“ For all those people judging the guy, here is a thought to ponder, how honest and true to the Torah and basic Derech Eretz are you ? because you disguise yourself in fancy dress does that make your heart of hearts any better ? Here we have a man which wants his outer appearance to match his inner and all you can do is judge him ?

"Life is a journey to perfection when we don't allow ourselves to fall ever we never get the chance to walk proper" ”

“ What a shame. Matisyahu was such a nice role model for thousands of younger frum boys and girls who might have otherwise gone OTD. While not everyone views Matisyahu and his music in the same way, now our yingerliet will will have fewer music superstars to relate to as a guide for their daily lives and hashkofah ”

“ People are not static creatures. We are constantly become more and less spiritual...
"outer appearance matching inner appearance" is impossible because..one can be feeling spiritual in the morning and not so spiritual that very same day. Needless to say that if one were to follow the "outer appearance matching inner appearance" doctrine..he'd be changing and shaving every few hours...

Rather people lock themselves into an appearance in which they wish to aspire to...

Thats the uncomfortable truth my friend.. ”

“ Maybe he will do a cover of "losing my religion" soon. In my opinion this is career suicide, he was known by his trademark as the jew in the hat and beard, now he is just a skinnny white guy ”

“ The only people to blame for Matisyahu's religious downfall are the religious people who rejected his music and style, he had the power at one point to bring many people back on the derech. Lets be happy that Harav Lipa Shmeltzer Shlita has found the the right path due of all the rejection from the rabbonim, and is now a Rav of a kahal of jews that were rejected, but still want to live a frum life.Lets hope this never happens ever again to any other person who has the power to make such a kidush Hashem like Matisyahu had. ”

“ I would VERY upset if "razor blade" means an actual razor blade. What a turnaround. If he merely took a shave I don't see the big deal. Many frum Jews seem to have no problem walking around clean shaven. (Chumras yes, but clean shaven - no problem.) ”

“ Just look athim at picture on right seems content, at peace, and shining pic on left seems lost confused and like a wanted mug shot.. Mat please return home to torah find the strenght we all need rules otherwise we are like animals.. ”

“ Like many, I am shocked. But...
I recall (30+ yrs ago) a Jewish doctor in Willy who wore a kappel (yarmulke) even in the hospital, but when he made a house visit to Willy he *removed* it!
When questioned about it, he explained that he doesn't want the sweet yiddish kinderlach to think that you can go to college/university/doctor and remain frum! Rather, he said, let them know that you can become a goy! The smart doc didn't want to falsely impress heimishe children into taking his route!

Possibly and hopefully Matis realizes that too many heimishe are following him and he knows that his destiny in life is to reach out to the real real lost souls. So he is putting up a sign for the chassidish crowd: DANGER! Don't follow me!

[Likewise] I know of chassidish people that were turned away by Reb Shloime Carlbach zt"l with a simple "this is not for you" while at the same time he was mekarev the lost chassidish crowd.

Let's daven and hope for the best! ”

“ Like many, I am shocked. But...
I recall (30+ yrs ago) a Jewish doctor in Willy who wore a kappel (yarmulke) even in the hospital, but when he made a house visit to Willy he *removed* it!
When questioned about it, he explained that he doesn't want the sweet yiddish kinderlach to think that you can go to college/university/doctor and remain frum! Rather, he said, let them know that you can become a goy! The smart doc didn't want to falsely impress heimishe children into taking his route!

Possibly and hopefully Matis realizes that too many heimishe are following him and he knows that his destiny in life is to reach out to the real real lost souls. So he is putting up a sign for the chassidish crowd: DANGER! Don't follow me!

[Likewise] I know of chassidish people that were turned away by Reb Shloime Carlbach zt"l with a simple "this is not for you" while at the same time he was mekarev the lost chassidish crowd.

Let's daven and hope for the best! ”

“ Wow. Everybody commenting seems to think you can't be frum and clean shaven. Forget about the fact that the majority of frum yidden are clean shaven. All he has said is he not chassidish. Another fact: The majority of Orthodox American Jews are not chasidish ”

“ Like many, I am shocked. But...
I recall (30+ yrs ago) a Jewish doctor in Willy who wore a kappel (yarmulke) even in the hospital, but when he made a house visit to Willy he *removed* it!
When questioned about it, he explained that he doesn't want the sweet yiddish kinderlach to think that you can go to college/university/doctor and remain frum! Rather, he said, let them know that you can become a goy! The smart doc didn't want to falsely impress heimishe children into taking his route!

