By COLlive reporter
Jewish reggae singer Matisyahu Miller has broken with the unique Chassidic identity that first made him a music star in 2004.
“No more Chassidic reggae superstar,” he wrote to fans on his website Tuesday after posting a photo of himself, clean shaven.
Miller was brought up a Reconstructionist Jew and became a Baal Teshuva in 2001, first in a Carlebach shul and then at Chabad’s Hadar Hatorah Yeshiva in Crown Heights.
His music drew on the Chassidic themes and he has given credit to Rabbi Simon Jacobson’s book Toward a Meaningful Life for the lyrical inspiration to Youth’s title track. His observance while withstanding the many temptations of fame and stardom was described as a Kiddush Hashem.
But in 2007 he began what would be a second – he called it a continuation – spiritual journey, this time downwards. He told the Miami New Times that he no longer “necessarily” identifies with the Lubavitch movement, adding that “I felt boxed in.”
Additionally, he told Ynet in 2009: “I am many things. Sometimes I am none of them. Why are we so quick to be one thing or the other? Things are a mixture more often than purely one thing or the other.”
He kept visiting – and being welcomed as every Jew – at Chabad Houses nationwide and worldwide on his music tours. His wife Talia and family kept living in Crown Heights and he would often be seen davening at 770 Eastern Parkway and other shuls.
In a conversation with COLlive.com less than a year ago, a confidant of his insisted that Matisyahu remains frum and that he is “being a chossid in his own way.”
But at 6:09 AM on Tuesday, Miller posted the beardless photo and Tweeted: “At the break of day I look for you at sunrise When the tide comes in I lose my disguise.”
He later posted the following on his website:
“This morning I posted a photo of myself on Twitter. No more Chassidic reggae superstar.
“Sorry folks, all you get is me…no alias. When I started becoming religious 10 years ago it was a very natural and organic process. It was my choice. My journey to discover my roots and explore Jewish spirituality—not through books but through real life.
“At a certain point I felt the need to submit to a higher level of religiosity…to move away from my intuition and to accept an ultimate truth. I felt that in order to become a good person I needed rules—lots of them—or else I would somehow fall apart. I am reclaiming myself. Trusting my goodness and my divine mission.
“Get ready for an amazing year filled with music of rebirth. And for those concerned with my naked face, don’t worry…you haven’t seen the last of my facial hair.”
A known rabbi and educator told COLlive in response:
“I think it should be published and portrayed as his further estrangement from Chabad-Lubavitch. His move to Karlin, is we all knew, was to become less Frum. Here’s the continuation. I would emphasize, in the strongest terms, that he is removing himself from observant Yiddishkeit.”
UPDATE: On Tuesday 4:03 PM Matisyahu took to Twitter again to further clarify his current status.
“For all of those who are being awesome, you are awesome,” he wrote. “For all those who are confused: Today I went to the Mikva and Shul just like yesterday.”
A source close to the Millers has told COLlive that Matisyahu, his wife and children have moved out of Crown Heights in the beginning of the 5772 year. “They moved to Los Angeles,” the person said.
B”H 1) Learn, learn and learn again. Without learning Chassidus everyday anything could happened (Chas V’eshalom) 2) if you work/live with mostly non-Jews around eventually you will think that something is wrong with you (Chas V’shalom). I remeber he said (regarding keeping Kosher) my fiends [musicians] are non-Jews but they (something like) are very understanding [or accepting or something like that]. No it is he who was accepting and Kashruth is what we Jews MUST do regardless if you’re a rockstar, housewife, businesswo/man etc. how Joice Azria can manage?! She is fine Boruch Hashem being a fashion director. One I… Read more »
Since when is it a crime to change view points in ones life.. I have and you are lying to yourself if you claim you haven’t.. I applaud him for searching for his soul and purpose in life.. I also applaud the Jewish religion for teaching and helping him through his search for inner peace.. This is America people.. Freedom is a beautiful thing. For those who don’t agree. You are in the wrong.. Wrong country.
People need to stop judging him for his actions.
You are mostly right except on this ,you are dead wrong: 15] The Torah may not be used as a way to make money, a shovel for your use. The hat and beard/ reggae was a trademark brand, now he doesnt need it once he got there. When he became frum he was 100% honest, just like everyone else is. As time went by, he felt different. Instead of using the beard as a trade mark shovel etc, he said, this is not me, I don’t feel right. Right or wrong, he was honest. If anything, think about it as… Read more »
I cant believe how many of you are mixed up and confused… lets clear some things up: The following statements I believe are all true: 1] there is Matisyahu the brand and his music/ concerts are the product 2] there is Matisyahu the yid 3] the guy is very smart and ambitious- a shmendrik doesnt get on the tonight show and a contract with sony record label! 4] M the yid is welcome in any shul to daven but M the product may not be so kosher 5] Stop confusing the 2 – a reform rabbi is welcome to daven… Read more »
He’s so stupid the only reason he became famous was because he was a frum singer. Not because his music was so good (but by the way it is terrible). Matisyahu you should be ashamed of yourself and you did a terrible thing. You’ll be sorry you’ll see.
VERY scary.Couldn’t even bare to look at it!
chabad r not supposed to judge people based on the level they are up to! so, they may not be doing what YOU want but its their own personal struggle and descision! imagine if you did something wrong and everyone was posting comments about how what you did was wrong- we all have our ups and downs. You can be a nice and tottaly frum person without a beard!!! Obviously, you all are not shluchim and know to accept jewish people, whoever they are and whatever level they are up to. Stop posting mean comments about HIS descision
Poor thing. He need a lot of attention. live him alone. some one from holywood will find him, take care of him. Years later he will catch himself and say: ” what have I sone to my self and family”. Poor thing, the “שכל” ‘ will come somewher, sometime. to bad he will find out that even fame in los angeles is noting to crave for. real live has yer to come, and be lived. I feel sorry for him. even fame will not be his part anyway. he will be used, that is all. sorry man of turmoil. and… Read more »
LOL!!!!!!!!! from a fellow Melbourne camper who is still laughing
dudes listen up
matisyahu is AWESOME
k, maybe not, but is music rocks
okay ill stop fooling around
his music wasnt even half bad
it was horrible
and i always thought he was normal
thanx for nothing!!!
4 all u ppl who r against col putting this article up, mattis himself posted a picture of himself on Twitter, meaning 4 ppl 2 see it. col has every right 2 show ppl what happened. it is not loshon hara because we r teaching a lesson to the next generation. i used 2 be a huge fan of matisyahu’s, i had all of his songs on my ipod, but when i read this on col, i removed all of it – i’m disgusted. if he’s such a tzadik like u ppl r saying, then how many tzadikim do u… Read more »
You might like it but not the shluchim
we have to add in acts of goodness and kindness, it’s these people that could use a little more “love” you dont have to listen to his music, but you do have to love him!
matisyahu! the real chabadniks love you! you are invited to our shabbos tables chabad houses and mikvahs any time you want. you are special to us like every single jew is! 🙂
love, a shliach in argentina! DN
I THINK THAT OUT OF EVERYTHING EVER POSTED ON COL THIS 4 SURE GOT THE MOST COMMENTS AS TOO THE BEARD I DONT KNOW WHAT @ SAY SHOULD I NOT JUDGE HIM AND LEAVE IT ALONE OR SHOULD I THINK ITS A CHILUL HASHEM AND CHILUL LUBAVITCH ?????????????????????? AND TO ALL THOSE PPL WHO NEVER LISTENEDTO HIS MUSIC IN THE FIRST PLACE IM JEALOUS OF U B/C NOW WAT DO I DO KEEP LISTENING TO ONE OF MY FQAV. SONGS (ONE DAY) AND FORGET WHO THE SINGER IS OR STOP LISTENING TO IT AND STICK TO MY OLD MUSIC I… Read more »
And I quote, “Non Jews respect Jews who respect Judaism.
Non Jews are embarrassed by Jews who are embarrassed by
Judaism”
So, Matis, are you thru being ashamed of who you really r ????????????!!!!!
oy vovey this is very sad i am very happy we didnt listen to your music in our house this was a bust the hole time i just new it.
my thoughts exactly. although chabad chassidus enriched his music and probably his life, we don’t and never did own him or anyone else for that matter
The real issue is WHAT DID/DOES HAVING A BEARD REALLY MEAN TO HIM (OR ANYONE ELSE)?
If that’s all it was – a disguise – an external garment that is put on and taken off like a shirt….then, it means nothing to him now, and it meant nothing to him before!
Trying to find excuses for a serious spiritual malfunction is foolish and stupid endeavor.
Excuse me? Chabad who made him a person? Your arrogance is awful!! Was he not a person, too even before he joined Chabad?
good one
All of this is as interesting and as important as if Charlie Buttons had lost two buttons from his hat or overalls.
As for the cause of his latest metamorphosis – hint, it begins with the same sound as dreck and rhymes with hugs.
I don’t understand why people can go so crazy about 1 guy shaving. I mean, how much more petty can it get? Like, come on, its going to be his choice in the end anyway. Take a chill…
What a shame to his family
Good Shabbes Mat.
Hair grows back!
Just use your intuition to find the right influences!
dont say that you’r puting down lubavitchers
what’s with the king of beard
lol
He isnt sure what he wants, but just leave it alone already. dont you have something else to do? You can’t change it, just leave it be. stop the hurt.
I am disappointed but stop the hurt and loshon hara, grow up and stop talking like that. if you were in school, the teachers would send you to the principal for a lecture on loshon hara.
“one never grows up, they just (hopefully) learn to act in public”
he is lost and it is are job to help him find his way
If you’re looking for good you’ll find it. There are many FFB’s (including me) who’d be honored to marry my kids off to BT kids if they’re compatible. BT’s are usually smart, genuine, sincere, deep and generally REAL.(steortypically 🙂 Same with tznius: plenty of CHers think, speak and act beautifully — too bad it’s the other stuff that stands out more — not in quantity but by virtue of its loudness. Same with Matt: his lyrics reveal his great soul potential and even if you prefer niggunim in your home to protect your kids’ neshamos, let’s all unitedly daven and… Read more »
i really like your way of thinking. i agree w u one hundred percent .good job
416 is awesome. i hope Matisyahu reads it
you are so right. AGREED!!
hahhahahahha way to funny so trew by the way
100% agreed
IN CHOP’M DOWN HE WAS REFERRING TO HIS BEARD NOT TO THE TREES!
Sometimes i amaze myself at how fast i can forget my own experiences and lessons learned through life trials, tribulations, and tests. it’s easy to get caught up in a whirlwind of emotions and react to a shocking event based on feeling rather than cool intellect, which requires reflection. Upon reflection, I’ve come to realize that everything i posted on the Mattisyahu beard situation does not reflect what I’ve learned from my personal experiences in life. It was me taking pot shots guised as learning at worst. At best I was actually struggling to come to grips with this [like… Read more »
Its amazing how the words ” We want moshich now,” were on a top forty hit in America. He has accomplished so much, and there is more to come I am sure. People who have the biggest struggles are usually the more spiritual ones with higher potential. Soo ROCK ON. I hope one day you will call yourself a Lubavitcher again, but until then just do your thing and keep inspiring the world:)
Now he is an outsider again, and we will accept him with unconditional love as Lubavitch do with all of them out there.
he is coming up on the assembly line again.
