Yaakov Shwekey’s New Song: An Analysis

    48

    NEW YORK (VINnews By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com) – Never having met Yaakov Schwekey the singer, it is difficult to figure out what is going on in his head.  But one can picture that it perhaps began on an Erev Chanukah some four years ago.

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    What was on the table then was United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 – a measure intended to create significant dangers and existential threats to Israel.  America, under President Obama, abstained from rejecting it. The resolution passed to the horror of Jews across the country, except maybe J-Street.

    It was a stab in the back to Israel, or as a Wall Street Journal editorial had put it, “a stab in the front.”

    One can surmise that Yaakov Schwekey loves Israel and is concerned about the safety of the people in it.  One can also imagine that Mr. Schwekey has deep appreciation for everything that President Trump has done for Israel.  Ensuring its safety and those of her citizens time after time; ensuring that Iran not develop a nuclear bomb after ten years; recognizing Israel’s right to the Golan; having Israel’s back in terms of making sure that she is safe are perhaps all part of what Mr. Shwekey was thinking when he recorded and produced his new song.

    One can also guess that Mr. Shwekey is very uneasy about the growing anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment of the new left.  It is probable that it was these three factors that prompted Mr. Shwekey to launch a song – aside from his profound sense of hakaras hatov – appreciation.  The song expresses thanks to the president and prays that he be granted four additional years in office.

    Recently, however, a prominent Rabbi associated with a large Jewish organization and others wrote an open letter to the Orthodox community that was a thinly veiled statement supporting the candidacy of Joe Biden – notwithstanding the rise of anti-Israel sentiment in the left wing sections of the Democrat party.  It was entitled, “Sinai, Not Washington,” and its message hid behind the idea that there is an “unhealthy intertwining of Torah values and politics” which  “brings disrepute to Torah and harm to Torah Jews.”

    Out of the dozen or so people whom I discussed the article with,  every single one of them said that it was a statement not to vote for President Trump.  In today’s Forward, that same prominent Rabbi writes about that article:

    ..we were surprised when we were accused of a partisan political attack.

    Is that really so?  Most people were not surprised at all.

    He continues:  “It was the opposite of what we had written. The letter decried not only the perniciousness of rabid partisanship but also efforts to use Israel as a partisan political weapon.. We took pains, moreover, to state explicitly that nothing in the letter was intended to address anyone’s voting choices..We were accused, falsely, of trying to tell people to vote against President Trump in November.

    Really?  Does anyone out there really think that the author genuinely believes that he was not writing about Trump?

    Notwithstanding these denials, the author admits:

    We did lament the effect on us all of the devaluation of “good character and benevolent governance.

    And then the clincher – the “I can’t help it if YOU THINK that I am talking about not voting for Trump..”

    It’s something of an own goal if you identify your candidate with lies and conspiracies.

    Do we detect an ever-so-subtle smugness and smile with that line?  As in, “Ha Ha! I got you! I wrote against Trump and you were the one who said it was Trump – not me!”

    And then – the author fully admits his partisan side:  “To be sure, a case can be made that the current president has taken the most lamentable aspects of politics to new levels. One can argue that the past few years’ excesses are worse than those that preceded them, not only in degree but in kind.

    The Rabbi follows this up with a full-throttle attack on singer Yaakov Schwekey.

    He writes:  “Ironically, excruciatingly, within days of the release of our letter, a Jewish singer entertained a group of summer campers with a musical ode to the president. It included lyrics like “It’s been four great years/Four GREAT years/And you know don’t you really know/You’ve been heaven-sent, Mr. President/To stand strong.

    Excruciatingly?  Dictionary definition:  extremely painful; agonizing.  The Rabbi then labels Schwekey’s song as “odious.”  For those unfamiliar with the term the dictionary defines this word as “repulsive” and “extremely unpleasant.”

    Really?  Mr. Shwekey’s song was expressing hakaras hatov – a deep and heart-felt appreciation to the president and to this country – for watching Israel’s back – for looking out for the safety of its near seven million citizens.  This is odious?  This is repulsive?

    My dear Rabbi, this is America.  We live in a free country, thank G-d, and if Yaakov Shwekey wishes to express his appreciation to the president for standing up for Israel, then he may certainly do so.  Who gave anyone a license to shut him down?