Possibly and hopefully Matis realizes that too many heimishe are following him and he knows that his destiny in life is to reach out to the real real lost souls. So he is putting up a sign for the chassidish crowd: DANGER! Don't follow me!

[Likewise] I know of chassidish people that were turned away by Reb Shloime Carlbach zt"l with a simple "this is not for you" while at the same time he was mekarev the lost chassidish crowd.

Let's daven and hope for the best! ”

“ I ADORE Mati's music, and am not saddened or disheartened by him shaving his beard at all! A popular Rabbi who's website & lectures I listen to all the time keeps his beard very short w\a electric razor, because he does a lot of lectures for secular people, and he knows the weak-willed people he speaks to, will judge him based according to how he looks & not what he's saying! They'll see a long beard, black hat, etc. and think, "I'm not listening to this guy! No way!" (lol)

So he wears a kippah, keeps his beard short & whatnot... but he does it because of his mission to reach out to the secular Jews who aren't keeping the Sabbath, who aren't teaching their kids Torah at home, etc., and I commend him for it! Think of the souls he's saving! He's not interested in looking "religious" or "pious" just for religion's sake! He does what it takes to reach the audience he needs to! And if he didn't do it... who would? Who would the secular Jews listen to?

I have a feeling Matisyahu is going through a really big internal spiritual journey... and good for him! After all, it's not supposed to be about what group you belong to, what your hair looks like, etc.

It's about the Truth. ”

“ The only people to blame for Matisyahu's religious downfall are the religious people who rejected his music and style, he had the power at one point to bring many people back on the derech. Lets be happy that Harav Lipa Shmeltzer Shlita has found the the right path due of all the rejection from the rabbonim, and is now a Rav of a kahal of jews that were rejected, but still want to live a frum life.Lets hope this never happens ever again to any other person who has the power to make such a kidush Hashem like Matisyahu had. ”

“ Just left this on his facebook page.
Anyone that makes dramatic changes in life shows signs of instability, Be it a Bal Teshuva or the other way around Chas Vishalom. Matisyahu has jumped from secular to Breslav to Chabad to who knows what else. I hate to say it bro, but the whole appeal was seeing this religious man with a beard singing reggae. Its over for you bro. ”

“ Just left this on his facebook page.
Anyone that makes dramatic changes in life shows signs of instability, Be it a Bal Teshuva or the other way around Chas Vishalom. Matisyahu has jumped from secular to Breslav to Chabad to who knows what else. I hate to say it bro, but the whole appeal was seeing this religious man with a beard singing reggae. Its over for you bro. ”

“ He recently moved from Brooklyn to Beverly Hills. I guess this was the next step. As a Chassidic guy singing reggae he was interesting. I wonder what the people that know music really think of him as a talent rather then a circuis side-show. Cause that's what he really is. ”

“ To me he always seemed to be a lost soul searching for his place. I just wish that he finds what he is looking for while remaining mentally balanced. I also hope he finds stability in his yiddishkeit! ”

“ I totally agree. This is career suicide. Twit ! ”

“ I think he used the frum community and his "levush" to get to the top. Now that he's so popular with the Hollywood crowd, he's done with us.

I bought my family tickets to see him in West Palm Beach in 2 weeks.

The seats will be empty that night.

I don't want to take my family to see an off the derech Jew. ”

“ One is not a sheigitz for having no beard or long payis

But one is a sheigitz when he cuts it off ”

“ Please explain how he is saving souls as you stated in your remarks. Also, do you know of souls he actually saved or this about cliche and just empty frazes ”

“ er uz tzemusht ”

“ It's extremely rare that someone from the Chassidic community becomes Litvish and then shaves because he relies on the opinions that permit it. In the overwhelming majority of cases, shaving the beard is an indication of a complete drop in observance, r"l.

Even the non-Chassidic poskim consider shaving bdieved at best but that is another discussion. ”

“ Read his words carefully:
"At a certain point I felt the need to submit to a higher level of religiosity…to move away from my intuition and to accept an ultimate truth. I felt that in order to become a good person I needed rules—lots of them—or else I would somehow fall apart. I am reclaiming myself. Trusting my goodness and my divine mission."
The message is clear. He has given up on formal religion -- and certainly halachah. Instead of relying on religion, he is now going to decide for himself how to fulfill his "divine mission"
This is very sad. ”

“ Tell me all the valiant defenders of Matisyahu which frum jew goes to female massuese and then brags about it? To what say you art thy my friend?