I really hope he’s still frum. It would be a shame if he wasn’t. I hope it wasn’t Lubavitch who pushed him away and made him feel like he had to shave his beard. I hope we didn’t in any way make a chilul hashem and a chilul lubavitch that could have influenced him this way.
he looked MUCH better with a beird!
Perhaps he has lost his senses due to taking drugs> He certainly wasn’t thinking logically when he did what he did.
when he sang chopp’m down he was’nt talking about the trees
He looked so much more handsome with his beard:)
I guess the king of beards won’t be whipping his beard back and forth…
Quick to judge we are
Mainly because he’s a star
Put yourself in his shoes
Then see if you will lose
Imagine having a contract with Sony
Wouldn’t that turn you into a phony
G-d judges us when we judge others
Quit lookin’ around
Close your shutters
In Chabad we embrace all
Even a wild reg-ea star
We don’t stand behind their every word
But we should surely put away the sword
crownheighters got nothing better to do than to talk about someone elses private life, how pethetically lame!!
leave the man alone, worry about your own lives..
and most of all its none of anyones business!!
can someone please explain to me exactly how we are helping by discussing his life???????????????????????????????????????????????
Sometimes i amaze myself at how fast i can forget my own experiences and lessons learned through life trials, tribulations, and tests. it’s easy to get caught up in a wurlwind of emmotions and react to a shocking event based on feeling rather than cool intellect, which requires reflection. Upon reflection, I’ve come to realize that everything i posted on the Mattisyahu beard situation does not reflect what I’ve learned from my personal experiences in life. It was me taking pot shots guised as learning at worst. At best I was actually struggling to come to grips with this [like… Read more »
#251. AND YOSHKE WAS YOSHKE AND JOSEPHUS SHMAD HIMSELF, AND A MONTEFIORE BECAME A BISHOP, AND LOUI JACOBS HAD APIRKORSUS THOUGHTS. MATT EVEN AINT THAT CLOSE!!
absoloute disgrace to jewish music
#HE IS A TINOK SHNISHBOH, WHAT’S THE CHIDDUSH. IT WOULD BE NOTABLE IF SACKS OR ONE OF THE BIG “GEZHER SHLUCHIM” . KIDS HAVE ISSUES WHAT’S THE CHIDDUSH? HE HAD A CLOSE SHAVE WITH CHABAD, KARLIN AND BRESLOV. HE WASN’T A. BOOK AND HE WASN’T A COVER.
As someone said before, when he became Karlin, I don’t think many Karliner chassidim and their families bought his CD’s.
And I could tell you, many chassidishe yidden in Chabad didn’t either.
And for those in Chabad who turned him into an idol… I hope you’ve learned a lesson
#399; Problem it seems he never had a cover to start with!!
he even chopped off his payos too!
“live and let live”!?
If someone walks over to an aron kodesh – takes out a sefer torah, throws it down and spits on it – would you also say “live and let live”?!
For those of you that don’t know Matis personally like i do and are judging him need to stop now. because he has shaved his beard does not mean he is still not frum which he is. i know Matis, his wife and kids personally. so please out of respect. stop judging him. his decision was made because he has not been Chabad for 4 years and did not want to be shown as a Lubavitcher so he shaved his beard. he is still very very frum. he wears a yarmulka and tzitzis everyday. he puts on Tefillin everyday that… Read more »
in more ways then one, the poor guy went completely off the deep end,
2. that we would waste so much time taking about this poor neshama, and breaking records on COL comments.
there are way more important issues that need this much interest.
BS”D Did you ever do a Google search for “Chabad” & way too many pictures of Mattisiyau’s punim with his I-am-all-wise-and spiritually hip? HE represented us for way too long. Why does a Chosid look straight in the camera and give this arogant face straight into the camera?Maybe if once,twice or 3,but ALL his photos were chutzpadik.Even when he changed his costume it was the same. I imagine that it is a big nisayon to get up on stage with people screaming your name so I won’t judge him as a Jew. I’m only happy since he stopped wearing a… Read more »
MOSHIACH… LONG AWAITED MNEEED
I see what you’re pointing out although A has nothing to do with B
When will the judgemental gossipers learn that gossip on the internet is a much greater chillul Hashem than anything in this article. He is still frum, according to his shul comment. Stop judging!!
And who knows besides Hashem if his motives were pure when he wrote the original kosher lyrics. I believe they were!! Noone ever did or will, force you to listen to his music!! L’Chaim
I watched his interview and i noticed his voice is very quiet sounds like he’s on drugs. 2nd thing i relized was that he kept on drinking water.
******SOMETHING’S MISSING FROM THIS PUZZLE*******
MOSHIACHHHHHHHHHHHH !!!
BEST COMMENT YET!!!!
TIME 2 WORK ON OUR SPEECH
why is this news? jus because he is famous we should be like the rest of america and speculate, judge, and comment on every little thing a ‘celebrety’ does??? so he cut off his beard… million of jews have done that yet they dont make it to the top news.
To those that said, ‘you are still the best’. Best what? You probably never had to deal with drug addicts. That is what they are best at, taking drugs. Wear a beard, he did, go to mikvah, he does, go to shul, he does, learn Torah, he does, takes drugs, he does, hates himself, he does, hates you, he does, hates HaShem, he does, loves drugs, he does. That’s the life of a drug addict, love drugs, period. A big rachmanus on him & his family. It is a very terrible suffering for all of them, and for all of… Read more »
He should sell it an make lots of money on it.
someone must have bribed him…. Poor guy.
i
cant
believe
this????
what
has
the
world
come
to
today
?????
this
just
shows
you
how
much
bad
is
spoken
god
bless
MATISYAHOU
AT LEAST FOR A MINUTE, IF YOU CAN… HOW WOULD YOU BE IF YOU WHERE HIM? YOU ARE A PUBLIC FIGURE, FAMOUS, MILLONARIE, PLAYING MUSIC ALL DAY LONG WITH AND FOR GOYIM, HAVING MULTIMILLON DOLLARS COMMINTMENTS? TRAVELING 6 DAYS A WEEK ALL OVER THE WORLD WITH PEOPLE OF ALL KIND OF BACKGROUNDS ACCLAMMING YOU? OWNING MUSIC HITS LIKE “ON DAY” CO WRITTEN WITH ANOTHER GIANT OF THE MUSIC WORLD AND BEING PLAYED ALL OVER THE WORLD ON THE OLIMPICS? GENTELMEN, MOST OF YOU ARE OLD AND FRUSTRATED BY YOUR OWN BROKEN DREAMS, WELL, HE LIVED HIS DREAM, GOOD FOR HIM,… Read more »
I don’t understand how anyone can say he is messed up if you don’t know him, how can you judge him?
LEAVE HIM ALONE!
HE IS GREAT!
Are we going to the Mirrer Yeshiva protesting to the Bochurim? NO!!!
SO WHY MATIS?!
LOVE YOU MATIS
YOU MAKE YIDDEN DO TESHUVA 🙂
i cant believe it he was ssssso aidel i hpehe is still shomer shabbos ! why on earth totally the wrong path ill probably will make a hachlota not to ever listen to his music especially his new music and i loved it nmnnmnmm sniffling saddd
he looked much better with a beard.
To all of u who are saying to give him privacy. HE chose to make it public HE chose to put it on Twitter he is really not a bad person but he is not a person to be looked up to either!!!!!
Be like a king with a Crown! Whatever you do is your decision don’t listen to the outside world but do things for the sake for Hashem’s sake alone
Yes he probably is talented, he did find a temporary social and emotional refuge in Libavitch for some time & now he is facing a midlife crisis. Simple. What the real problem is when you take a person like him, put him on a pedestal and turn him into some sort of mashpia. Why did some make him into an Avude zure. My children know that he sings GOYIDHE music for GOYIM and for in his parnuse. His music is not far a yiddishe hiem. Not for nothing there is a sayng that a Chazan is roshei teivos chazunim zenen… Read more »
matisyahu why did u do this u dont know how much i looked up to u and ur music i tryed lisening to ur music now and it not the same i just cant lisen to it i dont feel like its u i visualize som one else it herts me i cant belie it the hole day i tryed again to forget about it but i just cant and its not just me we had tonzz of decasion during class abut this topic
plzz go back to ur old good ways WE MISSS U
i just tweezed my eyebrow!
hu cares abt his facial hair
MYOB!
I think he is being more honest than any chabad men with beard!!! Those are fake!!They look like a chassid but doesn’t act like they should!
the worst thing you could do for you money and music not cool at all
no one is perfect, it’s his personal choice.
Judaism is ABOUT struggle!!! sometimes you need to step back in order to see the bigger picture. we all have a specific purpose in life and if this is the way he wants to live his then let him be, Hashem has his own plans for Matis, whether i think its the right choice or not, it’s a decision between him and himself. let it be
This is not a chiddush! half of the young ppl in Chabad are trimming or shaving. why is everyone so shocked! I have 6 brother in laws who CALL themselves lubavitchers. they all trim or shave, they all watch TV and movies. none of them have an set time for learning and their wives are lax in Tznius. why is this shocking to you? this is all part of a larger trend. WAKE UP LUBOBS!
It’s not just the beard; having a beard is a sign of yiras shomayim. If he took off his beard, it must mean his yiras shomayim is lacking in some way.
im happy i didnt let this into my house to begin with i knew it wasnt kosher
I was really excited that Matisyahu was such a kiddush HaShem and turned my young boys onto his music. We like to watch his music videos on You Tube. Now I feel very conflicted. We are a Lubavitch family. It was difficult enough to explain to them why he left Lubavitch . . . .now, I’m a bit concerned where all of this will go. I was so proud of his songs ‘Brooklyn Bridge to Crown Heights’, etc. Now just feeling very sad.
Well I have a beard – quite a long one actually – but I do plenty other sins. I’m not saying M is right to shave his just that it is not the only trademark of a chosid
My Father A”H would always impress to me “Alein Blonget Men” Geza understands what this means for the BT”s it means “alone you get lost”…a small digression why this turned into an article of BT’s versus Geza.. I do not know…I happen to be not only Geza but BSK Benon Shel Kedoishim.. a double title….I personally do not know or understand what BT’s go thru… the possibly breaking off from their families no support system not fitting in exactly and I give them credit…. for that and all that i dont know… BUT please do not knock Yechis… all thru… Read more »
I agree with @ 364
i 2nd 356 and 359. but your origional music wasnt half bad. i used to know you as someone normal!!!!!!!!!!!!
NOW WHAT WE GOT HERE IS A FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE.. SOME FOLKS IN LIFE JUST GET THINGS WRONG.
we r not to judge others wrongdoings if u choose not to listen to his music anymore that is entirly up to u but he can do what he feels is right for him
we will miss u matisyahu
WHAT WENT WRONG
GOT NO SONG
BANG ON THE GONG
ITS LOOKIN LONG
ITS KINDA WEIRD
WiTHOUT NO BEARD
HELP ME FRIENDS
I WASN’T REARED
TO BE LIKE U
A CHASSiDIC JEW
you look much better with the beard
i am a 12 year old girl and i hate music but and i think its disgusting what he did but dont judge it makes me so sad looking at all your posts maybe there is an expalnation. it may not be self exlanitory but you never know plz plz dont judge your fello jew
you got it all wrong with the ‘i know this whould happen the whole time’ and the ‘his music in not chasidish’ your wrong you did not know this whould happen you just want to be the special ones who could “predict the future 2 his music was inspiring a lot of peaple and yes my spelling is’nt good becuse
i feel bad for hes wife and kids
Is right shape up a little
What a shame!
