I am tired of the viral anti-Semitic tweets. I am angry for the college kids who tell me that they are bullied when they stand up for Israel and our people. I am sorry for our young generation who do not feel connected to their Judaism or even worse, afraid to identify as Jews.
It’s time for Jewish pride.
Last week, I gathered an incredible group of teens, college kids and their families on a Hineni Zoom-gotjewishpride worldwide event. Our purpose is to join together and grow an online community of proud young Jews who are empowered to go out into the world and be ambassadors for our nation.
Our first conversation was with Nissim Black, the black Hasidic rapper who has millions of followers all over the world.
As a child Nissim grew up with violence and guns. He struggled mightily to discover faith, overcame dysfunction and converted to Judaism. Nissim has already lived more than most people do. His message touched the listening audience and ignited hearts.
Nissim told us about growing up with spiritual ups and downs. He was Christian, he was Muslim, and he had many questions. Seeking answers, he delved through numerous texts searching for something that would satisfy his soul until he discovered the beauty and truth of Judaism.
Throughout our talk, Nissim shared not only his challenges but the wisdom that helped anchor him to become the person that he is today.
Here are two life lessons I gained through our talk. There was of course so much more.
God loves us even if we mess up
Nissim saw that God loved the Jewish people no matter what. Even when there was rebuke, there was restoration. Nissim wanted to have this connection, too.
“The biggest thing for me was that I saw how everyone kept messing up throughout the prophets and texts. The Jewish people messed up so many times. And God still loved them. I said this is my story. God, I’m also a mess! Will you take me also?”
Elul is an acronym for the words “Ani L’dodi V’dodi Li – I am for my beloved and my beloved is for me.” Despite our mistakes and transgressions, God loves us. Sometimes we doubt our connection or think that we’ve traveled too far. We’ve messed up, made bad choices, or acted in ways that have brought us shame. Just as every parent waits for that call from the child who has somehow lost contact, so too, God waits for us. This is the time for us to reconnect. There is no person who has reached the point of no return.
Elul whispers to each of us: I am your beloved. I love you no matter what. Our connection is forever.
Be like Abraham. Have confidence in your identity.
I asked Nissim, “What would you say to kids today growing up in a world where you go off to a college campus and you’re dealing with racism, anti-Semitism and Israel bashing? You’ve gone through so much. What would you say to keep us strong when you go into territory that is frightening? How do you keep that pride going?”
Nissim first advised us to have friends for support. Don’t put yourself in a situation where you feel alone. Have someone you’re connected to. Be part of a community.
But then I questioned him about his own journey. “You must have felt alone at so many points in your life.” Nissim left behind all that he knew and started from scratch. He dealt with numerous struggles and yet stood strong. I wanted to learn from his journey.
Nissim explained that Judaism teaches there are times that you must be alone and times that you must be part of a community. We must draw upon the strength of our father, Abraham.
“Abraham was the ‘Ivri’, the one who stood one side while the entire world stood on the other. We need have confidence in our convictions, in our relationship with God, so that nothing fazes us. We need to have the clarity so that we can stand on one side while the rest of the world is on the other side.”
Nissim shared on a personal level. “For me, I got it worse than everybody. Everywhere I go I get a thousand questions. People want to know how Black I am; they want to know how Jewish I am, why I dress this way. I spend time reinforcing my faith. Not just faith that I believe in God. I’m talking about faith in myself. Confidence in yourself and your Judaism and the ability to go to places and be very proud of your Judaism, no matter what.
“For me that means spending quality time in personal prayer and self-introspection, building up myself. It’s like working out. When a person decides to go to a gym and work out, the muscles that you build will help you in other situations outside the gym. You’re going to have strength to hold things, to help another person…so the same thing is in your faith. The more you strengthen yourself and your connection with your Creator, the more you’ll have the confidence and strength of faith when you come out to face things that are trying to separate you or take you out.”
Stand strong. Be proud.
(16) Rosie H. Weinstein, September 10, 2020 5:28 AM
You rock buddy!
Hey buddy you rock Shana Tovah bro mazel tov for your daughter’s bat mitzvah one heart and one love and one vision give my love to the family and friends love and shalom sister Rosie in Brooklyn btw I love your music
(15) Joan Karasik, September 1, 2020 1:48 AM
Kol Hakavod!