    And then comes the false characterization in the Forward article – where Yaakov Shwekey is accused of putting president Trump “on some quasi-religious pedestal”  and  accusing him of “exalting and lionizing a political figure”  The Rabbi declared what Yaakov Shwekey did as “profoundly un-Jewish.”

    Really?  Profoundly un-Jewish? There were Jewish songs composed in honor of Tsarina Catherina in Tsarist Russia by the Jewish community.  This wasn’t un-Jewish.  Jews were named Alexander on account of Alexander the Great.  Yoseph shaved in honor of Pharoah.

    Also, it is an utter and complete mischaracterizing to state that Mr. Shwekey was placing a human being on a “quasi-religious pedestal.”  He was, saying thank you.  Does the Rabbi need to be reminded that Hashem controls the world and that everything He does is Heaven-sent?  It is disingenuous to accuse Mr. Shwekey of placing the president up there along with gods and demi-gods.

    In conclusion, two points must be made.  Everyone has the right to vote their conscience. We must all stand behind the idea that one can and should vote for Joe Biden if he or she wants to and one can and should vote for President Trump if he or she wants to.

    But no one has the right to suppress the voice of another.

    Alos, whether one votes Democrat or Republican –  expressing hakaras HaTov is a profoundly Jewish thing.  That is, in fact, one of the reasons that Chazal enacted brachos.  This op-ed in the Forward was extremely disturbing.  Does anyone else out there think that an apology to Mr. Shwekey is in order?

    The author can be reached at [email protected]


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    48 Comments
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    ANON21
    ANON21
    3 years ago

    I agree with this author 1000%. On everything he said here

    ANON21
    ANON21
    3 years ago

    Btw r Shmuel Kamenetsky also said to vote for trump. Does this rabbi have any problems with him too?

    Frumsanity
    Frumsanity
    3 years ago

    Great article . . I would take it a step further and say that every frum yid should vote for Trump who has been outstanding in his support of eretz Yisroel and the frum yidden here in America

    Educated Archy
    Educated Archy
    3 years ago

    “Recently, however, a prominent Rabbi ”

    Umm yes sure Rabbi Shafran is a good man. Just pointing that out but not knocking him at all. “prominent” is a more of a term you’d reserve for R Kamentisky.

    Jay
    Jay
    3 years ago

    I wish there would be a movement between the frum heimishe yidden in New York State (NYC, Rockland, Orange and Sullivan Counties) that all persons over the age of 18 to vote Trump and hopefully turn over the state to red in 2020! It can certainly be done.

    anonymous
    anonymous
    3 years ago

    Great article, Rabbi Hoffman.
    Great song, Shewecky.

    Questonable
    Questonable
    3 years ago

    Everyone can exercise their right to vote – for whoever they want.
    Everyone has the right to free speech – if they support this party / candidate or another one.
    Disparaging and derogatory remarks about anyone else, or their views – while it may be free speech, is not a good thing and think it probably has halachic problems too (Lashon Hora, Rechilus etc).
    As for telling other who they should vote for – Is it even legal? Does it have halachic problems too?

    Indignated reader
    Indignated reader
    3 years ago

    Any person who feels indignation of the article in the Mishpacha written by these pseudo Rabbis “Sinai not Washington “ should voice their opinions by walking, which means canceling the subscription. The Mishpacha has ignored all the emails written and expressing disgust. They printed it twice! The moral equivalence that this article opines between bad public behavior and Abortion or LGBT is totally disgusting and anti Torah values. Stop buying Mishpacha.

    GN
    GN
    3 years ago

    Shwekey’s song is a Kiddush H-m

    Good Shabbos, there was once a christian scholar who said, I mean mark twain, a famous author said:
    Good Shabbos, there was once a christian scholar who said, I mean mark twain, a famous author said:
    3 years ago

    I agree with rabbi hoffman 10000 PERCENT!!!!! , and also, we need more rabbis spending time on politics and commenting on jewish singers, rather than give shiurim, teach people how to be shomer shabbos, and giving them mussar, or chas veshalom telling people not to talk during leining.