With white beard coming in I thought he would be upgraded to “Chassidic Sage” reggae superstar, instead of just Chassidic reggae superstar.
Well he still has a chance to grow it back, and then get that title
I would hope that you didn’t put in any sechal into that comment. firstly regarding the crownheightsers with out beards: they are not public figures whose whole point was to bring chasidus into music in his own unique way, but also shown how this guy is living it. actually even the goim regarded him as a chasidic rock star emphasizing his wearing a beard. so it turns out its a pretty serious chilul hashem B’Rabim. secondly regarding shweky: shweky never claimed to be lubavitch nor a chasid in any shape or form. for him the standards of yidishkeit doesnt include… Read more »
a thousand thanks for being such a tratior to chabad who made you a person!
Hashem does,but he was “supposedly” inspiring our youth???He was a public figure in our community and influencing our kids. He had the approval of many. HEARTBREAKING!!! He portrayed himself as a “supposed Chosid”. Very deceiving and embarrasing.
i’am not shocked at all! rap with a chasidish levush what a combination!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!lol
Matisyahu explained today on WNYC why he shaved off his beard. Instead of putting words into his mouth, it’s only right to listen to the man himself.
http://www.wnyc.org/shows/soundcheck/2011/dec/14/matisyahus-miracle/
oiyyyy. this generation is just getting lower and lower….
All I want to say, is now my children understand why I NEVER let them play his music in our house. End of discussion!!! I was right.Noone will be taking him to perform in their Chabad houses, and B”H he disassociated himself from Chabad long ago.
let the guy live his life how he wants not how you want
It’s clear that you are talking from the heart and what you are saying is so true. No need to add more. Yasher Koiach for true words we Lubavitchers need to hear.
Maybe, he caught “nits” from his kids or from mikvah?? Maybe too embarrassed to say he had to cut everything to get rid of it fast! Just wondering.
I can apprecaite Matisyahu wanting to be himself, and feeling that the beard and black coat was all a sort of costume or disguise. I have run across many who had become inmmersed into an ultra-orthodox observance, when 1. It is not a requirement to do so as an orthodox , 2.Its not a healthy way to create a stable orthodox way of life. I have met too many Jews as a result of becoming so religious, an instantaneously “chassidic”, become burnt out but what they understod was the “required dress and uniform” to be part of the accepted group.They… Read more »
I can’t believe someone in the shchuna would make comments like this. The baalei teshuva of this community are what’s keeping it a live… and shtark. The people walking around CH without clothes on are NOT BTs, hate to break it to you. So even though the gezhe community may be looking down on us from your seemingly higher rung, ask yourselves, which direction are you really moving in??
oh yea your’e soo righteous. sitting here talking lashan hara, matis is a ba’al teshuva and in his years made a bigger kiddush hashem than anyone else i know. dont be so ignorant!
and ever consider that that might be the reason he shaved his beard? bec he didnt want it to define who he is as a person?!
if you ask me, Matisyahu (without a beard) is still a better jew then half you people cursing him out over here.
“I, I, I…”
we love you,you are stirring the pot,you take every one out of their comfort zone,WAKE UP CALL,where is your Ahavat Yisrael dear brothers and sisters TAKE A BACK SEAT and let HASHEM direct His world then we see wonders and how each one is a diamond .Great times of confusion and revelations LECHAIM
This is the problem with Baalei Teshuva: who gives you the right to sit in judgment of Baalei Teshuvah??! I strongly suggest you ask forgiveness from every Baal Teshuvah you have slighted with your remarks! You were born on a high & mighty throne to make such ugly remarks…YOU SHOULD CONSIDER YOURSELF LUCKY TO BE A BAAL TESHUVAH
i agree with #57 when someone bought my kid his first matisyahu cd i was mortified and immediately felt like “how is this kosher?” but i “went with the flow” cause my son is so musical and didn’t make a fuss. i loved his meshichist stage and thought – ok there’s a place for him in the world of spreading Moshiach message. but now, i can only look back and think it has all been a ploy of the yetzer hara in the disguise of “doing kiruv” and now taking “us” down, farther away. i think there are several singers… Read more »
best comment! Yes we DO need Moshiach!! I wonder what his wife & kids are feeling…………….(he looks drugged)……..
נחפשה דרכינו ונחקורה ונשובה אליך I am not talking about Matis, I am talking about ourselves. (see comment #29) I am not considered Chabad, but grew up with Chabad and admire the derech of the Rebbe ענק שבענקים, מלאך אלוקים, איש אלוקים קדוש הוא, אשרי עין ראתהו זיע”א The Rebbe was in favor of harnessing modern technology to facilitate Yiddishkeit, with an emphisis on Ahavas Yisrael, Kdusha and Tahara based on the eternal Torah Echad, Am Echad, Eretz Echad. We all know that Yiddishkeit would be so different today without the influence of the Rebbe. The Rebbe was mekarev every… Read more »
#325 true
Unfortunately yesterday the famous Jewish reggae singer “Matisyahu” shaved his beard off as well as his Paiss. This is most unfortunate but I do understand where he is coming from in his decision and I wish him and his family well and I pray and hope that he and his family will be able to find guidance in this complicated and difficult time that they find themselves in. I pray and hope that people will be able to understand him, in his decision of struggle and hope. Let us remember that Matisyahu,sings about not only Jewish life in the modern… Read more »
Dear Matisisyahu,
You helped spread a positive message in this world.
May you go from strength to strength.
Lots of Love my brother
There are lots of lubavitchers in CH without beards and nobody says boo them. To all those that say “My kids sing this guy’s songs” well they also sing Racheim by Shweky and you dont seem to care. So whats the big Deal?
matisyahu atah meshuga legamreh seriously matis whats wrong with you
im a survivor of the war and they wanted to shave my beard but i fought hard to have it stay i still have a beard today and bless you to live as a true ben torah
בס’ד
so?
Al l he need’s is HELP someone must help him!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i’m just real happy that his music finally matches his face no more concealing and distorting that it’s simply not chassiddish and Jewish-like music PERIOD.
#306 NOW SEND THE REBBE’S LETTER TO ALL THE HIPPOCRITICAL GEZHER CHEVRA WHO TRIM THEIR BEARDS. THEIR CARDS ARE MARKED NOW!! WE’LL BE WATCHIN YOU!
Please take your sweeping generalization to its logical conclusion. You posit that Baalei Teshuvah are secular people who were drawn to religious observance because of some trauma or misfortune that they could not emotionally reconcile. They are thus NOT becoming religious because of a special Jewish soul that yearns for them to do so. In other words, being religious is a learned behavior that is slavishly followed by people who have been inculcated with it since birth. Another writer suggests that by the third generation (grandchildren,) the Baal Teshuva family has become “normal,” ie the actual messy heritage of the… Read more »
We are the rabbi’s chasidim, our idol is to love every jew for who he is no matter what!!!!! we CHABAD mekareved him & we made him have his beard at the first place!
He had a beard for many years B”H & now that he took it of, do we have the right to judge him. Do we have the right to judge people we mekarevd? If we cant be happy that he is religious in his own way, then we have no right to try to mekarev people.
Yosef spoke lashon hara and was punished.
The brothers threw Yosef under the bus and were punished.
Yosef was tempted to have a relationship with a married woman.
Life is full of challenges and we are not to judge others; just ourselves.
As for #20, I find it quite sad you seem to hold the BT community in such low esteem. I for one am quite proud to be the son of a BT and a convert. I guess since I come from a larger gene pool than you my IQ can tolerate others more t han yours
I think this is a test for all of us as Lubavitchers! People will be looking to see how we take this… The number one thing the Rebbe advocated was love for our fellow Jews – no matter who they are or what they have done. Of course that doesn’t mean we have to agree with his actions or even defend them – we are perfectly within our rights to be sad and disappointed. Thank G-d none of us are in his place and struggle with something like this!! I think the unkind things being said here about a fellow… Read more »
I watched Matisyahu get an aliah by the Torah this Shabbos. He is a Jew and should be treated as one. Did he make a mistake? This is for Hashem to decide, not us
While the letter from the Rebbe is great and halevai everybody would read it and take it to heart, nevertheless, in this case it’s beside the point. While Matisyahu is a fine person and all, and he’s my Jewish bro and all, it’s also beside the point and what many people are not realizing. The fact that he did what he did and in the venues that he did them was wrong! As a B”T halachically it’s wrong and was placing himself constantly in dangerous places for his neshama which he supposedly returned with to yiddishkeit. You can’t be a… Read more »
this artice isnt to judge its just to show that obviously us as chabad chassidim shouldnt be listening to his music. enough. his ife choiceds are his alone, however u cant be suprised with eople knowing about th\em as he is a little celebrity. no we dont need to stalk him but this shows a direct refelction of his yiras hashem and therefore implies that u shoudlnt connect with such a person by listening to his music. bec it may draw u down. simple.
some commented, why do we care. why should he do what other want him to do??? etc??
answer: not every mitzva you do, do we have ‘l’shmah’ intention. so yes, we do it for ulterior motives as well. (like kids in yeshiva, for candy). however, when you are a public icon, you automatically represent yidishkeit and you should be more careful. otherwise, you are making chilul hashem. so, yes, even if you don’t understand and you personally want to do otherwise, you should still control yourself, for the sake of Hashem and k’lal yisroel. (sin privately, not publicly. lol)
either you don’t have a beard and you are trying to defend yourself, or you miss the point.
having a beard is a mitzvah. so if a mitzvah defines you, than so does a beard. sure there are bigger and smaller mitzvos. but generally we aren’t capable of determining what category a mitzvah is in, and it isn’t even relevant.
Why dont we all stop worrying about a single Jew who shaved his beard (who still davens and goes to mikvah), and instead turn our focus to the thousands upon thousands of Jews who are likely to intermarry. Or to the thousands of Jews who may look to another religion. Or how about to the thousands, who may not even know a “aleph” from a “beis” let alone a beard!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhsb-1ke8tw
finally some words that count
how says its him??????????
you cant judge him !…….
I don’t comment on here usually , and I haven’t read half of the comments because there are too many. But, i think it’s ridiculous to say that someone that doesn’t have a beard can’t be frum?? I have Lubavitch and non Lubavitch friends and the one’s that don’t have a beard are a lot more frum thatn the ones that do. Don’t judge somoene just because of a beard! It’s this stupid narrow mindedness that makes Lubavitch not actually as accepting as they make out to be. I personally think the beard made him become so famous, otherwise he’d… Read more »
It’s more inappropriate to speak about him than for him to do what he did. Those that allowed his music are guilty for their actions, not him. He is simply an artist, regardless of his religious affiliations, some of us are naive and stupid for allowing his music into our homes (and shlomo for the same token). Stop fooling yourself, and stop blaming everyone else for your failures. You take responsibility for allowing his music into your house in the first place, convincing yourself that the music is appropriate because it has some tochen, despite the nature of it. Matis,… Read more »
Why didn’t i get this much attention when i shaved my beard?!