Matisyahu
My homegirl @dr_dot is the best massuese in NYC. Hands down. Check her out.
18 hours ago
and then then the massuese tweeted this:
Dr. Dot
Just done massaging Matisyahu for three hours. Talented singer and amazing person. Can't wait to see his Nyc shows this month. Loves!
5 Dec ”

“ Like many, I am shocked. But...
I recall (30+ yrs ago) a Jewish doctor in Willy who wore a kappel (yarmulke) even in the hospital, but when he made a house visit to Willy he *removed* it!
When questioned about it, he explained that he doesn't want the sweet yiddish kinderlach to think that you can go to college/university/doctor and remain frum! Rather, he said, let them know that you can become a goy! The smart doc didn't want to falsely impress heimishe children into taking his route!

Possibly and hopefully Matis realizes that too many heimishe are following him and he knows that his destiny in life is to reach out to the real real lost souls. So he is putting up a sign for the chassidish crowd: DANGER! Don't follow me!

[Likewise] I know of chassidish people that were turned away by Reb Shloime Carlbach zt"l with a simple "this is not for you" while at the same time he was mekarev the lost chassidish crowd.

Let's daven and hope for the best! ”

“ 1st of all I agree with number #36
A shegitz is not one who has no beard or long payos,
But one who has them and cuts them off has some deep problems with yidishkeit.

Now for all the people who are Dan lkav zchus on every person that's a very nice middah, but there is a limit , because we have to separate from people who act wrongly like the rambam writes.
Now surely the rambam was a tzaddik who loved every jew and definitely was Dan Lkav zchus.
So there must be some sort of line between yiden who fear hashem and yiden who are bad inffuence.

Now this comment which he posted,
“At the break of day I look for you at sunrise ... When the tide comes in I lose my disguise.”
I find this comment To be a completely revolting And disturbing comment, and my reason is as follows.


Does anyone in their right mind think that our parents who had their beards and payos pulled and burnt off would ever call it a disguise ?

Do you think if our parents and grandparents had Facebook they would have posted pictures of them clean shaven in the concentration camps with little rhymes?

I heard of people waiting for day break because of many different reasons,
But I never heard someone waiting to cut off his beard and payos
It sounds like he wanted to make a lsheim yichud.

There for my conclusion is as follows
I can sympathize with one lightens a little in Yiddish Keit,
We all have our mitzvahs and aveiros (some times we shave shorter than others some times we cut our payos smaller than others)
But one who throws off certain things with a geshmack and a nice rhyme
And still considers himself just as frum as before(like in this case he said I go to the mikvah and shul) on such people I am not Dan lkav zchus.
Would any of our parents or grandparents see this rhyme(in my opinion the rhyme takes the action to a different level)
They would shudder .
But today everybody is a big tzaddik
And they all say Dan lkav zchus
Even when we should create line between us.
In my oppinion the picture above is worse Than the many pictures of the nazis ym"s cutting off beards.

In those pictures (as sad as they are)
We get inspired by the great kiddush hashem

But in this picture we see the toll that the Galus has on us
May we be zoche to see mashiach speedily in our days ”

“ Interesting FlashBack: The last time VIN had a article about "Matisyahu Twitter" was in 2009 with a Picture of him with the Beard, Now its a Article about his Twitter without the Beard... This was the Headlines:

"New York - Hasidic Reggae Star @Matisyahu Has Over 1 Million Twitter Fans"

http://www.vosizneias.com/40318/2009/10/24/new-york-hasidic-reggae-star-has-over-1-million-twitter-fans/ ”

“ 1st of all I agree with number #36
A shegitz is not one who has no beard or long payos,
But one who has them and cuts them off has some deep problems with yidishkeit.

Now for all the people who are Dan lkav zchus on every person that's a very nice middah, but there is a limit , because we have to separate from people who act wrongly like the rambam writes.
Now surely the rambam was a tzaddik who loved every jew and definitely was Dan Lkav zchus.
So there must be some sort of line between yiden who fear hashem and yiden who are bad inffuence.

Now this comment which he posted,
“At the break of day I look for you at sunrise ... When the tide comes in I lose my disguise.”
I find this comment To be a completely revolting And disturbing comment, and my reason is as follows.


Does anyone in their right mind think that our parents who had their beards and payos pulled and burnt off would ever call it a disguise ?

Do you think if our parents and grandparents had Facebook they would have posted pictures of them clean shaven in the concentration camps with little rhymes?

I heard of people waiting for day break because of many different reasons,
But I never heard someone waiting to cut off his beard and payos
It sounds like he wanted to make a lsheim yichud.