Good for you, Nissim! You are an inspiration! You send out a GREAT message that should be taken to heart by all! Don't ever stop being who you are and living your convictions!
THANK YOU!
(14) Sarah, August 31, 2020 7:52 AM
Inspiring
B"H Nissim is an role model for me.His story give me strength in my Jewish journey! Thank you and all the best for him and for you Rebbetzin Yungreis!!
(13) Leah, August 30, 2020 11:21 PM
Jewish identity...
This is my second time I have seen an article about Nissim, he is indeed a strong person inside& out.., regarding to his conversion to judaism, I take off my hat in front of him as myself being a woman convert I strongly agree with his words, indeed Choosing Judaism is a long way, sometimes very lonely& cold , that’s a sort of real testing if you are ready for it, it is a very personal choice, is not your mother, father, neighbour, fiancee, future husband... No, it’s you and Hashem! Being Jewish never was easy, and is not in the present, it’s a loving kindness for judaism that needs to come from the very depth of your neshama yehudit, it’s a lifelong journey and once you will find the community you will be part of you will need to bring in your best ever side, doing mitzvahs, doing things together and never tell people that you actually are a convert if they don’t ask, but don’t forget one thing :” Where you will go, I will go..., your nation will be my nation, your God will be my God..”
(12) Anonymous, August 30, 2020 2:40 PM
Beautiful article
Well said ... may you influence many more young people.
(11) Anonymous, August 30, 2020 1:33 PM
VERY INSPIRING
Very inspiring article! Thank you!
(10) Anonymous, August 29, 2020 1:36 PM
I bet farrak really hates this guy
(9) Judy R., August 28, 2020 5:23 AM
Nissim Black on Jewish Pride
This is the second time I am reading about Nissim Black, first in my magazine I read for Shabbat, the second time here in this post. I guess everyone has a mission in life, he converted to Judaism and now spreads to Jews to have Jewish Pride. I saw in the pictures before and after(before becoming Jewish and after becoming Jewish) you see a smile in his eyes, before he seemed sad in his eyes, it does not matter how your outer appearance looks, I think even Sephardic and Mizarchi Jews are Chassidic, my mother(obm) told me we came from Gerrer Chassidim, and were from Europe. It is sad that a convert to Judaism has to teach Jews how to have Jewish Pride, anyone that is born Jewish should know to have Jewish Pride and embrace their beautiful heritage, instead of being ashamed of being Jewish. I don't want to go into the whole story here, but when my mother(obm) had a confrontation with Dr. Josef Mengele(may his name be erased) in Auschwitz Concentration Camp and he(Mengele)(may his name be erased) called my mother(obm) a chutzpadic Jew, my mother(obm) answered him(Mengele) (may his name be erased)"no I am not, I am a proud Jew"so in the worst place on earth my mother(obm) showed she(obm) had Jewish Pride, and so what happened to the new generation that they have no pride in being Jewish. That is pretty sad, and the new generation should learn from Nisssim Black and people like my mother(obm) to have pride they are Jews!
(8) Fredric M London, August 28, 2020 5:21 AM
Nissim Black
May Hashem protect and defend you. May he grant you serenity and peace. May He bless you as you bless Him.
(7) Anonymous, August 27, 2020 7:53 PM
Nissim, you are wonderful and extraordinary with your will and discipline. Thank you for sharing your story and triumphs. You are inspirational.
(6) Jennifer Badani, August 27, 2020 5:16 PM
Jewish Wisdom
I really enjoyed listening to this
well learned Torah Scholar.
Let's not look at the colour
of a person's skin. My hubby
for the past 16 years reads from
the Torah at Askenazi's shuls.
So I really understand where
Nissim is coming from.
I applaud Nissim!
(5) David Hamm, August 27, 2020 2:13 PM
B”H Nissim is back!!!
Baruch HaShem! Glad to see Nissim back helping, through his example and profound words, those who may have doubts or face challenges.
(4) David Frost, August 27, 2020 1:24 PM
Nissim is awesome
I had the pleasure of meeting him once-- a modest and down-to-earth man, and a great example of an ehrlich mensch. If the Jewish People needed an advertisement, I'd put Nissim in it!