    We don’t need to know how to properly wear tefillin on our head anymore, we are already ‘shomer Shabbos’ enough, because we don’t do borer on our salads, who cares that throughout the entirety of davening on Shabbos, we stroke our tzitzis, constantly being over an issar dirabanan, over and over again.

    Rabbis need to get up and quote every politician that they can, rather than give a dvar Torah on Shabbos. “Af Divrei Melachim,” does not apply these days, as we all know.

    Talking during the Shofar Blowing is fine, anyways, we can’t just ignore when people say hi to us during davening, right?

    Now, I am not implying that Rabbis should stick to “Rabbi things,” on the contrary, they should know what is flying is this world. But, there has to be at least twice the amount of Torah Knowledge spread, than politics, cutesie articles, and jokes.

    Youtube is rife with the top ten things to do on a weekend, top ten famous celebrities, top ten this, and top ten that. There is no need to turn the Gedolei Hador into a YouTube Channel wannabe.

    ETC ETC ETC

    Heshy
    Heshy
    3 years ago

    Yes let’s show our Hakoras Hatov for the democRATs who release violent criminals from prisons to attack innocent citizens. Let’s be thankful they all want our yeshivas to teach alternative lifestyles and evolution. Let’s be thankful for the democrats who have destroyed the jewish owned industries from real estate to nursing homes to retail stores. Let’s be thankful for all the jewish stores looted by the democratic backed BLM rioters. Let’s make appeals in all shuls to support these marauders. Any Jew who votes democratic should have their head and neshoma examined.

    No nonsense
    No nonsense
    3 years ago

    Rabbi Hoffman, with all due respect please please don’t waste your time with these so called prominent rabbis! These are leftist self hating Jews that stick up for everything And everyone that’s agains our holy Torah, we are not stupid and we don’t need anyone to explain to us how evil these so called rabbis are.

    Once Upon a Republican
    Once Upon a Republican
    3 years ago

    Approximately 87 years ago, the most advanced country in the world willfully chose a populist leader over Democracy. They blindly followed that infallible leader and accepted his tales of unfairness and how his people were victims of liberal principles and ‘Jewish Bolshevism’. 12 years later, he left the world in shambles and our people in tattered ruins. Today, it is so disheartening to see so many Frum people blindly following such a morally deficient leader in the very same manner. I suppose had that 1930’s leader only targeted the Russians, Gypsies and Roma with his animus, and had been kind to his Jewish subjects, we would have fallen in line to support him just like the rest of his countrymen.

    It saddens me to see our communal principles in selecting a leader does not factor how that leader treats people, his/her kindness or gratitude towards others. All of which are basic ‘Jewish Values’. Rather, our decision appears to be a simple calculus of, ‘Is this leader good for me?’ I am sure many, many, Reichsvolk made the same calculation 87 years ago. By voting for a morally reckless leader will we still have a right to to assign them any guilt. We’re doing the very same thing today.

    Make no mistake, it is clear to all that our current president hardly understands the principles of Democracy, let alone respects them. That 1930’s leader similarly used Democracy as a tool towards authoritarianism. I beg and pray that our values are not so weak as to turn our back on the Democratic system that have given us the Brocha that United States has been to its Jewish Citizens for so long. Those who fail to study history, are destined to repeat it. While I support our president’s desire to prioritize America, his lack of respect for Democracy, his zealous vilification of an “Other’ (‘The Left’) and his disdain for what those before him have built echoes very sharply of that other populist leader.

    Hearing popular Jewish singers and other communal leaders suggesting we forego Democratic principles, or moral principles in favor of a leader who ‘gets us’ seems very shortsighted. Hearing young children being indoctrinated in a non-voluntary setting also bears echoes of how Fascist dictators raised their country’s young and simply scares the daylights out of me.

    Democrats support Jew haters
    Democrats support Jew haters
    3 years ago

    The so called rabbi writes for the anti frum anti Israel terrorist supporting forward.

    Whistleblower
    Whistleblower
    3 years ago

    Ami magazine is anti Israel all the time.

