Matisyahu On Leaving Chabad And Judaism – What I Do Is "Much Bigger Than One Religion Or Another"

First what he said:

"I am no longer identified with Chabad. Today, it's more important to me to connect to a universal message. While they were playing on stage and I closed my eyes, I was thinking that what we do is not at all about Judaism and not about Chabad. It's much bigger than one religion or another. It relies on something real that can speak to anybody. It's about truth and memory."

What his friends say:

…Two of Matisyahu's friends live in an apartment in Nahlaot with two framed pictures of Bob Marley and the Baba Sali, a Moroccan Jewish sage, hanging side by side. Matisyahu's friends introduce these sources of inspiration as "The Bob and the Baba." Many members of their community of American immigrants sheared off several kilos of dreadlocks in their path to spiritual redemption. One of them saved two dreadlocks as a tribute to his former membership in Seattle's reggae community. They hang from his temples beside a traditional pair of payot.
 
"Matisyahu encountered a form of Judaism here that spoke to him. It was new to him and I think he liked the fact that you don't have to surrender your original sources of inspiration," they said. "There were Chabad rabbis who supported him at first but, recently, they've criticized him for continuing to appear in front of an audience of men and women and also in front of non-Jews. It's important to Matisyahu to appear before non-Jews. The advantage of Bratslav is that it's less centralized, there isn't one rabbi, and it speaks more to the soul."
 
Chabad and its deceased leader, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, have greatly defined Matisyahu's identity and he has mentioned them in an endless number of shows and interviews. Although he was not an official representative of the movement, he was invited to appear at their conferences. His friends say that he has remained a pious Jew and that he bears no animosity toward Chabad. They say he has no intention of switching the Chabad Lubavitch flag for the flag of the Bratslav Hasidic movement and "is actually searching for freedom from a pronounced identification with one specific group." …

And how does [Matisyahu's close friend, Saxophonist Daniel] Zamir, who was attracted to Chabad because of Matisyahu, respond? "I respect it, but I have remained absolutely attached to Chabad. I hold a truth in my soul. It is a powerful blessing. When I am on stage, it is important to me that a Jew connect to his own soul. I see that as a beautiful thing. Long live the King Messiah [a reference to the Lubavitcher Rebbe]."

What Chabad says:

…"It is as convenient for Chabad as it is for Matisyahu," comments a senior Chabad member in response to Matisyahu's new religious orientation. "Matisyahu was never a part of the movement's conventional line. It's possible that he felt that his membership in Chabad caused him to be scrutinized. He may have received a negative comment here or there within the Hasidic movement, and, perhaps, he felt limited. I do not believe that this was caused by his appearance before a mixed audience, because [international, Chabad singing star] Avraham Fried appears before women as well. This is a case of an inflamed audience in nightclubs and discotheques where Matisyahu gets boys and girls dancing."…

Here's what I think this all means.:

1. Matisyahu is an opportunist. He traded on Chabad's name and it's PR to propel his rise to the top.
2. Now that he's up there, he doesn't really need Chabad anymore.
3. Being Orthodox requires observing certain strictures. Encouraging mixed mosh pit dancing would be one of those.
4. So Matisyahu dumps Chabad just like he dumped JDub Records, the small Jewish-owned nonprofit lable that made him a star.
5. For its part, Chabad used Matisyahu. It pimped him to get media attention and increase donations.
6. But pimping a man who, for all his good points still does things in every performance that no real posek, haredi, Chabad or Modern Orthodox, would ever allow caused problems, both  internal and external, for Chabad.
7. Eventually, Chabad hasidim repulsed by Chabad's apparent endorsement of Matisyahu's questionable behavior brought pressure on Matisyahu's Chabad rabbis. At the same time, haredim friendly to Chabad challenged Chabad's apparent endorsement.
8. Internal Chabad pressure to "frum up" helped to propel Matisyahu out of Chabad and into the arms, in part, of the hippie splinter offshoot of Breslov.
9. But Matisyahu won't rest long. He'll keep moving, "searching," trying new things and new approaches, perhaps even leaving Judaism all together.
10. Why? Because Matisyahu was a poseur all along. It's not that he doesn't feel some connection to Judaism or hasidut – it's that he set out to use that connection for his own personal gain, to help him stand out from the crowd and get noticed. His kapote and fedora-wearing stage costume was just that – a costume. And when one costume gets old, he'll find another.