C’mon guys, everyone saw this coming. don’t act suprised, you can’t be MTV’s top 3 reggae singer and be completely frum. well you can be, but just not for a long time apperently. It’s HIS choice, not ours. Be happy that he’s doing something that HE wants to do, and not what the public wants him to do.
Too much pot smoking I say. He has a history of using people then leaving them behind in the dust. It’s all about social climbing and what image will most benefit his goals of fame & fortune. He moved to the right place (LA)for good company. On the other hand, I believe his spiritual struggles are real, and are leading him to where he feels comfortable. It’s an identity thing, and he just doesn’t want to be associated with the Chabad thing I guess. Sometimes I feel the same way. Never liked his copy cat music anyway. It always felt… Read more »
It is informative to consider how the Rebbe himself reacted when he saw a chosid (who did not come from a Lubavitcher background) who shaved off his beard. [The following translation of the Rebbe’s letter was prepared by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger]. Translation of a Letter from the Rebbe (Igros Kodesh VI pg. 285): 29 Av, 5712, Brooklyn. Greetings and blessings, For a person like yourself, it is surely unnecessary to elaborate on the concept explained in many places in Chassidus, and also in works of Mussar: that a divine blessing [“arousal from above”] requires a fit vessel, appropriate effort on… Read more »
DON’T JUDGE!!!!! It’s a tuff world out there, you can’t judge untill you’ve been through it. It’s the biggest test in the world, and we have noo idea how hard it is. SO…just do what you want with your life, stay away from his music if that what it means for you…but It’s not our place to judge!
all i can say is dont judge what would we do in the others place it not easy in this golus
For everyone suggesting that Matisyahu is troubled or struggling merely because he cut his beard, I have to wonder if you are projecting and if you are the ones who are troubled or struggling. I also wonder if maybe he was tired of being liked and accepted because of his beard, rather than for who he is. Maybe cutting his beard gives him a chance to see who his real friends are and who is willing to look past external appearances.
kingston pizza you rock
well said pray for his family
HE IS A TRUE CHOSID,
HE IS HIMSELF NOT A MASK OR HAT, LOOKING FOR MONEY.
TORAH YES,
SOCIAL PRESURE. NO MORE!
REAL FREEDOM
If he is frum were are his payas. He is free to shave his beard but to shave his payas off that means a little more.
I hope you are right and appreciate your approach
Truthfully, I feel great Rachmanus for him… but honestly, this aint much of a surprise, sort of thought this would happen at the rate things were going. Hashem should guide him out of this deep confusion…
I can’t listen to Reggae or Rap spiritually or musically for more than one hour anyway.
Boring back strum.
Maybe you will rediscover the Rebbe in a complete and very happy way.
Benveniste
After years of being in the spotlight, who did his beard belong to? Who did his image belong to?
It sounds like the guy is “reclaiming” himself from all outside pressures connected with his image.
gut gezokt
All he wanted was the truth, the trouble is chabad not him
#20 #142 BT- CALL HOME Here we go again….its the BT thing, I can just hear all you Gezher G-ds gift to chabad salt of the earth and we are so perfect that we wod never want to marry YOUR KIDS. Well this might just surprise you to know that the biggest drop out rate from chassidic mainstream behaviour are gezher kids not BT’s. Reason I hear you say? Coz BT kids are educated, honest with thenmselvesand those around them and frankly make the best frum jews in the world. They don’t hide behind a NAME or FAMILY LINEAGE to… Read more »
album name
“Speak Pure”
bc what if the pics are fake. he totally showed u a lesson.
MATISYAHU – DONT CARE WHAT THEY SAY. UR SONGS WILL LIVE ON FOREVER <3
Time flies by like clouds passing in the.
Time sure does fly by, like five years ago who wouldve imagined.
goodness whats next.
MOSHIACH NOW
ROCK ON MATIS
A fallen SUPERSTAR
How many of us are not frum, yet walk around with long beards?
At least, like yosef’s brothers he can’t lie to others.
Maybe we should have been nicer to him around CH and if he had felt more at home in CH he wouldn’t have had to try other places to hang out. But people are snobs and made him feel bad.
To Mattis:
The whole time I thought the disguise was for the world, not for us… 😉
And I still do. G-d bless, thanks for the inspiration and kidush Hashem
Took off his mask.
it says in Pirkei Avot
Judge every person favorably” (1:6)
“Do not judge your fellow until you have stood in his place.” (2:5)
just saying….
Please if you are referring to another person’s post, quote them, as otherwise one needs to scroll all the way up to the previous post.
Well, both my parents and my sibling are Ba’alei Tshuvahs and I was born Frum and let me tell you now, our family has gone through our fair share of family crisis’ and we are the exact opposite of what you said. So you know what? If you are judgemental like that, then as my Grandmother A”H used to say: If you dont have anything good to say, then just be quiet and smile.
HOW DO WE KNOW THIS IS A REAL PHOTO TAKEN TODAY? WHAT IF IT IS FROM GOOGLE IMAGES YOU DON’T KNOW
DON’T JUDGE !!!!!!
live and let live………………………………..
we love ur music who cares how u look
He shaved but he is frum
maybe is a marketing move to capture a new segment
now problably is going to be the Matty zionist
allow me to explain: there are two kinds of chassidishkiet- 1. Healthy chassidishkiet- a person is grounded and knows who he is; chassidishkiet is how he expresses his true being 2. Unhealthy chassidishkiet- a person who is in self-denial and unable to face his problems; chassidishkiet is his tool for escaping his issues and making him feel artificially good about himself – Matisyahu was clearly the latter form of chassidishkiet. he has to press the restart button, first heal his emotional wounds and then he can return to proper chassidishkiet as well. That is what this is about in my… Read more »
matis you rock!!!!!!!!! maybe
judahism6 hours agoTwitterReply Dear Matisyahu, You have always been my idol, your music inspired me to wear tzizit, and kept me shomer shabbat in times of doubt. Even when I have doubts in life, I listen to your music, and your poetry speaks the truth. I listen to your music when I wake up, on my walk to and from school, and when I go to sleep. When I’m writing essays, or doing readings. When I’m sitting in on a 5 hour treatment, or waiting on the bus back to wherever it is I’m going, school early minyan, Beit Shemesh,… Read more »
BS’’D Its OBVIOUS he shaved with an electric shaver due to the stubble. Ive seen what “clean shaven” is and that is not it. he did this so that he could grow a beard he felt he could mamash deserve and cherish, a new mark of a NEW Journey in Yiddishkeit. He is still frum, elrich and beautiful. Stop and leave him alone! This was the worst time in a while loshon hora and motzai shem ra wise- ok we are machmir on beards, but lets have rochmonos on those that still follow Halacha without one, and kal vechomer one… Read more »
who even knows if it was him that typed this…stop putting so much trust in words and listen to what he has to say!
He seems so sincere and soulful. He is clearly confused and hurting. Hey to the King without the Crown What happened to your smile Now you’re all down From the forest itself, you said Comes the handle for the ax Sometimes you can be Your worst enemy Thousands reached to you When you spoke from your soul But now all this Is taking a toll I am talking to you from the essence of my being I saw your photo and my heart is bleeding You’/re a King without a Crown Your smile became a frown. Chop down the klipah… Read more »
its just a question of time when a parallel line that goes crooked,nebach ends up intersecting another line it was never suppossed to touch.Beware yidden GEVALT .For our kinderlachs sake ,watch your kids learn from the stupidity of people who made him bigger than he is.
i am 74 years old ,born in 1937 before second world war ,ibecame chabadnick 61 years ago,i was in concetration camp i have grand children your age i am a business man.please,please,come back.you will regret,listen to me.
alot of you are showing where you’re at, and its not complimentary. This public forum is really subway-like, and its not great. Such negativity. Would the Rebbe say some of those negative comments? Yes, alot of people look(ed?) up to him and its not a great scene, but really, you make it sound like he’s a criminal. He’s a good human being (I mean, do you really know what mitzvos he has done? NO, you don’t, that is HaKadosh Boruch Hu’s cheshbon……ISNT IT?) grow up, think before you share your words and thoughts, and remember that all which you do… Read more »
we understand your frustration its long been a practice of BT to bash us, but lady its GEZZA, when you bash, get it right,
i was drunk at a party and then i shaved it was a mistake you will see i will make it up to u guys!!
this is prob wat happened
I feel Like he Has taken advantage of our families he has come in to chabad communities all over the world claim to be one of us, a lot of our kids look up to him as a role model look someone one can turn klipas nogah into kedusha in a amazing way and change the world for good. Now what do we say to our kids now?? Now they still have him songs stuck in their heads knowing now that he has chosen to take things in to his own hands and had a good experience with gd I’m… Read more »
guys you dont know the story, who knows many things could’ve happened a people i know this may sound hypicritical but dont waste your time writing long post, speaking loshon harah, spend your time helping other who are going through a hard time and maybe things like this could be prevented…
I read through every single comment. Oy! To those who say it’s loshon horah – actually it’s not because he is a public figure who posted this himself. All public figures know they are looked up to and people will follow their every move. It was important to post this b/c those who actually let their kids listen to Mattisyohu should be aware of who their kids are following. I personally never listened to him and I am on Shlichus and I would never have brought him down either. Many not frum people where I live listen to him and… Read more »
matisyahu your letting down your fans big time
The Beard made for a deeper and holier look, which fit the music. Hope you find the middle path in your spiritual journey, and keep making the special music to help bring Moshiach Now! (probably difficult living in Hollywood,Cal.} Have tickets to the next concert and looking forward to Miracle, from a holy and talented yid.
WE NEED MOSHIACH NOW!
After doing teshuvah through Chabad and devoting his life to this way he still wanted to integrate his passions. All he got from the very beginning was criticism for every move he makes to even more backstabbing talk and then evil eyes when davening in a suit and jacket in 770. If the place I loved and called home hurt me so deeply I would want to leave and pull away any trace that aligned me with them. These comments against him are even hurting him and pushing him away now. I know the Millers personally. I saw the garbage… Read more »
Oh cut the guy some slack and let him find his way.
Matisyahu we are rooting for you and hope you will find true joy on the bright path of torah.
Many people may look at this story and choose to focus the lesson inwards . There are times when we know a certain behavior of ours is not correct . However we feel that the temporarily step back will lead to many good deeds to come .Perhaps this will give him the opportunity to reevaluate his life and choose something in between.
How could someone do this?? Especially a Yid! Who knows what he thought about while making his previous albums! I love his music but no way I’m listening to him anymore!!
I saw him at a restaurant the other night, beard and all. Who would’ve guessed…
Adata DNafshi. The miracle is what Yahdus has done for M. Show Biz is Purim every day and he is alive healthy with loving family unlike someone else who had no clue how to deal aleha hasholom.
one thing to say i hope you plan on stopping your singign our at least accepet the fact that you have about 1000 fans LESS!
you are 100000% free to do what you want to do but that dozent mean that you have to take it to literly
youknw the axression :”just because its kosher you dotn have to eat it !”
well guess wshat, here idk if it evan is kosher!