    Thank you
    Thank you
    3 years ago

    Thank you to both Once Upon a Republican and Real Reason, well said. And while I agree the tone suggested dissatisfaction with Trump, nothing suggests he was trying to “shut him (Yaakov Schwekey) down” as Rabbi Hoffman suggests. “Excruciating” and “odius” was the rabbi’s emotional reaction to the song which embraces a president he believes is incongruent with being a yid. NOT that hakaros hatov itself is excruciating. It’s hard to swallow lavish praise for someone if you personally feel it’s unwarranted. Rabbi Hoffman: if you truly believe “everyone has the right to vote their conscience,” then you wouldn’t have spent the first half of the piece criticizing him for (allegedly) merely being against Trump. If we disagree with his perceived political views we can say so. That’s what America’s all about. And by reading more than one media source, one may be surprised to learn that Israel’s own military is split on whether abandoning the Iran deal is strategically better. Others question what good moving the embassy did other than to score short-term points with evangelicals, while creating an equal and opposite reaction from anti-Israel folks. While I am uncomfortable with social positions of the left, I sure have hakaros tov for a tolerant country that allows me to practice Judaism largely in peace. To be sure, it was even more uncomfortable for our ancestors in the non-democratic old worlds who couldn’t.

    Circle
    Circle
    3 years ago

    Why is Shafran permitted to spew his anti Jewish values while employed by the Agudah as a spokesman, all the while claiming he’s writing in his individual capacity – as he signs his name as the Agudah spokesman?
    Time for the Agudah to fire Shafran!

    NO , THANK YOU
    NO , THANK YOU
    3 years ago

    Mr. Thank you , obviously you’re a shill for Shafran.. There was no reason to insult a singer who expresses hakoras hatov for a president who’s done so much for Israel.
    Yes, some , very some , in Israeli military
    Question Iran embargo but that’s besides the point.
    Every issue in any country will never have 100 % unity. It’s impossible.
    Are you not aware of the terrorism Iran exports all over the world ? Are you not aware that Arab countries are lining up with Israel mostly because of the terrorist regime in Iran ?
    Are you willing to risk the blood of millions of Jews livng in Israel ? Are you aware that Gazan rockets are soaked in Iranian money gotten from Obama ?
    Your arrogant and condescending comments are abhorrent to every Jew and decent non-Jew alike.

    JEWISH ESTABLISHMENT SWAMP HERE
    JEWISH ESTABLISHMENT SWAMP HERE
    3 years ago

    Folks__ As you will discern , some posters here are from the Jewish establishment and Trump haters or Democrat operatives..
    The 2 of you , be careful you don’t become full blown kapos. You are not in touch with most of us , and the question is WHO’S BEHIND YOU ???

    Rabbi Eden
    Rabbi Eden
    3 years ago

    So, Thank You , if you have hakoras hatov for our country , shouldn’t you show same to our oresident ?
    Seemingly , you are comfortable with Democrats who are eating away at our religious and moral liberties, or haven’t you noticed?
    It’s President Trump who is standing up for our country , flag and Constitution.
    AND for you as a Jew . The anti – Semitic Demicrat Party , should it win , will forcefully seize our liberties, properties and freedoms od speech.
    To whom do you think you’re talking ? A bunch of uneducated shtetel Jews ?
    We see what’s happening in Democrat cities and states.
    Don’t you ?

    Bugsy Siegel
    Bugsy Siegel
    3 years ago

    It’s a shame and disgrace how some attack Shweky’s heartfelt toda song to our wonderful president Trump..
    Notice how they couch their poison in blankets of polite and non-threatening language.
    Make no mistake . This is vicious propaganda wearing a civilized phony mask and dressed up in suit and tie..
    For shame !!!

    Xi Wei
    Xi Wei
    3 years ago

    Just because Trump is trying his best to be an autocratic dictator and is in love with Kim Jong Un and admires and is intimidated by Putin does not mean that Sruli Besser and Yaakov Swekey should be composing peans of praise to the dear leader. Thank goodness America’s democratic institutions are stronger than the unfit occupant of the oval office. America survived 3.5 years of Trump we will iy”h survive the last few months of Trump as well.