There for my conclusion is as follows
I can sympathize with one lightens a little in Yiddish Keit,
We all have our mitzvahs and aveiros (some times we shave shorter than others some times we cut our payos smaller than others)
But one who throws off certain things with a geshmack and a nice rhyme
And still considers himself just as frum as before(like in this case he said I go to the mikvah and shul) on such people I am not Dan lkav zchus.
Would any of our parents or grandparents see this rhyme(in my opinion the rhyme takes the action to a different level)
They would shudder .
But today everybody is a big tzaddik
And they all say Dan lkav zchus
Even when we should create line between us.
In my oppinion the picture above is worse Than the many pictures of the nazis ym"s cutting off beards.

In those pictures (as sad as they are)
We get inspired by the great kiddush hashem

But in this picture we see the toll that the Galus has on us
May we be zoche to see mashiach speedily in our days ”

“ Several years ago when MM was still on his "Lubavitch" kick I went to a Sat. night concert he gave in my city. As he was then perceived to be "chassidishe" I went in my Melave Malka garb. When I entered the arena a few teeny-bopper fans gave appreciative comments about my attempts to emulate his style of dress. It was clear to me that his message was never about spirituality or holiness as these fans were clearly not there for any such thing. And his messages have definitely NOT improved with age.

MM is a fraud who used Chassidus to advance his own popularity and career. He kept with Lubavitch as long as it suited his purposes. When the novelty wore off he moved on to Karlin-Stolen, then Breslov, now ??. At each step he thew away his prior attachments like yesterday's diapers. He may still be marginally frum but he is hardly "ehrliche". So long Matty, and don't let the door hit you in the backside! ”

“ Several years ago when MM was still on his "Lubavitch" kick I went to a Sat. night concert he gave in my city. As he was then perceived to be "chassidishe" I went in my Melave Malka garb. When I entered the arena a few teeny-bopper fans gave appreciative comments about my attempts to emulate his style of dress. It was clear to me that his message was never about spirituality or holiness as these fans were clearly not there for any such thing. And his messages have definitely NOT improved with age.

MM is a fraud who used Chassidus to advance his own popularity and career. He kept with Lubavitch as long as it suited his purposes. When the novelty wore off he moved on to Karlin-Stolen, then Breslov, now ??. At each step he thew away his prior attachments like yesterday's diapers. He may still be marginally frum but he is hardly "ehrliche". So long Matty, and don't let the door hit you in the backside! ”

“ Several years ago when MM was still on his "Lubavitch" kick I went to a Sat. night concert he gave in my city. As he was then perceived to be "chassidishe" I went in my Melave Malka garb. When I entered the arena a few teeny-bopper fans gave appreciative comments about my attempts to emulate his style of dress. It was clear to me that his message was never about spirituality or holiness as these fans were clearly not there for any such thing. And his messages have definitely NOT improved with age.

MM is a fraud who used Chassidus to advance his own popularity and career. He kept with Lubavitch as long as it suited his purposes. When the novelty wore off he moved on to Karlin-Stolen, then Breslov, now ??. At each step he thew away his prior attachments like yesterday's diapers. He may still be marginally frum but he is hardly "ehrliche". So long Matty, and don't let the door hit you in the backside! ”

“ Several years ago when MM was still on his "Lubavitch" kick I went to a Sat. night concert he gave in my city. As he was then perceived to be "chassidishe" I went in my Melave Malka garb. When I entered the arena a few teeny-bopper fans gave appreciative comments about my attempts to emulate his style of dress. It was clear to me that his message was never about spirituality or holiness as these fans were clearly not there for any such thing. And his messages have definitely NOT improved with age.

MM is a fraud who used Chassidus to advance his own popularity and career. He kept with Lubavitch as long as it suited his purposes. When the novelty wore off he moved on to Karlin-Stolen, then Breslov, now ??. At each step he thew away his prior attachments like yesterday's diapers. He may still be marginally frum but he is hardly "ehrliche". So long Matty, and don't let the door hit you in the backside! ”

“ Reply to #87
You read what I said wrong
I on purpose did not quote big aveiros only small things which are not aveiros,
And show nothing
Except some people when they are on frummer times
They grow their payos and beards longer
But in reality you can add whatever aveiros you want to those parentheses
Because it has nothing to do with my main point ”

“ Here is #30 responding:
Those of you hitting me for relating the story of the Doctor in Willy:
1) Just because the story goes against your secular belief, you call me a liar??? (And some call me a hypocrite?!) And YOU are the 'nice' guys?

2) Isn't it possible that the doc knew how tough it was to remain frum -back then- and wanted to protect the kids?
2b) Although HE 'made it', he was NOT from a Wmsbg background. He realized that a Wmsbg child going thru this will 99.99% not make it.