A couple of months ago a ran into the wife of a senior Chabad emissary. She mentioned Matisyahu. I told her the Rebbe never would have allowed Chabad to be used that way and that Matisyahu did things every performance that the Rebbe absolutely opposed. I also mention Chabad pro-boxer Dmitry Salita in this regard, especially the crowds of bochrim (yeshiva students) attending his fights and hanging out while bikini-clad ring card girls parade in a few feet in front of them.

What was her response? She said she agreed, but times had changed. And so they have.

Comments

[rabbidw]

I may be naive, but I do not think people look at themselves in the mirror and say what bad things can I do today, how can I fool the world. Shlomo Carlebach started out as a Chabadnik, so dis Zalman Scgacyer (Shalomi). At some point they stepped so far out of where Chabad drew the line that they had to leave the movement, williingly or otherwise. The same with Shmuely Boteach. I have never heard a Matisyahu tape and I am not into Reggae, but as long as he remains a Shomer Shabat he is AOK in my book.

[Anon]

I agree with most of what you write; however, I don't think Matisyahu joined Chabad for the sole purpose of furtherinhgh his career. There is no way he could have preticted this success.

[American Dream]

Most of this makes sense, though I'm not sure why it is certain that Matisyahu is an "opportunist". It could be that he sincerely believed in Chabad at one time and is now disillusioned. The real test of his principle will be in his willingness to use the limelight that he enjoys to speak the truth about the negative and cultish aspects of the movement. This sort of courage to speak out, at the possible risk of commercial interest, combined with the man's very real musical talent, will win my respect. He will be using his power for the good of all, the mark of true spirituality, in my book.

[Alex]

1) Religious jews make bands with religious music all the time and I have seen religious bands play in mixed audiences.

2) The rabbis who criticize Matisyahu are just jealous crybabies because Matisyahu was actually able to CAPITALIZE and make $$$ on his skills and poor old rabbis with long beards can't capitalize on their "skills" and make $$$. And poor old rabbis are also jealous crybabies because before they're married they can't talk to girls like normal guys do.

Shmarya- I think that anyone who sticks it to the orthodox control freaks deserves support.

[Abe]

Anything that can subvert the promiscuous fundamentalism of hareidim can't be all bad. I hope that more bochrim attend his concerts and recognize that there is life beyond the cult of the absurd.

[avi]

Shmarya,

You speak from experience.

You've also profitted from Chabad (this blog)

Perhaps it's time for you also to move on and stop clinging to your hatred of Chabad.

Regards,

Avi

[LubabNoMore]

Interesting post. Personally, I doubt Matisyahu's original connection with Chabad was so machiavellian. But I agree with you that to some degree he was pressured out.

[Anon]

http://shturem.net/index.php?section=news&id=19419&lang=hebrew

[mazeartist]

Whatever, just don't compare Matisyahu to 50 Shekel.

[shuky]

Maty left Chabad but not Judaism
btw, did you get a "new" Sefert Torah on hol hamoed?

[Koheleth]

This post comes ridiculously close to libel. Nothing in the article indicates that Matisyahu is leaving or has left Judaism. He's simply shifted from following one Hassidic sect (Chabad) to another (Breslov) -- one which, btw, is nowhere near as cultish or halachically problematic as Chabad. I thought you'd be praising him. . .

People who leave Judaism don't buy homes in Israel and study in Breslov yeshivot.

[Shmarya]

He did not buy a home in Israel and he did not study at a Breslov yeshiva.

Read what the man himself said:

"I am no longer identified with Chabad. Today, it's more important to me to connect to a universal message. While they were playing on stage and I closed my eyes, I was thinking that what we do is not at all about Judaism and not about Chabad. It's much bigger than one religion or another.

He hasn't left yet but he seems to be on his way.