    Thank you
    Thank you
    3 years ago

    I saw no personal insult. It’s not an insult if we disagree or find ourselves cringe at another’s principles or ideas. He was saying that he found YS’s decision idea to perform this was a bad idea, that he’s uncomfortable with it for various reasons. Reasons that perhaps even Y. Shwekey hadn’t even considered. We can learn from each other’s ideas, don’t be so sensitive. The point is that to be a Torah Jew is not to derive our inspration from any politician or party. Are you and I equally passionate about the sugya we’re currently learning? Politics doesn’t have to be so engrained into our frumkeit. And a party’s platform isn’t sacrosanct, don’t be another pawn. I am absolutely fine with abandoning the Iran agreement btw. Even voted for Trump the first time around. I don’t know what you found abhorent, but I’m not personally insulted you found my comment arrogant or condescending, you’re only criticizing what you think my principles might be.

    Shochad $$$ ??
    Shochad $$$ ??
    3 years ago

    $omebody i$ paying $omebody . Give it up, THANK YOU.
    You’re lucky you’re living in a free country till Trump is gone.
    Your crock i$ nothing new. Unfortunately , we’ve $een the like$ of your macher type$ before..Get out of our lives once and for all.

    SPOILED BRATS
    SPOILED BRATS
    3 years ago

    You feel lavish praise for President Trump is not warranted. Why ??
    Has he taken away your right to post here even if what you write is unwarranted ?
    Lucky you don’t live under Brezhnev, or you’d be in the gulag for a spell.

    Pravda propaganda
    Pravda propaganda
    3 years ago

    ONCE UPON A REPUBLICAN __ No you weren’t. Lololol.
    You’re a phony Democrat is who you are.
    You’re actually describing your fascist Bolshevik party to a tee.

    Kamala's Jewish husband
    Kamala's Jewish husband
    3 years ago

    Bet you none of you Trump haters live in Portland or Seattle. Bet none of you got robbed and your brothers beaten on the streets.
    Shweky bothers you.
    Bet none of you lost your jobs because of saying anti – PC thoughts.
    Nope. Shweky bothers you.

    Bobby Rydell
    Bobby Rydell
    3 years ago

    “Once a Republican ” is scared out of his daylights.
    Who can blame him.
    His town’s police have just been defunded.
    Now he gets a social worker when he dials 911.
    Who can blame him.

    Once Upon a Republican
    Once Upon a Republican
    3 years ago

    I’m so often enamored by the ‘Grubbe Poretz’ philosophy. Really, how well did that approach work out for us; Tach V’Tat, Chmielnicki, York. How long did our Grubbe Poritz keep us safe? Tying our wagon to whomever happens to be in power makes sense in the short term, but tends to end poorly in the long term. Supporting a healthy democracy and those who defend it’s principals has mostly worked here in America for the past 250 years. Hitching our wagon to a Constitutional Arsonist who makes it plain that Democracy is a tool to self aggrandizement seems a bit myopic. I offer my thoughts, ideas and observations. I’ll leave the name calling to others. Mazel and Bracha to everyone in these difficult times. Peace out!

    Thank you
    Thank you
    3 years ago

    I’ll respond to the comments to my post in 1 swoop:

    Rabbi Eden: I have hakaros hatov for Trump’s releasing Jewish prisoners (it was more than just one) and for abandoning the Iran deal. But even if I were to heroically save your life, I would not expect or want you to agree with my world view for the rest of your life. I don’t appreciate all the anti-Semitic things Trump has said, his stifling and threats against reporters who criticize him, how he’s setting the stage to keep ruling if he loses, and how he tells me how I have to vote to be a Jew.
    Trump faithfully rewards loyalty to people and ethnicities. Know that he’s thrown even his supporters under the bus once they show any difference in opinion. Don’t think you’re any different. Meanwhile, you are forced to submit yourself to 2 masters, chas v’shalom.
    I did not like Obama, but why didn’t you guys have hakaros hatov when he gave Israel the largest military aid package ever to date ($38 billion), and that was before he went along with the UN resolution? And how exactly did Obama try to take away my religious rights?

    Shochad: “Get out of our lives once and for all” are not the words of someone who enjoys living in a free country, for you obviously don’t appreciate my freedom of speech. For all your cries of intolerance, seems my post is more tolerant of your view than yours of mine, eh?

