. I’m Jewish now but I’m not orthodox, I’m conservative. I will begin studying Hebrew in university soon and I’m thinking of moving to Israel afterwards. However there is still some much for me in Holland, so that won’t be an easy choice to make.
I’m a Dominican American convert. I just wanted to post a link to an article I wrote about Jews of color that includes an interview with Y-Love, Yitz Jordan, about his conversion and experiences with race and Judaism. See "Funny, You Don’t Look Jewish" at: http://www.presentensemagazine.org/mag/?page_id=142
I’m also a Black woman who converted Reform a few years ago and would like to eventually convert Orthodox (not there yet…almost was…but I digress). I think Y-Love is great