[Jerome Soller]

Shmarya,
Although I have not heard the man sing, I believe that you are jumping the gun on this. Let the man's actions speak for themselves in the future. The following blog, particularly the end, shows where he currently stands.

http://jewschool.com/2007/07/27/the-king-without-a-crown-or-a-yellow-flag/
Given your preference for Breslov Chassidism and its less structured organization, I would think you would support his decision.

Jerome

[Shmarya]

Old information, Jerome. And I think I've been clear – what motivates Matisyahu is Matisyahu.

And why should I support or encourage anyone to follow a hippie Breslov splinter group? Don't we have enough insanity already?

[Jerome Soller]

Hey, Shmarya, I think it is presumptious for you to claim that you know what motivates Matsiyahu. One of the goals of your site has been to expose what you view as hypocrisy or even crimes by some rabbis and unnecessary fences/restrictions in the orthodox world imposed by those rabbis. If the man is trying his best to be observant while trying to reach a broad audience, why would you have a problem with this? A quote from the blog I referenced:
"I found this article late but found the comments about Matisyahu’s show in Dallas to be misleading. I live in Dallas and had Shabbos lunch with Matis that Shabbos. He arrived in the eruv shortly before Shabbos began because of the lateness of the show. Two frum guys who travel with Matis had made arrangements for him to stay with the director of the Kollel here and spend Shabbos with the kollel rabis. He had a tish that night for some of the young yeshiva boys here and we had a very good shabbos with him. His wife also told him that he had to talk to some of the concert people to make sure the concerts did not go as long before Shabbos. He might have cut it close but he had a completely kosher Shabbos here in Dallas at Ohr HaTorah.

—Eliezar · October 9th, 2007 at 2:55 pm"

[Shmarya]

There are halakhot. Keep them or not, but they still exist.

To claim a guy is "frum" while he keeps some halakhot and throws out others is wrong, just as it is wrong to equate leaving Chabad for an insane Breslov splinter group with rejection Orthodoxy because of historical inaccuracies in the Torah or because of rabbinic corruption.

[Shmarya]

As for what motivates Matisyahu, I think the people he dumped along the way have a pretty good idea of it. Like I said, what motivates the man is the man himself. God, Jews, Torah, whatever are distant seconds.

[mazeartist]

"he hasn't left but seems to be on his way" sez Shmarya. Speak for yourself!

[Paul Freedman]

Shmarya: Matisyahu is a performer: outer directed, requiring an audience to reach, it doesn't mean he's a self-conscious charlatan or opportunist or that he thinks there's a contradiction between doing good things and promoting Torah and getting his name in the brightest lights possible. Plus he's a hippie.

Who wants to be famous.

[Yochanan Lavie]

Most rock stars are SOB's. What matters is the music. I like his music- his personality is secondary. Only his psychiatrist knows what motives him, or how sincere he is. To me, it's a big yawn.

Meanwhile, if he was a real oppurtunist, he'd be a mainstream rocker. The audience for Jewish music is miniscule, and who'dve thought he'd break out- even as a novelty act. (Novelty acts don't have "legs" anyhow, as I'm sure he knows).

As for religion- we are all hypocrites. Our egos get in the way, and musicians are not known for small egos. So rock on, dude.

[Shmuli]

So Matisyahu is exploring and changing. Don't we all at one time or another? My question is how is his marital relationshipe doing? His wife is from a frum family in New Rochelle, went to day schools. Is she floating between Chabad, Breslov, MO? What are they doing as a couple. THAT will be much more telling as to what Matisyahu or anyone else does or says.

[Shmarya]

Meanwhile, if he was a real oppurtunist, he'd be a mainstream rocker.
The audience for Jewish music is miniscule, and who'dve thought he'd
break out- even as a novelty act.

Not true. The music business has been terrible for several years. To "break out" an act needs both a hook and a niche audience.

Matisyahu rode the KABBALAH craze to the top. Chabad was his vehicle.

[Paul Freedman]

Shmarya: from the local paper the music business for new artists is in the crapper and Matisyahu has been very shrewed at exploiting those who first broke his act--this is an ambitious guy no doubt and he seems to be making a full time living as a performer and roving spiritual ambassador (no day job for him), but that doesn't mean his hippie Marley stoner-frumm ex-Phishnik vibe doesn't make perfect spiritual sense from the end of the telescope through which he views the world. In any event, Matisyahu may still be buddies with guys from Chabad.