(3) Anonymous, August 27, 2020 1:18 PM
Not comfortable with "the look" and is it really necessary?
Is it really necessary for a person to have a specific outside appearance in order to be a practicing/observant Jewish person? I understand the need for modesty, and being clothed in humility (i.e. not flashy) but a person of African descent dressed as a European Jew looks quite odd and if not just plain ol ridiculous. The G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob looks at the heart, as He Himself said to Smuel HaNavi. I hope this young man's heart is truly in the right place. If not, then he's only fooling himself.
melanie, August 27, 2020 2:21 PM
Part of his community
He is part of the Chassidic community. They dress that way. He looks somewhat unique, not odd and certainly not ridiculous. I am not sure why you are "uncomfortable" with his look. He seems to be someone comfortable with all the things that make him special and to spread positivity in a world that so desperately needs it. Personally, he makes my heart smile.
leib galper, August 27, 2020 2:41 PM
you got to be kidding me
Should Ethiopian Jews wear loincloths and beat on drums. Or would you allow them to dress as Jews that happened to be from Ethiopia. My outside appearance is that of a cowboy, and in fact I am a cowboy, however I'm a Jewish cowboy and change my cowboy hat for a yarmulke when I go to synagogue. I hope you will allow me to put on a white shirt and tie.G-D bless Nissan!
Anonymous, September 2, 2020 2:48 AM
Exactly
Tznius, modesty, has two components beyond the basic requirements of modesty:
1. Dress in a way that makes it obvious you are a Jew.
2. Dress in a way that does not make you stand out from your community.
As Nissim’s community is Chassidic, his manner of dress fulfills both.
Ra'anan, August 27, 2020 6:07 PM
Dear Anonymous...
I think there’s NO BIGGER ONA-ATH DEVARIM than you QUESTIONING the intent of someone else. OTOH, since you’ve said it publicly, there’s a very big WINNER HERE &, unfortunately, a very big LOSER! The winner is R. Nissim Black! Chazal say that since you spoke ona-ath devarim, a subcategory of lashon hara’, you’ve GENEROUSLY given ALL OF YOUR MITZVAS TO R. NISSIM BLACK! The LOSER, HOWEVER, is YOU! That’s because chazal also saying that since you’ve spoken lashon hara’, you get ALL of R. NISSIM BLACK’S AVEROS (‘averoth)!!! PRETTY SCARY!!! And all you had to do is NOT SAY HURTFUL THINGS ABOUT OTHERS! Isn’t that a shame??? Even worse, there’s a juxtaposition of verses (smuchim/semukhim) between “G-d loving the stranger” & “G-d will reign forever, your G-d of Zion, for generation and generation, praise G-d!” The thing is in Tractate Meghillah that 2nd verse is taught to be CODE for mashiach’s arrival date. The juxtaposition of loving the stranger/ger with mashiach’s arrival date suggests the two are related. It may very well be that you just delayed mashiach’s arrival with your hurtful words. What in the world were you hoping to accomplish by mocking someone’s appearance & questioning their intentions??? How would you feel if someone you loved was mocked over their appearance & had their intentions questioned over their hardest achievement? Because midda keneged midda means that HaShem brings the same situation onto someone who speaks & judges in such a way. I think you’d better get VERY BUSY do teshuva. It looks like you’re back at ZERO! I wonder if R. Nissim Black would FORGIVE YOU for your hurtful words? If he would, at least you’d get back what you lost today.
(2) Baron Cell, August 27, 2020 1:17 PM
Be A Jew and be proud!
100% agree, we need to actively talk advocate communicate Jewish pride - the past, future and present everything stands on it.
(1) Jennifer, August 27, 2020 11:21 AM
excellent
I give you a tremendous amount of credit, Nissim. I spent hours in crack houses but I didn't live in one. I wasn't searching for anything. just wanted to die. I was waiting for someone to shoot all of us. didn't happen. unfortunately didn't die, and have to be religious and work on tikkuns. many of them.
Anonymous, August 27, 2020 6:09 PM
JENNIFER!!! G-D BLESS YOU & GIVE YOU STRENGTH to...
RAISE YOURSELF UP!!!! Think of all the people YOU CAN INSPIRE!!!!