Yesterday – first the song, now the movie.
For fans of the Beatles, Yesterday – the song Paul McCartney says came to him note by note in a dream – has a well- deserved claim on the best popular song ever written. Released as a single on September 13, 1965, Yesterday went to the top of the charts globally and was broadcast on American radio more than seven million times in its first 30 years. According to the Guinness Book Of Records it is the most covered pop song of all time.
Now it is back in the news as the title of a strikingly imaginative new film that perhaps requires a flight from reality too difficult to entertain: What if everyone in the world has somehow forgotten every song composed by the Beatles and only one person actually remembers?
The film follows Jack Malik, a struggling singer-songwriter who was hit by a bus during a global blackout. He makes the awesome discovery that no one earth but him remembers the Beatles. That allows him to perform their legendary songs and receive international acclaim.
It is here that the film goes off to deal with the theme of plagiarism and the true meaning of success as self-fulfillment. But there is something that moved me in the first portion of the film that spoke directly to the criticism of its totally unrealistic premise. How could the genius of the Beatles ever be forgotten by so many? How could their songs be stilled by the cruelty of forgetfulness?
This fantastical setup has a distinctively Jewish parallel. Historic amnesia is more than a transgression; it is a tragedy. And we as Jews are perhaps most sensitive to it when we reflect that long ago God appeared at Mount Sinai to teach the world the fundamentals of ethics and morality. The world was given the Torah as “a song” in order to enrich our lives, yet so many Jews today have never heard the song. For too many, it has simply been forgotten.
In the Yesterday, only Jack Malik was able to remind the world of the Beatles. And that sums up best the divinely appointed historic role of the Jews. In giving us the Torah, God gave us a mission. He told our ancestors that we were meant to become “a kingdom of kohanim, priests" But not all Jews are kohanim – priests? The answer is that what the priests were to the rest of the Jewish people, the Jewish people in entirety are meant to be to the world. Our mission to make the world remember what it should never have forgotten – the wisdom and values needed to live a live suffused with meaning, holiness and Godliness.
The premise of the movie Yesterday isn’t really far-fetched at all. If the genius of Torah that is the song of God can be forgotten by so many, surely so too can the works of the Beatles.
Our mission is to make sure that we always remember the spiritual meaning of these powerful truths:
Oh I believe in yesterday
"Renew our days as of yesterday" (Lamentations 5:21).
There's nothing you can do that can't be done
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung…
All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might" (Deuteronomy 6:5).
"And you shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18).
And then perhaps, just perhaps, yesterday will turn into the glorious tomorrow when we will be able to sing with great joy, “Here comes the sun.”
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(18) MESA, July 10, 2019 1:21 PM
We have a lot of people who are trying to erase our history and it's imperative for us to be careful and not allow that. Thank you. BTW, I enjoy Beatles music sometimes.
(17) achiya delouya, July 9, 2019 2:13 PM
As a Beatles fan, the movie was like...absurd. How can anyone forget the Beatles? Yet a brilliant idea and Rabbi Blech just as brilliantly turned it into a powerful Jewish lesson I will share with my students. Thank you Rav!
(16) Alick Mazin, July 9, 2019 1:05 AM
HILLEL said it all.
Do to others that you would like done to you.
(15) Anonymous, July 8, 2019 7:56 PM
Great
Now i finally understand what it means to believe in yesterday
(14) Rachel Shillingford, July 8, 2019 10:16 AM
Wow!!!
Amazing!!
(13) David Gold, July 8, 2019 4:11 AM
A meaningful message
The comparison of the beauty of the Beatles' music to the wisdom of the Torah is an interesting premise from which to discuss the power and necessity of remembering things which are worthwhile.
(12) Sheila Finley, July 7, 2019 10:58 PM
Great, fantastic thought to remember, print and post!!!
Beautiful!!!
(11) Anonymous, July 7, 2019 10:04 PM
So true
How delightful to see this parellel that makes it easy for all to understand how life learns and shared can be forgotten. May God bless all who sing the song of the Torah and May many come into the Kingdom of God loving God and each other as He ordained for all humanity. Thanks be to God for your message of hope.
(10) Allen A Aigen, July 7, 2019 8:39 PM
Two parallel universes--one without Beatles (otherwise nearly identical)
Parallel universes which exist in essentially the same place and time are possible according to some physicists. A combination of extremely unlikely events forced the protagonist to move into a universe where the Beatles never existed. He uses his ability to sing Beatles songs to gain fame and money but learned that love and truth are needed for happiness. Great movie!
(9) S.P. Hart, July 7, 2019 8:26 PM
British Invasion
Thank you, Marlene Josephs, for the 80% comment (assuming you mean Mitzraim). I use this number regularly to explain the loss of Jewish identity.
