Hebrew Voices #27 – True Jew Singing

November 21, 2018

In this episode of Hebrew Voices, True Jew Singing, Nehemia Gordon visits the Judean Hills, home of Yitzchok Mayer Malek. Musician, artist, and cantor—Mayer is also the founder of the Jewish Unity Project. When asked to explain how he combines music with … Continue reading →

In this episode of Hebrew VoicesTrue Jew Singing, Nehemia Gordon visits the Judean Hills, home of Yitzchok Mayer Malek. Musician, artist, and cantor—Mayer is also the founder of the Jewish Unity Project. When asked to explain how he combines music with a message to unify people, Mayer answers eloquently with his version of a song by Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach about little candles—the candles of one God.

Mayer is an articulate and deep conversationalist who shares passionately with Gordon concerning: atheism, communism, Zionism, the infinite, the Shema, Rav Kook, the tetragrammaton, the tribe of Judah, prenatal Torah, the literal and figurative gathering of the tribes, baseless hatred, “death”, making things holy, halakha, the beauty of united diversity, and lastly (in song)—what it means to him to be a true Jew.

I look forward to reading your comments!

https://youtu.be/K1uWsHS_io8

Audio TranscriptRead more

Transcript

Hebrew Voices #27 – True Jew Singing

You are listening to Hebrew Voices with Nehemia Gordon. Thank you for supporting Nehemia Gordon's Makor Hebrew Foundation. Learn more at NehemiasWall.com.

Nehemia: Do you think there’ll be a day soon when all Jews will pronounce Hashem’s actual name, the name that was revealed to Moshe at the burning bush?

Yitzchok: I do believe so, yes.

Nehemia: I’m excited!

Benjamin Netanyahu: Le ma’an Zion lo ekhesheh, u’l’ma’an Yerushalayim lo eshkot. (For Zion’s sake I will not be silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest. Isaiah 62:1)

Nehemia: Shalom, this is Nehemia Gordon with Hebrew Voices, and I am here in Beit Zayit, Israel. It’s a beautiful suburb of Jerusalem out in the Judean hills, with an amazing musician whose name is Yitzchok Mayer. Shalom, Yitzchok.

Yitzchok: Shalom. Thank you so much for having me on your show, buddy.

Nehemia: Yitzchok, for those who don’t know, that’s the Hebrew of Isaac.

Comments

Danilo HenryNovember 23, 2018 at 11:51 AM

Would be more wonderful when the shema be told with IehoVa

Walter SchwenkNovember 22, 2018 at 4:18 PM

Yitzchok Meir, putting everything he has into glorifying Yah, as he understands him, from the rooftops. Heartwarming.

YochannaNovember 22, 2018 at 9:01 AM

May we be blessed to hear The Name in the Shema. May we and our children after us be blessed to sing it.

Larry C TrombitasNovember 25, 2016 at 9:55 AM

True Jew=Trust Ha Shem Aveinu. TY

walter schwenkNovember 24, 2016 at 8:15 PM

It would be valuable to have on-screen transcript. Some of the topics discussed were fascinating, but a blurred by the acoustics. The rooftop “sh’ma” is a much needed answer to the meuzin. I would like to hear more about the dichotomy and relationship between atheism and Yahwism. As one who has been both, I am now seeing atheism as a denial of all that would be falsely represented as elohim; and Yahwism as an affirmation of the true elohim as the one who will be what he will be.

Mary YehApril 4, 2016 at 2:37 PM

I was filled with joy and great gladness listening to you two talking. What a precious heart of belief and the music is so heavenly! I love his definition of “love” and the rejecting the “Jew” definition to fit nicely into the intellectual box-fix to understand him. With his definition, I can fit in with you nicely. It is my heart, too! I find him to be a national treasure for Israel and particularly Jerusalem! I definitely will be listening to this Hebrew Voices episode over and over again because it is so uplifting, even for singing with him in Hebrew! And I remember hearing him via the internet singing over the city of Jerusalem and I am in awe, Nehemia, that you were able to interview him! Please keep in contact with him and let us have the overflow springs of water from God Most High to us little ones with you.

