Yaakov Shwekey – Lo Yaavod MUSIC VIDEO
Directors Note:
Last Chanukah my friend Yaakov Shwekey and I went to Israel to film our first music video. That trip was amazing, yet disturbing.
The night before our big shoot, I called a Rosh Yeshiva to confirm that the young men from his Yeshiva would be dancing in a scene with Yaakov the next day. His response: “What are you wearing right now?” “What kind of kipa do you wear?” That was his way of determining if he could trust his students with me.
That was my introduction to an Israeli culture that has to be changed! Many observant and secular Jews disrespect each other. Within the observant community there are countless sub-communities represented by large and small intricacies in dress. There may be an undertone lack of respect toward other communities in the United States, but in Israel there is no shame with this discrimination.
Yaakov and I share a passion to help bridge this gap of labels and discrimination. That’s what this music video is all about. If one truly serves the Creator out of pure love, he will channel that love toward his fellow Jew. No matter what he or she looks like, wears, political affiliation etc… Only G-d can judge what is truly inside us. If this Rosh Yeshiva judged his fellow out of love, physical appearance would not be his deciding factor of trust.
We decided to make this video as an introduction to the High Holiday season after I read Yaakov the following quote from the Rebbe Maharash of Lubavitch: “On Rosh Hashana, thousands of angels hover around listening anxiously to hear one Jew say a nice thing about his fellow. This is more precious to Hashem than all the prayers of the righteous.”
This video is dedicated to the loving memory of my dear brother Yaakov Pellin who passed away last month. He was the essence of love beyond the label.
Now, enough heavy stuff. Enjoy this light hearted fun short film!
– Mendy Pellin
Pellin Pictures
MAIN VIDEO CREDITS: ( ALBUM & FULL CREDITS ON SHWEKEY.COM)
Video Produced & Directed by: Mendy Pellin
Cinematographer: Aviv Vana
Editor: Arnon Z. Shorr
VFX: Pellin Pictures
Casting: Andrew Frankel
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Hashem’s desire for our Teshuva is immeasurable. He waits for our return more than a father longs for his son.
I don’t think this is a matter of respect. What is wrong with a Rosh Yeshiva doing his job and protecting the neshuma of one of his charges by asking where you are holding before putting that bochur in a potentially damaging situation? Yes we should all get along but that does not mean exposing a child to things we believe he should not see. Even for the sake of achdus. Look around at the tumma in the world – we keep separate for good reason.
What this Rosh Yeshiva THINKS is right isn’t necessarily right. Believe it or not. It’s terrible that the Rosh Yeshiva asked what kind if kippah he was wearing. That’s one of the most shallow things I’ve ever heard from a respected Jewish authority. It’s these extreme seperations created by the charadi sect of Judaism that are delaying the coming mashiach. How could mashiach possibly come when there’s such a wall between the Jews? People need to learn how to think for themselves. If Shwekey couldn’t handle seeing a man in a Kippah Seugah, thats pathetic. You keep separate , but definitely without good reason.