B”H wow,omg, most comments for any article in the history of col live.Give that man a Nat Sherman cigar
This whole thing is soooo sad and messed up!!! What is happening to the world
i think it was a bad move for him to do besides the fact that he looks like a …… but i still love his music
There are also major advantages to baalie teshuva, ie 1. if you measure by quantity in some places like Israel we can really use the numbers right now before the arabs start out-numbering us. 2. the grandchildren are usually full fledged nomal people and sometimes even the children have hope 3. what would the shluchim do if there were no baalie teshuva, heck lubavitch would go bankrupt 4. the authors and printers of all the jewish literature in english and guides and jewish self help books are all supported by a majority of baalie teshuva 5. and according to tanya… Read more »
Matisyahu, you look like a King without a Crown.
But your neshama is still connected to the king of kings.
I await the day that your crown is whole again.
With much prayer for your difficulties,
A Jewish Woman
when u in anyway enter the other side or even touch upon it u literally need miracles to get out of it . in this dark galus the only answer at this point is moshiach.
For those critical of this “development” – if you believe in hashem, i’d think he has room for folks without facial hair in his relationship chambers. if you are fixated on chabad=beard, do a reality check in your own backyard. many “chosheve unger and elter yidden minimize or remove their facial hair – and they are still honored by your primary institutions what someone does in their relationship to hashem is their business. how they act amongst people is people’s business. his journey is his. you like his music or him, fine, if not not. but to publically express negative… Read more »
I agree
Lets not judge
he’s clearly hurting inside
Let’s have rachmunis
& say tehilim
Matis dear, its never too late
from 1 to 227 now is your chance to do teshuvah and bring moshiach do not follow in his ways.
i cant believe it he was ssssso aidel i hpehe is still shomer shabbos ! why on earth totally the wrong path ill probably will make a hachlota not to ever listen to his music especially his new music and i loved it nmnnmnmm sniffling saddd
I wasnt allowed to listen to his music in my house, and the few times that i did hear it in stores and stuff, I didt even like it. Also, I have a niggun of his on my computer and im telling you that i honestly odnt like it at all and everyt ime my music is on shuffle ,i skip that song right away!
It’s much easier than going over your will to do H*s W*ll Sad when the ego gets it’s way,instead of dying or being put in it’s place.
in history
no offense to him but he looks like a depressed dead person. very shocked.. i actually starting liking his music but now i will never let my kids listen to u. so sorry
I just wanted to add a comment because I feel there are not enough comments being written about this post.
I met Matisyahu very recently and he seemed like he was detached from reality. Obviously the drugs have had an impact on him and he has lost something in his mind. However, it is not right for any of us to judge him, ultimately his relationship with Chassidus is between him and Hashem. Let Him be the judge. Furthermore, the only true victims here are his family. I strongly feel for his wife and children who surely will have a very hard time dealing with this change and all of the backlash. Let’s all pray that he finds what he… Read more »
Matisyahu clarified: ”For all of those who are being awesome, you are awesome. For all those who are confused: today I went to the Mikva and Shul just like yesterday.” He is still wearing a kippah. it is hard to see in this picture, not in the other one: http://www.yfrog.com/mgj7ezhj Yes its a terrible picture. No he is not a photographer, can’t get past the looks can ya? book, cover. Yid, beard. I love his music, reggae is not “rap”. i don’t like rap. stop saying reggae is rap! I vote YES to post #1. This posting should be changed… Read more »
GOOD CALL ON CATCHING THE NEW PHONE
THAT PIC WAS TAKEN BEFORE, HE RELEASED TO GET THE REACTION. NOT A SINGLE EYE WITNESS
It was a glorious beard. Can’t wait to see it again.
Shame on you #7!
Big deal!! I bet not one of you actually paid for even one of his songs!
You “holy” people steal his hard made music anyways
I hope this is a hoax
i bet he still is nice to people calling asking for donations ……
he was always angry at lubavitch because most shluchim did not want him for their events. He was angry because he needed them to start him off. But they obviously saw right through him. Poor guy. so mixed up. today one thing , tomorrow something else. if anyone knows of a good doctor (psychiatrist) please tell him
just remember one thing that you are a jew and always will be i think that you r a gr8 person and hope that that you will do well in the good that youll do and i know that you can change the world for the good
he sucks what is rong with him he is a looooooooser
View Zohar Parshas Teruma 128 amud one and two
You can still remove the ruach HaTuma and become inspired by remembering your potential of Mesiras Nefesh.
Tanya 18-25 especially the end of chapter 25
Also mentally giving your self to Hashem and asking Him to heal your pained Neshoma, will also give the Koach you are looking for.
Hatzlocha Matisiyahu!
PS you look better with a beard
is that him or just a random photo?
The Yid about whom Reb Yoilish ZYA said that was the tzadik Reb Elimelech Tress ZTL who gave up every penny he made in business to save Yidden during the churban.
I could only imagine what Reb Yoilish would say about Matisyahu,….
THE TORAH NEVER SAID U SHOULD JUDGE AND HATE ANOTHER JEW!!! U ALL DON’T KNOW WHAT HE’S GONE THROUGH!! you dont like his decision? ok!! no one is telling u that u cant have your thoughts and opinions!! but dont go and publicize how much you hate a despise and are disgusted by him!! none of you have ANY business interfering!! these comments against him should not be allowed up. unbelievable. he’s still a person, believe it or not! all of you please stop.
thank you
Absolutely sick. No other words.
Instead of sitting here and judging Matisyahu why not think about the pain he and his family must be going through. He is clearly experiencing some very deep and troubling emotions and must not be in a good place (notice in the picture he doesn’t look particularly well). Imagine what his wife must be dealing with, imagine what his children are going to be feeling when their father comes home a different person. The journey of a baal teshuvah is not an easy one. Our Rebbe understood this. Our Rebbe was sensitive to this. Do you think the Rebbe would… Read more »
mattis got his much needed attantion, now you can grow it back.
…..idiot
Anyone who could make such a nonsensical statement concerning Karlin Stolin obviously is either under the influence or brainwashed to believe that anyone who isn’t Lubavitch is lacking in ehrlichkeit.
I wish we would all take the time to truly see each other.
Ah well – it’s just another Brooklyn day.
Gd bless.
The lashon hora being said in these comments is disgraceful. It completely goes against everything chabad and judaism in general stands for.
G’luck matis and G-d bless you.
this is so disturbing. who would ever have amagained…
We all new he was falling. But look-
Im so ashamed.
I loved his music, BUT NOW?
no way am i going to let myself enjoy this guys music.
such a chilul hashem.
soorry matisssssssssssssssssssssssssss u looked better wit h a beared but yall is mean to say nasty stuff!
i agree with number one. this should not be online!! this is his PERSONAL life and the world shud not be knoing bout this! UNEXCEPTABLE!
and I didn’t write it. Saw it posted on FB:
The Satmar Rav once talking to a gvir from the more modern sectors of Yiddishkeit — meaning he was clean shaven, beardless. Some of the chassidim were chuckling to themselves, wondering why the Rebbe is speaking with such a person. The Rebbe recognized their confusion and said to them: When he dies the heavenly court is going to ask him “Reb Yid, where is your beard?” But when you die they are going to ask you: “Reb beard, where is your Yid?”
THE PHOTO IS HIGHLY SUSPECT AS HE SEEMS MUCH YOUNGER THAN CONTEMPORARY PHOTOS AND HE WOULD NOT STAND THERE WITHOUT TZITSIS YARMULKAH IN FULL VIEW OF THE JEWISH WORLD, NOONE CAN BE THAT BRAZEN…………………………CAN THEY??? ON THE OTHER HAND LOOK AT THE PHONE HE IS HOLDING,,, THE LATEST I-PHONE WHICH WAS NOT AROUND 10 YEARS AGO.
i don’t judge him!
those who knew him well, know that he was falling for a while! (say no to drugs)
i think we must feel bad and NOT JUDGE, & use this opportunity to teach young people the dangers of recreational drugs
its a very slow gradual killer! step by step!
lets all say Tehilim for him & his family!!!
gives the song a whole new meaning haha
To be honest, nobody truly knows what they are talking about.This is “news” but people should respect that this is his personal, private, decision…And people should stop being judgemental…and nasty!!! A jew is always a jew no matter what and we must accept people for who they are.There is no need for any argument or to feel superior then Matis because you don’t “agree” With what he decided to do…Please, everyone just start with the man in the mirror, start with taking a real good glance at yourself! refine yourselves, perfect yourselves…Instead of judging your fellow jew! All those who… Read more »
Maybe he was on something 6:00 am this morning
By the looks of the photo I I would say he cried alot after the shave.
PUHLEASE, lashon harah and privacy what??? Matisyahu posted this to his 1,358,574 followers and chose that way to break it to the world… and he wasnt expecting this response??
think again..
for 19 Kislev they should do a profile of BTs who stayed in for over 20 years despite being treated like non-entities by well known educators etc.
Crown Heights has lately made stars and role models out of various celebrities..
I read every once in a while over the course of 2 days, and even then only got up to comment number forty something. So just stop all this מישוגאס and go about your lives in some other way. Maybe you could talk about this and how the sky is blue in the מיקוע, but all of this שטיק just makes laugh. The only reason I am doing this is because I was requested to. Thank you all. . .
i aint listening to him anymore! goodbye!
this post is really unacceptable on your website- is this what we want to teach our children- lets stop judging another jew and worry about ourselves- lashon horah is not allowed- period
“For all of those who are being awesome, you are awesome. For all those who are confused: today I went to the Mikva and Shul just like yesterday.”
You can’t have your cake and eat it too. When he was on his way up and needed a fan base we were there for him. We came to his shows and we told our mekuravim … look at this guy…you can be a Chassidic Jew and cool. Matisyahu sold us a vision and we bought it. He is taking heat because he sold us a package the goods aren’t in the box. His early music was all Chassidus based. You take our knowledge our people our souls and then you bring down the hammer. Very Shabtai Tzvi (obviously different… Read more »
to #169.
I am a bal tshuva. My husband has a full untouched beard, some of my boys shave, some trim , some don’t touch their beards at all. I love all of them just the same.
Can’t we all just love everyone and stop judging? Matisyahu is here in L.A. now also. I wouldn’t want his pressures, trust me.
Please everyone, we need moshiach. Just remember what Hillel said and practice unconditional love for every yid.
Matisyahu, beard or no beard we still love you in the Valley!
If you have nothing nice to say, Please dont say it.
ditto. Come on COL – have some respect
It looks like he just came out of a concentration camp. Oy! Tatte hub rachmonus!
u cant post what matis is doing,
when people in crown hights do it to
its loshon hara!
and does it make a defrence if he has a beard or not?!
its pure goeshe music!
dressing up like santa for his chanukah song?!
He looks like in a cell in San Quentin. E don’t look well. He is clearly in a very dark place. He may need pychiatric treatment . This is the risk we talke when we allow so called “artistes” to use chabad name fopr their own self aggrandizement to promote themselves and the bite the hand that fed them and throw it back in our faces.
its not right having this up its his life
ps. millons of jews dont have beards shweky does not have a beard the chevra dont have beards dont juge to fast
mat, why do you call your beard a disguise? that was the true you, your neshama shining through. our evil inclinations are not the true us, even though they may dominate us sometimes…..