The Beatles were marketed as idols - on a truly large scale. George Martin - their Producer on earlier albums and "The Fifth Beatle" - said he found these 4 young guys from Liverpool and made them into what they were. Which some say suggests they did not write all those songs themselves.
John Lennon said about Paul McCartney "All you ever done was yesterday." A double entendre.
The Beatles phenomenon was carefully orchestrated for maximum Wow factor at the time, but looking back, what was all the excitement about? Some songs? Four lads from Liverpool? Beatle wigs? Obviously something important was missing from the nations - and many Jews - to make these four gawky young Liverpuddlians into demi-gods....
Dvirah, July 8, 2019 5:55 AM
Quality & Message
There have been many celebs of all kinds "orchestrated for wow" who had a brief popularity and were then quickly forgotten. What made the Beatles special was the timelessness of the words and the quality of their music. Not all of their songs are of the same high standard, but very many resonate today just as when they were new.
Nancy, July 15, 2019 11:55 AM
To commenter S.P. Hart
Yes, initially it was about marketing. However, if that was all it was then The Beatles would have faded from our consciousness decades ago. I urge you to carefully listen to the song a day in the life from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. That is a work of pure talent, not hype.
(8) Raymond, July 7, 2019 7:41 PM
Political Correctness
There was a time in American history when it was considered fashionable to quote from and know our Torah well. In fact, apparently, contrary to what many of us have been told, the Founding Fathers' major influence for their ideas was not secular British philosophers such as John Locke, but rather our Torah, although it is probably no coincidence that John Locke himself was strongly influenced by our Torah.
Part of my job is to serve the public. One of the customers I am friendly with, asked me what do I think is the solution to the growing epidemic of homelessness that exists here in the State of California. In my heart, I wanted so much to answer him that the solution for that problem is the same one for almost any problem we have in society, namely to find some way to make the study of our Torah fashionable again. Instead, however, I avoided giving him a direct answer, because I knew that I work in an extremely politically correct environment, where books like our Torah are somehow considered to be offensive for G-d know what absurd rationals. And so I kept silent.
Anonymous, July 8, 2019 6:02 AM
Roundabout Pathways
Perhaps next time, give the content (ie, paraphrase the passage in the Torah which has the answer you want to give) without revealing the source. It would be a start. Then if the customer asks from where all this wisdom is coming, it might be possible to mention the bible.
(7) Linda L Trujillo, July 7, 2019 7:33 PM
very good article, so full of truth!!
Yes, the world has forgotten God, and some Jews have forgotten why God put them on earth and trusted them with the Torah!! But not all Jews!!! Some do wonderful works, read Torah, live Torah and do all that is required of them and more!!! Many in the world choose to turn their backs on morality and ethics and all that Torah teaches because it benefits their lusts and craving for self gratification. But we only have to look to Noah day to see, that God see;s and he will repay!!!
(6) Marlene Josephs, July 7, 2019 2:55 PM
Interesting insight!
When I saw the title of this article, the first thing that came to mind was that Paul McCartney appears to be a philosemite, having married two Jewish women, the first, Linda, was the love of his life. BUT...John Lennon, I have read, was quite the antisemite. So...I was very curious where you were going with this article, Rabbi Blech. However, after reading the article, I see that the Beatles themselves were not the point of this article...but HaShem and What He Gave to His people Israel IS the point of this article. Clever twist on how much the majority (80%!) of the Jews are missing in their lives by their utter ignorance of their rich heritage! So SAD...what a SHAME!!!
Clifton, July 7, 2019 4:02 PM
Nice observation
Your insights helped me to enjoy the Rabbis article even more. Thank you.
(5) bobvanwagner, July 7, 2019 2:41 PM
Plagarized from a Manga?
The Japanese Manga Boku Wa Beatles seems to mesh with the description of this movie's plot.
(4) Clifton, July 7, 2019 2:26 PM
So True
Amen Rabbi! Great observation. “Our mission to make the world remember what it should never have forgotten – the wisdom and values needed to live a live suffused with meaning, holiness and Godliness.” Instead we have glommed on to new ageism, materialism and turned to worshipping idols. Your article lifted my spirits.
(3) Anonymous, July 7, 2019 2:17 PM
This article really nailed it!
I just saw this movie yesterday, no pun intended, and it is wonderful, full of beautiful creative music and lyrics, with a thoughtful examination of the issues mentioned in this article. What a great way to spend a few hours and walk out smiling!
(2) Richard, July 7, 2019 11:46 AM
Beautiful!
What more can I say?
(1) Nancy, July 7, 2019 11:16 AM
Now I REALLY can't wait to see this movie!
Shavua Tov Rabbi.