Countdown to Purim - Ari Lesser Raps About the Story of Purim and the Need to Fulfill its Mitzvot

Ari Lesser is an American Orthodox Jewish rapper, singer, songwriter, and spoken word artist. Since 2010, he has released thirteen albums and has collaborated with artists like Gad Elbaz, Lipa Schmeltzer, Kosha Dillz, and C Lanzbom.

After graduation from the University of Oregon, Lesser worked as a musician in Los Angeles, where he became known in the "hippie jam band" scene. While working on his first album there, his financer, a Rastafarian selling Medical Marijuana, gave him a copy of Psalms.

Lesser found that he related to King David as a songwriter and started rhyming the psalms; this ultimately led him to a deeper interest in Torah and his Jewish roots, and he became a baal teshuva. He visited Israel on a Taglit-Birthright trip that he ended up extending to ten months, during which he studied at Yeshiva Temimei Darech in Safed and Mayanot in Jerusalem.

In this Purim video "I'm a Jew Like Mordecai", Ari retells the story of Purim and calls on his listeners to fulfill all of the mitzvot of Purim.

Enjoy!

Rappers and Rabbis Release New Sukkot Music Hip Hop Video Featuring Rapper Kosha Dillz

Rappers and Rabbis, the largest Jewish hip hop collective in the nation, has released a new music video just in time for Sukkot, which starts this Friday evening. They reimagine prayers, reinvent holidays, and use music as a means to connect with Jewish youth.

Rappers and Rabbis have developed interactive and hip-hop-inspired prayer books, Havdalah services, and Passover Haggadahs. They've reached more than 2,500 kids through performances and workshops in camps, schools, and youth groups nationwide, inspiring the next generation to embrace their inner MC.

Their latest release, Sukkah MCs, is a music video that pays tribute to the upcoming holiday of Sukkot, also known as the Festival of Booths. This song is already making waves, thanks to its educational yet fun approach. With captivating cinematography by Tolu, a renowned filmmaker from New York (Newark), and direction by Rachel Haymer, aka Kol Isha, the video brings the essence of Sukkot to life.

The Sukkah MCs music video not only showcases Rappers and Rabbis' talent but also features a guest appearance by the viral sensation Kosha Dillz. Kosha starts as himself, the rapper we know, before transforming into one of the Ushpizin. These Ushpizin are biblical figures traditionally invited into our homes during Sukkot, with each night welcoming a different guest. In this music video, we witness these ancient figures navigating the modern-day Sukkah.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.