Matis. I took you off my iPod because I can’t agree with what you’ve done. But my heart goes out to you for the pain you must be in to do something like this. I wonder if perhaps the people you turned to for spiritual guidance were a bit blinded by the spotlight of your fame and in turn were blind to what YOU needed. Where ever this journey leads you, I hope it leads you closer to Gd. I hope it leads you home.
I see it quite often when BT become frum-hat- beard- kapota chabad style and then later on change their minds and change their appearances. Shocking for first five minutes when you see them without a beard.
He looks SO UNHAPPY and he is obviously VERY confused. I remember watching a youtube video of him being interviewed on a show and they were jokingly asking him “if we payed you (large sum) would you perform on the sabbath” and he kept saying no. I thought what a great kiddush Hashem. And then i saw a much later interview where he seemed really confused – by the answers he was giving. He then started to really go down. I am a grandmother and i must say that although i don’t know all his songs there were a few… Read more »
to all the chassidic persons that speak like that about others and speacially BT good luck in aproaching others to do your “mitzoim” first love your fellow as yourself to see if you have luck helping more neshomos!
you are totally right! I agree with you! I don’t know who all of these people think they are. Judging him left and right. It’s so rude, wrong and disgusting. They are not being true chassidim.
the only point of this article is create lashonharah! and is very disapointing and discusting the way some ‘FRUM’ people speak about BT but that only reveals the only truth of the way people in this ‘frum’ community think so’ ‘favorably” about others. lets start with a little bit of Havas Ysroel, and by the way what happened to love every person like yourself and all the Rebbe’s teachings, shame on everyone of u, discusting comments and article and remember never judge others if your not in there place u never know why or what is behind, and it doesnt… Read more »
Another victim of the shidduch crisis!Hashem Yishmor!
It is understandable that many people are hurt by this. However, it is important to remember that he is a fellow Jew. If you want your children to stop viewing him as a role model, that is your business. Besides, as pointed out by many, there are a number of Jewish singers out there who do not have beards. This is Matisyahu’s personal decision, and no one has the right to judge him. If you are Chabbad, then why don’t you practice what you preach? Whatever happened to being dan lekaf zchus and v’ahavta l’rayacha komocha??? And if you are… Read more »
“bound to stumble and fall”
This is nothing but pure sinas chinam, leave the man alone
you guys are so rude!!!! Do not judge!!!! this is his choice. and whoever put this up is extremely rude. this is publisizing and embarressing him. RUDE RUDE RUDE. mind your own business, world. omg RUDEEEE
this is truly loshon hora and potentially very damaging to this man and what/where he may want to move towards in the future ; it is also a shanda to chabad organization to be speaking from this “holier than thou” perch. why not stay embracing and warm and welcoming to him instead of casting him aside and speaking of him going “spiritually downwards” just because he chose to not be a lubavitch chassid? Chabad is about embracing all…that is what has differentiated chabad from other sects…you’ve just gone “spiritually downwards” by making yourselves so exclusive and “”our way or bust”.… Read more »
Tell me all the valiant defenders of Matisyahu which frum jew goes to female massuese and then brags about it? To what say you art thy my friend?
Matisyahu
My homegirl @dr_dot is the best massuese in NYC. Hands down. Check her out.
18 hours ago
and then then the massuese tweeted this:
Dr. Dot
Just done massaging Matisyahu for three hours. Talented singer and amazing person. Can’t wait to see his Nyc shows this month. Loves!
5 Dec
this chabad rabbi thinks he can read minds and thinks he can trash other chassidic groups.
now he is ready to re-enter chabad. he looks like 30% of Crown Heights. half of all chabad youth do not make it past the age 25 with an intact beard.
It is completely inappropriate to equate Karlin chassidus (stolin) with becoming less frum. The Karlin chassidim areof the most ehrliche and holy chassidishe yidden out there. and considering the state of lubavitch post gimmul tammuz… it might not have been downward slope… the karlin-stoliner rebbe is extremly choshuv, a baal mofes and gadul batorah. stoliner chassidim are reknown for hachnasas urchim and limud torah. to say that joining them means a downward direction in avodas haboireh is disgusting. how could you slander an entire chassidus?? the chassidus of the Beis Aharon HaGadol ZT”L Karlin is a very holy chassidus, the… Read more »
OR IS HE POSTING A PICTURE OF HOW HE UUUUSSSED TO LOOK, HE LOOKS MUCH YOUNGER;)
one day he will come back imyh
Matis Tuesday 14th December 2011 at roughly 9:00 PM NY Time
it’s still not that time
That’s disgusting.
You cant generalize baalei teshuva from matisyahu. He obviosly has an issue that majority of baalei teshuva’s dont even have in the first place. Before you start talking and spouting your opinions maybe you should meet more baalei teshuvahs and learn the facts.
Thank you 🙂
I he takes a photo and posts on twitter of his newly shaven face at 6:00 am NY time, what will he takes photos of next time…….
Im offended by the negative attitude toward Karlin (stolin). Karlin chassidim are ehrlich and very frum people. The Stoliner rebbe is incredibly chushiv. how dare you all make it seem that by becoming Stolin someone is moving down. If anything its moving up from a post gimmel tamuz crown heights!
in addition, he was never a karlin stoliner chossid. they would not accept someone like him. he davened in their shul in BP but wasnt a chossid of the rebbe. the rebbe would never allow him to continue with concerts if he was an actual chossid of the Beis Aharon.
i hope he will come back to bencraft hats to buy more hats
you never know his reason, and it is non of our business. do not judge a person until you are in their shoes. you are not, so you have no right to judge him!!!
as soon as i heard that campus shluchim liked him i knew this is trouble
to matisyahu your a good man a Jew has no masks
a Jew is pure from-within
Since when? Since he became a role model for almost every kid in Crown Heights and most young musicians dreaming of becoming like him.
You are right that our so called leaders are morally corrupt.
However, in this sad case, his new image must be discussed because he is such a public figure and our children need to understand that he is not kosher for us [not to say that he is not a good man or does not have good music]
Why is this an article on colive…………… I think there are beautiful things going on in the world that would be more appropriate. Lets keep a focus on the mitzvahs that are bring Moshiach. Would the Rebbe approve of this article publicized on such a beautiful info place like CoLive? Looking forward to seeing better taste articles and good news!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He was faking it all along
Mattisyahu’s music is was and always will be GOYISH
Here we go again….its the BT thing, I can just here all you Gezher G-ds gift to chabad salt of the earth and we are so perfect that we wod never want to marry YOUR KIDS. Well this might just surprise you to know that the biggest drop we know that the biggest drop out rate from chassidic mainstream behavious are gezher kids not BT’s. Reason I heart you say? Coz BT kids are educated, honest with thenmselvesand those around them and frankly make the best frum jews in the world. They don’t hide behind a NAME or FAMILY LINEAGE… Read more »
if more people would think like you we wouldnt have lost so much of our youth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Excuse me? Do you have any idea what you’re even talking about?
Sure, some people have crises in their lives and turn to religion, but I am a ba’alas teshuva as is one of my friends and we came to frumkeit because something was missing! We wanted it! Baruch Hashem there weren’t any problems. So don’t judge like that.
Bigger than the beard, Matisyahu move marks ongoing spiritual journey By Adam Soclof · December 13, 2011 NEW YORK (JTA) — The world’s most famous Chasidic Jew has shaved his beard. With a declaration Tuesday morning that he was “reclaiming” himself, Jewish music star Matisyahu — a.k.a. Matthew Miller — shaved his signature beard and wrote, “No more Chassidic reggae superstar.” The musician posted two photos of his newly beardless face to the social networking site Twitter and added an explanation on his website a few hours later. “When I started becoming religious 10 years ago it was a very… Read more »
I am amazed how much hate and judgement there is both in the article and in the comments posted by readers, is this why we are losing our own to yidishkiet at such an alarming rate? Since when did it become your job to bash matisyahu for his personal choices and struggled? since when do we all gather together online and trash another yid while our self proclaimed community leaders sit back and watch like kamtzeh and bar-kamtzeh?
this feels more like a reminder of tisha’a ba’av then erev chanukah.
LASHON HARA , THIS IS ANOTHER JEW !!!!
NO JUSTIFICATION
It is true that judging shows our own inner weakness. Perhaps, a weakness of our own pride. Matisyahu may have left Chabad, but not Judaism, which we are all in TOGETHER.
I wonder if Col had decided to run a story about the many people in this community who commit fraud on a regular basis and steal from the welfare system, what kind of reaction it would have garnered. Theft is apparently perfectly fine, but no beard?!?!! Oh no! the world is imploding.
Phony outrage and misplaced priorities indeed.
A known rabbi and educator told COLlive in response: “I think it should be published and portrayed as his further estrangement from Chabad-Lubavitch. His move to Karlin, is we all knew, was to become less Frum. Here’s the continuation. I would emphasize, in the strongest terms, that he is removing himself from observant Yiddishkeit.” This comment really upsets me and I hope the Rabbi who made the statement is reading this, because I am going to explain why. I grew up going to a mid-west Chabad and what has been ingrained in me from being raised there is not to… Read more »
please remove this picture from your website! This website is suppose to reveal the good of each Jew and this post only shames a fellow Jew without his permission. SHAME ON YOU! Hashem have rachmanus on us!
s o – s a d.
🙁 * * *
dont be mean even if your mad
He is a gr8 guy so proud of matis
I met him a few times and he came across as a smart and nice guy, I wish him the best of luck on his journey.
Levi
It’s very reassuring, as long as he continues going to the mikvah there is still great great hope. “Reb Noson (of Breslov) pointed out that the world mikvah means ‘hope’ as well as a ‘gathering of water’. He said that the two meanings are really one: a person only has to be careful to immerse regularly, and through this everything will be rectified. He said’ Anyone who is very resolute and consistent about immersing in the mikvah will certainly be able to rectify everything, no matter what he might have done….The word mikvah teaches us that no matter how serious… Read more »
Im guessing u didnt know that the reason he moved out of crown heights was because they made him not his own choice they did.not accept his.music being all over the radio and tv its funny when he stopped wearing his suit.and black hat ppl said similar things he is still a jew and.writing horrible comments will not help the sinas chinam we have in this world u do not know him or why he makes.these choices all i know.is that in crown.heights no.one.liked that he was from there therefor he was.thrown.out maybe if.we.were.more.accepting ppl would be looking up to… Read more »
you are totally right!!
im a shliach and hate that from anash everywhere. you know, i would also dis-attach from “this kind” of chabad. actually, i would dis-attach them from chabad, this is not at all the ways of chasidus, this has become real SNAGISH
and yes, the one that wrote that last paragraph about Karlin, go get a life.
Sounds like you’re offensive, but sad thing is you’re sometimes (maybe even 50% of the time-) right.
First, most people who are baaleit Teshuva have something wrong with them. Be it a crisis or something. I’m BT, and there are things in my life that were not normal. Married to a BT – same true with him.
And many of the kids in our shchuna have BT parents who somewhere have something wrong with them. Most are too set in life to go back, some do, but many have issues.
I never let his music in my home in the first place.
he can do what he likes ,but he was never for our kids/crowd!
Thats why this has no relevance to us and should not be posted here!
everybosy go mind ur own business!!!
