It seems that Matisyahu is trying to stick it to the frum world by going off the derech in a very public manner. First he chopped off his beard, which is almost as bad as coming to shul in those skinny jeans of his, then he cut off his peyos in a marijuana induced stupor, and finally he decided to do a show on Tisha B’Av. Until now, all of these things were reasonable heterim. If regular kiruv professionals can get a heter kiruv to hire a goya to push their kids to shul on shabbos within an eruv they don’t hold by, then surely someone as cash-strapped as Matisyahu could get a heter parnassah to play shows on such a minor fast day as Tisha B’Av and shave his beard to up record sales. I’m not that sure about the peyos thing, but I hear Rav Moshe has a teshuva on at what length the peyos actually have to end – but eating on Yom Kippur is the last straw.
Here was his response to the question asked by stunned fans:
To those fans who are wondering why I put out my record in 3 weeks and playing show on Tisha b’av. Here is my reasoning: Besides the fact that I have Hetter if I wanted because of Parnasah and that 90 % of my fans are NOT Religious Jews; I do not see my music as a form of entertainment but rather as a form of worship. My songs are infused with ideas about destruction of Temple and rebuilding, so forth and so on and there for I believe can only aid in the coming of Moshiach.
Shalom
Of course he had to revert back to his old heter parnassah for his Tisha B’av show, which made perfect sense. If only 10% of the fans are religious, what’s the point of adhering to religion – the jig is up and parnassah trumps halacha. Besides the record he put out in the 3 weeks was mostly acapella and it wasn’t live anyway. Of course the Yom Kippur thing is just a rumor, but at least the peyos thing, beardgate and tisha b’av are verified.
Photo credit to CM in SF
Find out more about Matisyahu going off the derech on 4torah.com
I understand he is going on at 11PM on Tisha b’Av day, which is after the fast is over
I believe he is supposed to play at around 5pm… at least according to the schedule I saw.
Ok so here’s what happened. I was AT THE SHOW. Matisyahu went on at 10:30. There were a bunch of warm up acts first. That’s how it is by all his concerts. Don’t be so quick to judge. The reason why he made that post was because of his concerts in the nine days.
btw, not that Matisyahu needs to defend himself to anyone but the one above, but his point is the basis for listenting to any “jewish music” these days; if you don’t consider jewish music “prayer” (as opposed to just “music”) there are a couple of talmudic (and midrashic) prohibitions on using any words of the Tanach (bible) or even words of Chazal (the wise rabbi’s of yore) in music, and the only way to get around this prohibition (for which the talmud ascribes scary punishments) is by singing/listening in “prayer” and working to grow with the music. so u can’t hate on his basis, unless you choose to also not listen to classic “jewish music”. I heard this heter of music as prayer secondhand, ascribed to Rav Pam.
LOVE this:
“If regular kiruv professionals can get a heter kiruv to hire a goya to push their kids to shul on shabbos within an eruv they don’t hold by . . . .”
Funny, Is it really as bad as it seems..anyone jealous? Just maybe?
He fell off my derech after he kicked a female photographer in the face and broke her camera because she was using a flash. His people paid her off with a wade of cash to stop her from calling the cops. Matisyahu playing on Tisha B’av is the least of his worries. He should be more concerned about acting like a human being.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/23/matisyahu-kicks-photographer_n_1168166.html
I always wonder why orthodox Jews care so much about others observance levels
And don’t give me that kol areivim zeh lazeh – that’s bullshit
Live and let live for godsakes
It’s because frummies are secretly jealous of those who can just live without being bound by social norms and community standards. This is why people hate on me so much, as for Matisyahu – people are pissed because he’s doing things which seemingly goi against halacha while still identifying as an orthodox Jew. Oh wait, telling loshon horah, mastuirbating and not getting up for shul go against halacha too so I guess I’m in the same boat as Matis, although I never received a “heter shidduch” for my masturbation addiction.
Things a Heter Shidduch could be used for:
1. permitting “jack and jill” off parties (men and women in separate rooms of course, but then they could do some speed dating, and they’d be much more relaxed)
2. wearing skinny jeans (tzitiz would have to be out though — otherwise the string would make an impression).
3. going to a starbucks (are you just getting a coffee? sure?)