[Paul Freedman]

btw: YL, you don't think music-wise this is a knockoff?

check out the source:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Robbie+and+Sly&search=Search

[R]

I don't think he is going off. But probably was forced to say he isn't part of Chabad, due to Chabad getting complaints and so he realised his delusional love for a cult was stupid...so hey ho lets join another crazy cult in Judaism...after he joins and leaves all the crazies he might settle down and be normal.

[Neo-Conservaguy]

This post comes ridiculously close to libel. Nothing in the article indicates that Matisyahu is leaving or has left Judaism. He's simply shifted from following one Hassidic sect (Chabad) to another (Breslov) -- one which, btw, is nowhere near as cultish or halachically problematic as Chabad. I thought you'd be praising him. . .

What are you talking about? Breslov has about the same issues as Chabad when it comes to messianic views about their Rebbe. In fact, they were there hundreds of years before Chabad, having had only one primary "Rebbe". Both groups have their outwardly crazy contingents (Chabad: yellow flag yechi-kippa ones, Breslov: while kippa trance dancing Na-Na-Nachers) as well as their more quiet messianic believers.

People who leave Judaism don't buy homes in Israel and study in Breslov yeshivot.

Yes, but will he go on the big trip to Uman with 50,000 other Breslovers to engage in the same type of avodah zarah that occurs daily at the "Rebbes Ohel" in Queens?

My hope is that he will experience the better points of the Breslov chassid experience and avoid the problems. Based upon my experience spending some time talking with "Matt" in person, my guess is he'll do just fine. In a quiet setting, he seems like a genuinely nice guy that has been searching for himself in Judaism.

[Yochanan Lavie]

Paul: I couldn't download the flashplayer to listen to the music, but thanks.

[Paul Freedman]

YL: yw

[Yochanan Lavie]

Neo: Are the Na-Na-Nachers like the 50's tribute band Sha-na-na?

[Melissa Rawlins]

What he's fighting for is peace between the past and his brother who's coming back for us all.... Matisyahu is searching, and will find, Yahshua, and his break with that form of Judaism is part of the journey to joining Israel in completion. Meanwhile, Matisyahu is bringing Yahshua, the universal loving deliverer of freedom, to all those who are listening, and so doing Yah's will. Praise Yah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[na na na na nachman]

na na na na nachman we are glad to accept MATISYAHO as a breslov member..Now will dance even more...Everyone smile and dance whenever you could,,,,YIDDEN ZEIT BESIMCHA Taking out my quitar NOW

Na Na Na Nachman

[Yochanan Lavie]

"Matisyahu is searching, and will find, Yahshua, and his break with that form of Judaism is part of the journey to joining Israel in completion."

Sounds like Ann Coulter has a pseudonym.

[Miriam]

I wish this wasn't such a big deal for lubavitchers. I don't think Chassidus teaches the need for labeling oneself and committing to one particular sect. Group Think and the need for a community are the only ideas that keep a person bound to being a card-carrying member. Every person should look within themselves and follow their own journey. The teachings of chassidus mandate meditation upon your own unique individual soul, not just praying by rote and wearing the garb so you can keep with the Cohens or the Shemtovs next door. Kol Hakavod to Matisyahu for taking the plunge! It's a journey few individuals have the courage to take, especially those in the public eye. He is to be commended and people should take example. You are all unique and different. Labels are for clothing and food--not for people.

[Jenny]

This post scarily sounds like something my good friend DK would write if he cared enough about the topic, which he doesn't.

Anyhow, while your theory sounds elusively exciting, I highly doubt Matisyahu is wearing any type of costume, as you write. He is changing, evolving, and will always be a chasid at heart. He would not be so successful if he was not sincere in his love of G-d. I have been to many of his concerts, and there is a palpable energy and happiness eminating from him at all times.

He is different, and the frum community is scared of it. Let him be - it's a form of Jewish music I can actually enjoy and rock to.

Might I also suggest, perhaps, that you are unconsciously jealous of Matisyahu's success and perhaps YOU have wishes of leaving the jewish community. The bitterness and sometimes bitter truths in your blog seems to imply this feeling.