#119
Plenty of ROLL MODELS in Albany Bakery. Trimmed/Cut beards galore in Crown Heights, not to mention how the women dress. Before we go on and on about Matisyahu’s shortcomings, let’s take a good hard look in our own Daled Amos. NO MORAL CHABAD COMPASS LEFT AND THE RAHBONIM/DAYANIM ARE TOOTHLESS HOPELESS AND LEADERSHIPLESS TO DO S*D ALL ABOUT IT!
The issue is with US, not HIM.
Where is the Ahavas YIsroel??????
He’s a faker with an eye for a great angle.
You guys should be ashamed of your hurtful, judgemental comments. What if c”v he tweeted he had cancer and decide to shave it off. How would u feel then?
We love you we are also gonna follow in your foot steps
whats with his wife and kids???
i feel so bad. are they with him or still in ch?
matis we still love you and always will! you’re the best!!
Read this: posted by Matis Tuesday 14th December 2011 at roughly 9:00 PM NY Time. “For all of those who are being awesome,you are awesome.For all those who are confused:today I went to the Mikva and Shul just like yesterday”
Matisyahu tweeted this less than one hour ago:
For all of those who are being awesome,you are awesome.For all those who are confused:today I went to the Mikva and Shul just like yesterday
Now, my comment. This doesn’t make him kosher. I don’t allow his music into my house. He is a Yid struggling with his Yiddishkeit. Say some Tehillim for him.
Your comment is quite offensive. As a proud BT with many friend both FFB and BT, I didn’t become frum because I was uncomfortable in my own skin, I became Frum because of other reasons. I might happen to have difficulties as we all do, but thank Gd that’s what mashpiim are for. And FYI I’ve met some FFBs quite uncomforable in their own skin and they are working it out just like anyone else.
As for Matisyahu, I won’t judge him.A Jew is a jew is a jew.
Just heard Matisyahu is bringing out a new shabbos album called…….ELEF HAVDOLOIS
Quote fro his latest tweet: “For all of those who are being awesome,you are awesome.For all those who are confused:today I went to the Mikva and Shul just like yesterday”
לא יידח ממנו נידח
He made it a long way, and let’s not jump to judge anyone.
Good luck, Matis
Youy hit the nail on the head.
That is the problem these days. We have to stand strong and not compromise anything.
ONCE WE START COMPROMISING, THERE IS NO RED LINE THAT WE WONT CROSS. ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME!
For all of those who are being awesome,you are awesome.For all those who are confused:today I went to the Mikva and Shul just like yesterday -Matisyahu’s twitter
Chabad is about not judging people, and all everyone is doing is judging him. No one has any business to judge him. He is still a jew. What ever happened to Ahavas Yisroel, no matter what!?!? This shouldn’t matter. He still is an unbelievable person!
You asked, “Do you honestly think.. that when the pintel Yid gets reawakened and they end up in a Chabad House …its to hear a cool “CHOSID” sing regaee????”
Why did the Rebbe encourage Moshe Yess to produce his style music and the Piamentas to continue with their music?
Matis you can join us in bais cool – chabad anytime
I dont see the difference between him and sheweky or any other popular singer that is accepted. They all don’t have beards!
It was all a great act & now he’s looking to re-invent himself to make more money. Does he still live here? Where are his wife & kids? Were they hoodwinked as well? I wasn’t but I feel very bad for those who were. This “idol” has feet of clay too. It just goes to show how we need to find role models who deserve the title, REAL people with REAL values.
Why don’t all you hateful losers complaining about Matisyahu’s beard, take a walk around ch and complain to every lubab that trims or shaves! Go say Chitas and rambam!
The highest commented article in the history of col
from his twitter acct
“For all of those who are being awesome,you are awesome.For all those who are confused:today I went to the Mikva and Shul just like yesterday”
it would seem he’s been reading the collive comment section today
u hit it on the Button every word u say is sooooo true!!!
I hope now ALL his cd’s etc will be removed from jewish stores especially in crown hts.
. ” Chassidus Chabad shows the way that each individual – commensurate with his innate abilities – can “approach the Sacred,” to serve G-d with his mind and heart.” Mattisyahu has a lot of abilities and talent that was used by shluchim to attract people to Yiddishkeit. The problem with talented people is that “yesh” and gaiva can get in the way of serving Hashem.
what kind of excruciating emotional pain this man has gone through. It takes one to know one. This, yes, a crazy transformation like this, can happen to ANYONE even _____________ {insert any famous, chabad speaker, shliach, etc} He has gone through a very very intense emotional/ intellectual struggle. I am assuming that he has had doubts, and they were killing him, but with every move he made, be it to become lubavitch, frum, less, more, it was in the hope to seek some kind of peace of mind… His own way of trying to find a ground on where he… Read more »
#101.
Please don’t insult the word chassidic…more like TRAGIC
For all of those who are being awesome, you are awesome. For all those who are confused: today I went to the Mikva and Shul just like yesterday
HEY MATT! Enjoying all the attention? Just think of all the bitul torah your beard protest has called. Here’s a little reggai rhyme jst for you.
Mattisyahu, just imploded
Fully loaded
Music turned Sour
Like a witherin Flower
Lost his brains
Down the drains
I’m feelin sick, needs help quick
Took a plane
In a lotta pain
Now in LA
Hey Hey Hey
No fence, No perimeter
Say hi to Shwartenegger
Come back soon
Don’t be a Loon
We miss you rapper
Like yena machler
matis has already been there (his first stop) and graduated from that camp as well.
It is his choice and his choice alone what he does and it is certainly not up to anyone else what he does. So what? If you dont like him, move on and stop judging people and doing what the Rebbe and Hashem clearly told you NOT to do.
His music always belonged in kings plaza shopping mall!!!
Whats wrong with not having a beard?! Does that make you not lubavitch?
He can just go daven is Beis Shmuel or something like that.
Matis, you are very welcome in Beis Shmuel, by us you dont need to have a beard to be concidered a Lubavitcher.
Yes, Shlomo Carlebach was a Yodeia Sefer. However, he was missing a major ingredient — Hiskashrus. He did not listen to the Rebbe and tried to become his own Rebbe. Zalman Shechter had the same problem. As soon as the bond with the Rebbe is broken, chv”sh, it’s downhill from there. Jewish Theological Seminary and Hebrew Union College in the earlier years both had there share of ‘Talmidei Chachomim’ from fine European Yeshivos, who lost their way for various reasons. For some it was Parnassa, for others, the Holocaust and, in some cases, the Kavod of being made into a… Read more »
This is inappropriate to post. This is his personal decision. This is not something that the community needs to make judgment on. Please take down & respect ths Jew! All Yidden are Holy!
Matisyahu part 2. He squeezed all he0could from chassidic regae
your totally right
The problem is not Baali Teshuvas, the problem is the “warm welcoming” people who bring us Baali Teshuvas “to the water” so to speak and then drop them in the well. When we weren’t frum and “needed your guidance” we were good for you, but let us out in the world to be more like you. Then when we become frum suddenly we are different then you still. Our uniquenesses are strange our style is strange and suddenly we make you uncomfortable, people you dont want to be around. Dont worry though at least you spread your light long enough… Read more »
AMEN lol ps: no chickej in matza ball soup
no kidding we need YOU!!!!!!!!!!
Is an important website that brings a family-feeling to Chassidim of Crown Heights and to the Rebbe.
Collive.com
should be EXTREMELY careful when posting news.
What would the Rebbe say?
Its stories like these that show how much sinas chinam and loshon horah really exist in the world, all you “chabadniks” stop hating on others
what does this have anything to do with lubavitch??? shoimu shomayim!! besides the fact that its mefarsem someones wrong doing
besides the horrible fact thAt he chopped off the beard , this picture is very weird !!! it looks baddd!!! it looks like someone from the prison …. i dont understand ,if u show the this crazy new, at least show urslef presentable and respected!!! very disappointed!!!
btw no wonder … right last year at this time he surprised us with his chanukah song with the cristhmas theme in it … :/
MOSHIACH JUST GOTTA COME NOWWWWW
Come on… cut the criticism…..
By shaving his beard, all he’s done is go from Chabad to “Chabad Lite.”
(Chaval al d’avdin … but just you wait til Pesach Sheni!)
…his kavonah during davening in 770 and backstage at a gig in Amsterdam. I believe he has a special Neshoma and I dont think I would not have lasted as long has he did if I had his Nisyonos. Welcome back home soon Matisyahu and make us a triomphic and happy Chanukah like the original Matisyahu did:-) Peace!
from down under
who gives 2 flying fishhhhhhhhh
its ok to be upset, disappointed, whatever…but PLEASE stop calling him sick and disgusting, or a loser…that’s just pure sinas chinam, and we all know we dont need any more of that in the world. you dont have to listen to his music or agree with what hes doing, but he is still a jew, no matter his choices.
he actually looks quite scary now, i wouldnt want to be alone with him in a dark alley!
BS”D
Look, Reb Matis had a turn, it was hard for him and it is NOBODY’S BUSINESS to bash him for it. I am a Baal Teshuva myself. As I have my roots strongly in Chassidus and want to be a Rov it is not correct to A) Post something that will embarrass someone unless you KNOW this will help him do Teshuva
B) make a Chillul Hashem
WE STILL LOVE YOU MATIS<... And even if they stopped liking you for a second, we ALL LOVE YOU!
last year he dressed like santa
…LOST HIS CROWN
This isn’t nes just lashon harah spreading like wildfire. whats the point in this??? who are we to talk about or give our opinon over his life desissions?I’m really disturbed by websites for choosing to post this.
The tone and language used in the article is both narrow-minded and sometimes even false. Who decided that the second journey was “this time downwards.” Who are you to decide that? He is a searching soul. He may be misguided in certain ways, but does that make his journeys “downward”, do you learn Chassidus? Also, whatever “known rabbi and educator” you’re quoting, doesn’t sound like all too much of an educator, simply because he is misreading facts: Matisyahu’s joining Karlin was to become less frum?? Huh?? Read up on the facts! It’s time for you, whoever you are, to learn… Read more »
At least Karlin ware the smart guys who suck’t money out of him,
Dear comment number 1,
Why is it inappropriate to post when Matisyahu himself post it publicly on his twitter which has 1.5 million followers?! Besides many Crown Hights kids have been following him as their hero so this posting on collive is important to alert them to know that at his own words he no longer sees himself a Hasidic star. Lastly, once a person enters the public life they can’t later claim that they have a private life. I truly wish him all the best with his personal struggles but people have a right to know.
looks like he joined chabad lite
people so quick to comment, lets post something about you up here
I think he looked better with the beard.
Leave the man alone.
Does his beard make the music kosher?I see no difference in his beard removal as far as his music is concerned
It is not Chassidic music ,beard or no beard!!!!!
in line though with his Hannukah video from last year
may he feel good and dtable spiritually
MBD also had his moments when he was young
You said, “If you are not connected to the core – Torah and chassidus – you end up like Carlebach.” Carlebach was a talmid chacham who learned b’chavrusa with my great-uncle in Lakewood. He was knowledgeable in Nigleh and Chassidus.
I heard they offered him ten million to take off the beard
Bottom line is, he’s a Jew. Give him respect and please take down this article. Let’s stop all this Loshon hara.
Unfortunately the joke is on those who made a big deal about him, and brought his music home.
I never listened to him, never thought much about him.