    JEWISH ESTABLISHMENT SWAMP HERE. “Who’s behind you?” Ha, I’ve also thought that some of these comments were from Russian trollers. Your message is earnest enough, so I’m convinced you’re real. We can both laugh at the mistrust here.

    Spoiled Brats: Trump obviously let me post this message, but know that it was Trump who called the press the enemy of the people. Even a conservative needs to support a leftist’s right to criticize, otherwise your rights will erode too. That’s how American law works.

    Kamala’s Jewish husband. Yes, I was robbed once by a minority. I’m sure he doesn’t vote democrat or for anyone for that matter, just like probably most of the people who were looting at the demonstrations. I am big Shweky fan. I didn’t appreciate some of the lyrics, but that doesn’t change my opinion of him, we all don’t have to agree on everything.
    Take a look through Pirkei Avos and you’ll understand how someone can be very frum doesn’t have to accept Donald Trump. And let’s all read the open letter again, because it wasn’t as radical as you project.

    ah yid
    ah yid
    3 years ago

    Let’s go back to four years ago. Why was I not going to vote for Trump? I didn’t like the way he makes fun and belittles people. I was very concerned how he would have a relationship with China and Russia. How would he get along with other politicians he disagrees with. On election day I was sure within a year Trump will be thrown out of office, so I felt I was really voting for Pence. However when I weighed my options Hillary or Trump I held my nose and voted for Trump. Now we are back to elections again. I still don’t like Trump’s rhetoric but I look at the choices. A Biden white house led by a bunch of leftist liberals, or a Trump white house which has a proven track record on many issues such as Israel, the economy, conservative policies. I don’t count Corona because I don’t think anyone would have done a worse or better job. It was unchartered territory for everyone. Once Rav Shmuel Kaminetzky endorsed Trump it became a no- brainer.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    3 years ago

    This analysis is an almost-amusing seemingly knee-jerk Zionism-influenced reaction to the linked open letter’s “offense” in violating the most cardinal sin in the Zionist faith: placing Zionism’s importance below anything else.

    In the Zionist faith, as the Zionists insisted and acted during WW II, to the great detriment of European Jewry slaughtered in the Holocaust, Zionism is above all else, even Jewish lives.

    So, this letter, which dares to claim that Israel should not be “weaponized” as a “Jewish” political weapon, obviously struck a nerve in Zionist faith sensitivities.

    That’s pretty much all there is to see here.

    It’s also silly to defame Mr. Shwekey by accusing him of Zionism (though he, surely, like all Jews, is concerned about our brethren there, not) that he “loves” the State of Israel. No sane Jew (other than the “Religious Zionists” who consider it part of their faith) would love the greatest source of shmad today, and instability for Jews in the civilized world, and the greatest chilul Hashem in history that is the State of Israel.

    Regarding the other points in Rabbi Shafran and others’ open letter, which the author linked here, Rabbi Shafran seems to have written a very fair and very balanced letter and also not instructing people to not vote for President Trump.

    Simply, the open letter was about Judaism and values, and neither an endorsement nor its opposite.

    Realistic
    Realistic
    3 years ago

    If anyone thinks that they are doing Israel a favor, by aligning Pro-Israel policies with Republican’s, they are actually doing a disservice.

    Pro-Israeli support can’t survive the lose of bi-partisanship. Without Democrats supporting the $3.5 Billion a year, it will stop flowing.

    The Democratic party is torn between pro-israel (althought less staunch then the GOP version) and anti-israel forces. Any person with Israel in mind, would stay out of GOP vs. Dem politics, and support all candidates that support Israel (even if someone is not supportive as much).

    The current trend AIPAC has taken us over the last 6 years, will only further Dems from Israel.

    Remember, Israel needs the Dems more then the Dems need Israel.

    The only swing state that has a sizable population to that could make a difference in a presidential election, is the state of Florida, which is not a must win state for Dems.

    Mig
    Mig
    3 years ago

    Thank your for a very well written article supporting Schwekey. Rabbi Shafran and those who signed it must apologize to him. I’m not a rabbi, but IMHO, I believe they caused a Chillul HaShem allowing this letter to be posted in The Forward which posts articles that demean G-d fearing Jews.