Don Zusya GoodmanApril 4, 2016 at 2:34 PM

B’H
A point I want to address-the name Jew of Yehudi is found in Megillas Esther a writing with prophetic inspiration as in Ester Chapter 2:5. “There was a Judean man in Shushan the capital, whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair the son of Shimei the son of Kish, a Benjamite.’ On the one hand Mordechai he was from the Tribe of Benjamin yet he was called Yehudi/Jew-So to assert as Yitzchock Meir did he considers himself an Israelite I would not debate-however Yehudi is also inclusive for all the tribes. As well, in Mesecta Megillah it is written that whoever denies idolatry is called Yehudi-so an Israelite who denies idolatry is a Yehudi-no matter what tribe he or she is-FYI Mordechai’s mother’s side I have learned as well was from the Tribe of Yehudah!!!
Ahavah Echad via acts of kindness, prayer and deep Torah learning in the PARDES of Hashem.

Devora ClarkApril 3, 2016 at 12:57 PM

I think this is the BEST INTERVIEW I’ve heard in quite awhile and what Yitzchok is saying about the use of HaShem’s Name THRILLS ME, and Nehemiah, I’m sure you can understand why, based on a conversation I had with you for the first time several years ago:) I also LOVE that he refers to Israel as theTWELVE TRIBES of Israel which makes room for ger to be included in Israel (at least as far as I understand Bamidbar 15:15). And I love that he’s so artistically-minded in his approach to Torah study – I’d love to be at his minion and study Torah as a ger, and see you at the Abraham hostel, but for now, I’m in Florida. And being a chazzan, I wonder if he can recommend a way for me to learn online, with English translation so I understand what each word means b/c right now, I chant the Siddur in Hebrew with English transliteration but I don’t know what I am saying word-for-word and I want to know what EVERY HEBREW WORD MEANS. Can I join the Jewish Unity Project if I am in USA and not a Jew, but a HaShem Torah Observant Israelite? I envision a Bedouin tent decor in my full-time RV:) The Devora Clark Show http://www.devoraclark.podbean.com

Joe LesejaneApril 3, 2016 at 7:51 AM

Shalom, this is amazing listening at Yitzchok Meir. Very humble but knowledgeable and passionate about the Torah and his music. i actually learnt a lot from this interview and look forward to the follow up interview. On another matter,i do listen to Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach music and enjoy it a lot.He has the ability to draw one’s attention and gives meaning to what he signs. Well done

Wanda Ratcliffe-SmithApril 2, 2016 at 4:37 PM

Wow Wow Wow, this was Beautiful… The way Yitzchok conveys his understanding of the Shema is very powerful and of course his music/singing is very beautiful and uplifting. Thank you both

Shalom and Many Blessings

Sprinkler ManApril 2, 2016 at 11:23 AM

Shalom yeall! I really don’t have much of an educated comment but would like to convey my thankfulness for Yahovah, you Nehemiah and Hebrew Voices. Top quality content every week. Also, I’m sure that there are many listening who do not and would not leave there thoughts here so please, with Almighty Gods grace and linked sponsors, continue soldiering on! Blessings as you do.

Joseph IsraelApril 1, 2016 at 9:47 PM

Great Show! Todah Rabbah!Shabbat Shalom!

JaniceApril 1, 2016 at 1:53 AM

His Shema, exactly way I’d expect to Hear It! Makes you want to prostrate, be be laid low in reverance, that’s were we came from dust, and to dust we’ll return; however the neshama will rise at the breathe of the King.

JaniceApril 1, 2016 at 1:48 AM

Wow ! I suggest on Arutz Sheva, that if we were not allowed to pray on Temple Mount we should do exactly what this True Jew is doing. Other’s should join him, there is nothing that says you can’t ring out from a high place the Shema, be your own prayer towers.

If I were in Israel, I would show up every Sunday night. Hebrew is glorious! I only know a little, however, I could sing right along with him. Why? It reaches our souls where we all know Hebrew. The Voice of the Father.

Thank you Mr. Gordon for these marvelous interviews with Israeli people. Keep em coming. Torah Pearls good for the head, Israeli people good for the neshama.

Todah

Karen JollyMarch 31, 2016 at 9:03 PM

I enjoyed the whole program and thanks to Yitzchok for sharing his music. The only thing I want to know is, where is the second part ? I would like to hear what you all spoke about concerning the tribes.

hamishhayMarch 30, 2016 at 10:31 PM

Thanks guys, this episode was a blessing for me. It relieved my stress of dealing with reluctant grandkids to do their homework. I love this series Nehemia. Jim

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