His Mashpia who encouraged him to continue this derech, has a lot to answer, why he gave advice that goes against what the Rambam sys in Hilchos Diaos, and goes totally against human intellect.
the rebbe gave the shluchim special koichois to go out on shlichois but a regular person shuld not poot himself in a position of a nissoyoin and you have to give up to be a froom yid and a chossid
dude looks wasted!! high as a kite… holla
This isn’t a question about his actions. This is a Chilul Hashem and a Chilul Lubavitch. He not “falling,” he has already fallen. He has embarrassed us and shamed the Torah in front of thousands of people. He needs to be asked to not be a part of our community anymore.
#23
Mattisyahu has already gone back to his “ROOTS”. Whatever he smoked than and G-d knows what else. Just look at him! Looks like totally mental. Get HIM HELP BEFORE THEY FIND HIM IN SAN FRANSiCO BAY
What about his wife and kids now???
Its from his twitter account, he posted it, so yeah, its him
BH
He could not have a beard and still be a good yid. Even if he drank “traif wine” and has a “clouded heart” we are still commanded to love him!
We love you M!
Requiem Rhyme for the late Matisyahu
There was a jew called Mattisyahu
Who music sounded like voodoo
But One Day he woke up. Saw his songs were just bad. And his head just went totally cukoo
The problem was never Mattisyahu. Whatever level of observance he reached was a miracle in its own right and was good for however long it lasted. The problem of his burst to stardom was with OURSELVES – for looking up to him as our hero. We blindly follow this misguided mixed up soul in admiration! Our heroes should be Reb Yoel and the like. The websites should report on his farbrengens rather than this losers concerts.
I am sad he is a yid people and this is sad. Look how sad he looks.
of course we will always accept him, as we do every jew, and hope that he makes strides back in the direction of yiddishkeit. at the same time, it is important to make it clear to our community members and children who are his fans that what he did is 100% wrong and that he can’t be looked up to anymore. his neshama is clearly lost, the most you can do is daven for him and his family
The problem is not with him but with US….or most of US… We had no business listening to him.. having his music sold on Kingston… and yes lo and behold.. Chabad Houses using/paying him to sing entertain in their Chabad Houses… the reason why???? because he could be MEKAREV secular Jews!!!!!! Do you honestly think.. that when the pintel Yid gets reawakened and they end up in a Chabad House …its to hear a cool “CHOSID” sing regaee???? The Rebbe told Reb Volf A”H Greenglass to stop playing the violin… because Reb Volf could of gone ad klois hanefsh Music… Read more »
I support mattis.
–a full bearded Lubavitcher
In Matisyahu’s own words: “My journey to discover my roots and explore Jewish spirituality—not through books but through real life.” Moral of the story is if you’re not grounded in learning you could become a loose cannon like Matis.
he will just be another Rapper trying to make it big…..
Your words are disgraceful. Karlin are yorei shomayim and the fact that he went to them may have been him soul searching. At this point I think we are all hurt by his abandonment of us but how to you dare to read his mind as to his intrest in Karlin. Perhaps he flirted with them for a few weeks just as he had flirted with us (chabad) for a few years. Many Lubavitch baalei teshuva flirt with other chassidusen. Your words were hurtful and I believe you wouldn’t say it to begin with had you placed more thought before… Read more »
Thats good! lol!
Couldn’t have said it better.
WHO in the world is trying the “don”t judge” card here???? I unfortunately agree- he is NOT a private person. We must discuss what stance to take for the sake of others and more importantly, our kids! I for one had encouraged balei teshuva to connect to his music- I now no longer trust where he’s coming from. Hope his wife and children will be able to forgive him. VERY SAD!!
this is so sad – he’s one messed up guy. poor soul 🙁
fact is he did have a positive effect on some people, and it’s sad that he’s falling. He needs help.
The real lubabs really love you and always will! Lchaim!
shluchim and chassidim who kneeled at the matisyahu altar to begin with and his “mashpia” who told him this was ok are now being proven how false he always was, “m’l’mafrei’ah”. he was always a nothing more then a “getchkeh”. once you don’t follow halacha and think you can do it your own way. once you think you know more then the rebbe you’re on the downslide. this is the proof! sof ma’aseh b’machshava techilah. What a sad joke! more then that the joke is on those who followed him and his ilk. they don’t follow the rebbe and try… Read more »
The good he did – has been done. He obviously is confused, and he obviously has not managed to inspire himself to hold onto the values of Chassidus, for which Chassidim has Mesiras Nefesh. All you who are defending his personal choice are missing the point of this tragedy: This story is about how we should bot be following someone like. It’s certainly questionable whether we should have been following him or not. But now? It’s a no brainer. Let him find his audience with those who may need him
This shouldn’t be posted, it a personal decision not a public one
From a business standpoint this is a nice strategic move.
The next step in the yerida would be wearing the yellow pin!!
We still love you!
Seriously. What’s wrong with you.
Whats a phony, self-righteous roll? Something they sell in Prime Sandwich?
He’s a good guy and just wasn’t in the mood of a beard today. LOVE YOUR FELLOW JEW!!!
matis himself posted it on twitter for the world to know he didnt just shave off his beard and then go to his next concert…..
Matisyahu never claimed to make Chabad music. He simply claimed to be a musical artist, creating music with positive messages. It was your prerogative to listen to his music, bring it into your home and label it whatever you’d like.
As far as Matisyahu being a public figure– consider other public figures your children might discover on the radio or in public places– <>, in which case I think you owe Matisyahu a personal expression of gratitude for advocating for Moschiach and V’ahavta Loriacha Kamocha to Jews and non-Jews alike.
I think he probably will come back to us!
I think he might have his ups and downs …
The main thing is that we don’t turn our face away from him and let the door open for him to come back ….
For now … It’s a pitty what he did to himself…
Is everybody sure the picture is of Matisyahu?
i feel sorry for his wife and kids.
you dont know what youre talking about.
This is nabach one mixed up person.
Not to judge, but the reality is that he was in some way looked up to by some a a genuine person who has connected with his Nisshma and expressed his Nishamah journey through his music.
But when he says “I am reclaiming myself” makes one really wonder what his whole past experience etc. really meant to him?
Its one thing if he says I can’t take the truth anymore but to say “I am reclaiming myself” is a real question about his past 10 years etc.
We should love him as one of our own.
This chabad Rabbi does not represent me.
I find his comments disgusting, to be honest.
What is this attitude of pushing people away.
No he is not a nebach.
If you are reading this Matisyahu, sorry for all the idiots out there. (I am a full bearded Lubavitcher by the way…)
i personaly hink that his look before was a very special look he bought pride to the jewish people really a beard doesnt make a person its more what is inside , matisyahu you are a great talent and bringing so much kidush hashem to our naition, wherever your journey is taking you now please please continue only to bring pride to your jewish nation and be mekadesh hashem name in your music.
A story is told that when Reb Mendel Futerfuss was in jail in the former USSR, there was once a card game going in his cell which is against the rules in jail, the guard came in several times and each time the cards mysteriously disappeared, and were not found even after extensive searches and body searches, it transpired that the card-dealer was a pickpocket and slipped the cards into the guards pocket on the way in and removed them on his way out each time he entered. Reb Mendel learned a lesson from this, how it is important to… Read more »
BH
BSD
HOW ABOUT WE LEAVE THIS GREAT TZADIK ALONE .
LETS START PRACTICING THE CHASSIDUS WE LEARN
It is a sad day. Not because of Matisyahu’s beard. But because so many people are quick to rip this man down. Matisyahu has done more for yiddishkeit than anyone commenting on this site. He spread a message of love and Redemption that the world knows was inspired by Torah and Chasidus. People have explored Judaism because of Matisyahu’s music. On the other hand people reading the comments on this site will think that Chasidim are full of hate. Matisyahu, we love you and miss you. May the merit of inspiring MILLIONS of people guide you and guard you on… Read more »
this is a sad day for the jewish music world
i am VERY dissappointed in you for posting this. this is purely trying to sabotage and spread lashon horah. everyone has their own struggles; although he may be looking for publicity, as lubavitchers who should be holding yourself to a higher standard, you should not be advertising this article. i am deeply sadened and wish anyone who needs a mental refua shelema, one right away.
Chabad does not use the word “snags.” You must be living in the past. And we are not speaking down and we are not saying not having a beard is not being Jewish and we are not judging his spiritual statues. And don’t even try to use the loshon hara claim. What we are doing is defending our educational standards. We are protesting our children and community from someone that for years has been hailed as a role model for them. The next time he comes by 770 or any other shtibel I assure you no one will tell him… Read more »
star or not, this is a lost neshomh 🙁
i hope he comes back to his roots once again
Matisyahu, first of all you were much more handsome with your beard. Cant understand is it self desctruction or the money in hollywood. I feel sorry for your wife and kids and think you should speak to your mashpia to see what is hurting. good luck
he looks like a criminal – beware!!
his music always gave me the chills anyway…
I don’t want to generalize or stigmatize, yet I have found this to be very true in many cases. A person goes through a life changing crisis and turns to religion for help/ solace / comfort / salvation. He or she are warmly accepted in the community and are given all the love and care. This person than goes on to marry, settles down, has children and raises them in the Chabad/frum system while he/she tried to balance family and work/career like we all do. But than they go through another life changing crisis or as people who from the… Read more »
The problem is that Chabad has become the misnagdim and play a phony, self-righteous roll, speaking down about all other sects of Judaism. It is no one’s place to judge where matisyahu, and where he is holding spiritually. If having a beard makes you more religious then Osama Bin Laden must have been one hell of a holy man. The comment made about Karlin is terrible, one beautiful thing I know about Karlin is they teach not to be over judgemental of other G-dly beings, as who is one to tell the other what their spiritual mission and responsibility is.… Read more »
When was his music kosher, chassidishe music. It should never have been listened to. Not good for our heilige neshamos.
he chose to make this public, not us. he is a public figure who posted something on twitter and on his website. it is only natural, and normal, for it to be discussed. whether or not we should comply with his craving for attention is a different story…
Matisyahu is a public figure – to the world and to our children. This post will, hopefully, educate at least the Chassidic community that his music is now officially from a different perspective. I, for one, will not allow his music into my home again, despite any objections. Thank you, COL, for posting this sad, but important article.
I felt that in order to become a good person I needed rules—lots of them—or else I would somehow fall apart. I am reclaiming myself. Trusting my goodness and my divine mission.
I’m totally not surprised. So he used chabad to gain fame and now he’s done with it.
Glad I never let his music into my home.
I agree with the first post. We have enough to worry about in our personal avoda. It shows weakness to put down someone else and forecast that he is moving away from frumkite.
What next, a whole bunch of tattoos?
Hes a good person!
better lookin with a beard…
but whatever!
The beard is one thing, what happened to his yarmulka?????
let him do his own thing
1,first lubavitch
2.second breslov
3.now lakewood,
lol
There is nothing shocking
I expected this all long…
it was nice knowing you. u are free to do what you wish – but won’t be playing your music in my home anymore
absolutely disgusting
He looks like he is not feeling well!!
sad day for those fools who thought rapp could be “jewish music”!!
This is inappropriate to post. This is his personal decision. Not something the community needs to make judgment on. Please take down. And respect this man.