By COLlive reporter
An app that is suspected to be Christian operated is using the likeness of a known Chabad rabbi to target the Jewish community online.
Revayah presents itself as a source for Jewish learning, stories and inspiration. Yet some have noticed that the Hebrew wording they use is incorrect, the imagery is not classically Jewish and lists names that aren’t mentioned in the Torah.
Seemingly a Jewish website on the surface, the website offers the viewer to “Listen to Torah Stories with Revayah – Stories that flow through generations. Hear the journey of Abraham, Ruth, Esther, and more. For peace, purpose, and presence.”
The site offers to “Find peace through Torah stories with Revayah. Let the timeless Torah teachings bring your soul nourishment…Immerse yourself in sacred narratives rooted in Jewish tradition to sooth your spirit.”
It suggests to “Download Revayah today to reconnect with Torah teachings, one story at a time. Through mindful listening and sacred connection, find inner stillness and daily soul-centered content to awaken your heart.”
What the website does not include are any Jewish or Rabbinical names. There are no names or identifying details on the website at all. All of the above caused some to wonder if the website could be a missionary platform, disguised as a Jewish one.
“Why is the app calling itself REVAYAH , saying they are Torah and Tanach stories wisdom sharing when in reality the app preaches Christianity? Ugg! I almost fell for it,” one person wrote on Reddit.
The Apple Store lists Fazeel Jabbar Kadalakkaran as the developer of the app, and he’s linked to other AI-driven apps. There is no information on the people or the entity that hired him.
Upon searching word Revayah, Google answers:
“In a sense, “Revayah” groups function like missionaries by spreading their faith, but it’s a Chr—ian term meaning “overflow,” referring to worship ministries, music teams, and bible colleges aiming to bring people to J— through worship and teaching, equipping leaders for “business-as-mission” and global impact, making them spiritual ambassadors for C–.”
As part of their attempts to reach the Jewish community, a new ad from Revayah on social media uses an animated video of renowned scholar and lecturer, Rabbi Manis Friedman. It shows him dressed in his staple cardigan, and the voice sounds identical to his.
Rabbi Friedman’s son Rabbi Zalman Friedman, who directs their organization ‘It’s Good To Know’ told COLlive he is very concerned about both the stealing of Rabbi Manis’s likeness, as well as the possibility that the organization may not be Jewish at all, and in fact missionaries disguising as Jewish teachers.
“We worked very hard to build up Rabbi Friedman’s reputation as the most popular rabbi on YouTube,” Rabbi Friedman said. “Thank G-d he’s been reaching out to many, many people throughout the world, and his data is reaching millions. But we never expected it to be used commercially and for people to use his likeness for their personal gain.”
Repeated requests for Revayah to respond have gone unanswered.
Friedman says the organization is in talks with a lawyer to find out what are their legal rights and what they can do about the theft.
VIDEO
Send them a cease and desist
In addition to consumer protection and deceptive practices laws, Rabbi Friedman should consider suing for the following:
Federal law’s Lanham Act because Rabbi Friedman’s image makes it look like he supports or recommend their meshugas, possibly defamation, Right of Publicity (under federal and state laws), misappropriation or invasion of privacy laws dealing with appropriation of likeness (one’s image), copyright infringement, false endorsement, misleading advertising.
It is very important that you save the evidence, including saving
screenshots and copies of the ads, as well as where and how your image / voice is being misappropriated
Ugh, these,people stoop so low.
There are two sides here, to warn people not to fall in.
The other side, I think it’s telling people too many details. People may now go there and look…
Looks more like a strange jacket. AI fail
There are many areas you can sue them
Right of publicity, defamation , fraud amongst other areas.
NY has strong laws regarding Ai impersonation etc
Its with a dangerous motive so if you can prove this point its an even stronger case
*WE* know that the motive is dangerous, but this point should NOT be raised, it’s muddying the waters. Those people don’t think it’s dangerous to try to convert Jews, they consider that a religious obligation and I suppose their scriptures support that, they can use freedom of religion as a defense. Whether their religion supports theft and deception in order to achieve their goal I don’t know. But we don’t need to make it about religion.
STICK TO THE LAW, IT’S ILLEGALTO APPROPRIATE SOMEONE’S IMAGE.
Crazy stuff going down in this world…
Looks like Santa not Rabbi Friedman and he talks with a more like modern end to his words, not chabad… face is flat, smoothed, too wide
Ugh
Just Sue them and make loads!
Biggest sign that its AI and fake is the fancy shmancy sports jacket. Manis usually chooses a more comfortable informal cardigan.
“The more you know”
It’s definitely Christian and they’re definitely targeting a Jewish audience. Really terrible and insidious. They try very carefully to use Hebrew and post about Jewish holidays/concepts/etc but a quick look through their FB shows many gaps… unfortunately if you don’t know what you’re looking for you might fall for their “trap” chas v shalom. One example of a mistake is that they slipped up and quoted the “book of Matthew” back in September. But most people aren’t going to do such deep “research” on an app so thank you for making this article collive
we’ve only begun to feel the sting of AI and the destruction it can bring. It’s an incredible and powerful tool, but as with all tools, what happens with it depends on who is holding it and how they use it.
bs”d defamation… identity theft… go get ’em! This does not fly. Nail them. Definitely an abuse of AI & a grave crime.
They must hear this message: ‘Don’t put words in my mouth!’
What a jungle cyberspace can be.