3) Regardless of why the Doc (so eloquently) did this, I only used that as an example TO JUSTIFY MATIS and make him look GOOD. The main topic in this thread is MATIS! The point I made was that a huge amount of self-sacrifice is required to make these moves with GOOD intentions to protect our kids!
Why did this make some of you angry? (Maybe you should look yourself in the mirror. )
4. In defense of all the negative comments (not from me), Matis is a public figure whose influence is in many of our households, people have a right to say anything (more than for a presidential contender) that they feel in order to protect their children. Has NOTHING to do with LH, or Kaf zchus! ”

“ This is an utterly sick comment.

We shouldn't be dan lachaf zechus when someone takes of his beard and payos?!
You say that it's worse than other mitzvos and aveiros?!
What mitzvos and aveiros are you takling about? Shabbos, kibud av, geneivah, sheker?
No, wait. You do give an example of mitzvos and aveiros -- making your peiyos longer or making them shorter!
Is that what you consider the ikar of yiddishkeit -- the length of your peiyos!

Commenter #83 was right. You're an embarassment and you will delay the Geulah. ”

“ Several years ago when MM was still on his "Lubavitch" kick I went to a Sat. night concert he gave in my city. As he was then perceived to be "chassidishe" I went in my Melave Malka garb. When I entered the arena a few teeny-bopper fans gave appreciative comments about my attempts to emulate his style of dress. It was clear to me that his message was never about spirituality or holiness as these fans were clearly not there for any such thing. And his messages have definitely NOT improved with age.

MM is a fraud who used Chassidus to advance his own popularity and career. He kept with Lubavitch as long as it suited his purposes. When the novelty wore off he moved on to Karlin-Stolen, then Breslov, now ??. At each step he thew away his prior attachments like yesterday's diapers. He may still be marginally frum but he is hardly "ehrliche". So long Matty, and don't let the door hit you in the backside! ”

“ It's extremely rare that someone from the Chassidic community becomes Litvish and then shaves because he relies on the opinions that permit it. In the overwhelming majority of cases, shaving the beard is an indication of a complete drop in observance, r"l.

Even the non-Chassidic poskim consider shaving bdieved at best but that is another discussion. ”

“ To me this turnaround by him is a chilul Hashem! He was a first a secular Jew who then overtly chose to manifest Orthodox Judaism and make it palatable and accessible to many. His singing about G-d and ethical concepts in the rap world was a kiddush Hashem, as was his pride in openly living in a Chassidische way. Many looked up to him and he was very inspiring. It was a positive thing to show the world that you are not ashamed to live as a religious Jew, and that you can affect people and be a good role model to so many people, Jews & non-Jews alike. Now, here he is rejecting that lifestyle! It's like saying that he tried it and it is not for him! It is a rejection of all of Yiddishkeit, to the world at large! He is a great disappointment, and may lead impressionable youth to go off the derech or go astray in other ways. He's quasi making a statement that religious Judaism is not something worth maintaining, and that he is turning away from it. Going back to where he originally came from is a bad thing for the Jewish community and all G-d-fearing people who love decency in behavior and morality. I am distressed at his abandonment of his apparent Jewish garb et al. ”

“ Several years ago when MM was still on his "Lubavitch" kick I went to a Sat. night concert he gave in my city. As he was then perceived to be "chassidishe" I went in my Melave Malka garb. When I entered the arena a few teeny-bopper fans gave appreciative comments about my attempts to emulate his style of dress. It was clear to me that his message was never about spirituality or holiness as these fans were clearly not there for any such thing. And his messages have definitely NOT improved with age.

MM is a fraud who used Chassidus to advance his own popularity and career. He kept with Lubavitch as long as it suited his purposes. When the novelty wore off he moved on to Karlin-Stolen, then Breslov, now ??. At each step he thew away his prior attachments like yesterday's diapers. He may still be marginally frum but he is hardly "ehrliche". So long Matty, and don't let the door hit you in the backside! ”

“ to paraphrase, "You are NO Rambam!"

your meandering drivel makes no sense, and you are in no position to judge anyone else, especially a stranger you never even met.

Keep your loshon hora and sinas chinom to yourself, okay> ”

“ You are right. I should not have judged you personally. I should have said that your COMMENT is an embarassment and will delay the geulah.

But let's return to the issue: What is your basis for asserting that we should not be dan lechaf zechus when someone removes his beard and peyos (which, depending on how it is done, is not even assur al pi halachah)? ”