4. shaving with a razor blade
5. skipping mincha during a date
You’re fanning the flames- trying to convince Jews that they are “in a fight”. Let’s try to get along even when we disagree with each other.
Give the guy a break, for G-d’s Sake. He’s a BT and therefore has different OTD status. We all have personal journeys and he’s entitled to his own.
k God he’s married already and doesn’t need to worry about what to tell shadchanim or chabadmatch
He’s still married for the moment, anyways. How is his wife reacting to all of this?
She is really nice- they live in Beverly Hills now.. It doesn’t seem like she is complaining much.. Plus their kids look just as frum as anyone else’s
I actually think that the Tisha B’av or 11:00 after Tisha B’av concert is a bit pushing the envelope. The bais hamikdash was still burning on the tenth of av so having a concert RIGHT after Tisha B’av isnt too cool. He must be a really good faster, bcecause I could not imagine getting up and singing right after a major fast .
Its Matisyahu’s business whatever he does, but he was so out there about his beliefs and he dressed so religious looking that you can’t really blame anyone for speculating about his behavior as of late.
The day we’re fasting is actually the 10th of Av, so technically, Matisyahu would be performing on the 11th. The bhm’k was already finished burning by then.
The bais hamikdash was still burning on the tenth of av so having a concert RIGHT after Tisha B’av isnt too cool.
It’ll be the 11th of Av at that time.
holmes- yeah, but thats just a technicality. you know what i mean
When tisha b’av is pushed forward because of shabbos, only the wine and meat restriction is extended to motzei tisha b’av (except wine for havdalah).
I think this matisyahu is a very interesting and talented guy based on his albums and the few interviews I have seen of him.
Why not let he do whatever he wants, unless of course you happen to have a personal kesher with him and understand his circumstances.
Booya!
In the picture above, Mattisyahu looks like a cross between Brian Setzer of the Stray Cats fame and Vanilla Ice…
Frum single female,
“but thats just a technicality”
Of course it is, but so is the majority of the observance performed by chareidi jews (or conservative jews, for that matter). All of the piyyutim (like adon olam, shalom aleichem, el adon, etc.) are post talmudic. Even the berachot before and after shema were much shorter, just the concluding parts at most, when the Temple was standing. Obviously no Jew dressed like in 17th century polish garb in the middle ages, much less when the temple was standing.
So if Matisyahu is using a “technicality”, particularly when it is two days after the fast, so what.
Where were all of you “live and let live” people when the guy shaved off his beard? I distinctly remember reading nothing positive about him at that time.
And if his actually playing on the 10th of Av was simply a technicality and playing on the 11th of Av is okay, then why is he addressing it at all?
good point
Why is he addressing it? Attention, pr, he loves us and wants us to ,you know, know.
For attention (which I think he deserves, I love his music) like the name of his Therapist’s free book offer –Deficit Attention, put out for free with his announcement.
I just saw an ad in my local newspaper saying that he is giving a concert at 5:30pm on Shabbat August 18th. Forget whether Tisha B’av is over or not at 11pm; Shabbat is not over at 5:3o anytime during the summer.
On his website, it says 9:30 pm. Perhaps other performers are starting at 5:30.
I read like 2000 comments on his status and there seems to be three categories of comments: the frum people (some are whiny, some have valid points), non-Jews that just don’t get it, and the J-freaks all trying to save our souls from eternal damnation.
Anyways, he should do whatever he wants to do, and it apparently made him feel a lot better to get that off his chest. He just needs to stop trying to pretend that he’s still frum.
My father and I went to his concert last night.
I don’t understand was the concert at 5:30 or 10:30 it makes a big difference if he was allowed to do it or not. Since this year Tisha B’av was pushed off until the 10th of Av it was muter at 10:30 motzei Tisha B’av because only the meat and wine restrictions apply until chatzos the next day.
Also I want to add that I think the heter is BS. I don’t think that Matis is so financially broke that he needs to play on Tisha B’av. Who gave him the heter to dye his hair blonde and make himself look like a queer? a man is not allowed to dye their hair. The beard cutting is not an issue because M’ikar halacha you are allowed as long as it is not a blade and peyos as long as he did not go lower then a number 2 guard.
Ruvy, why do u need to comment on Matisyahu’s judaism? why such bitul torah and lashon hara? just deal with your issues (if any) and he will deal with his, but he is not reading this comment thread.
minetonnka