Video: The ‘Jewish Justin Bieber’

By Margaret Eby June 7, 2012

The pop music world has yet to have an Orthodox Jewish megastar, but one 13-year-old crooner may change all that. Edon Pinchot, who earned the nickname “the Jewish Justin Bieber” from the National Conference of Synagogue Youth, displayed precocious singing abilities on Tuesday’s episode of America’s Got Talent.

The yarmulke-clad Pinchot doesn’t quite have the Bieber hair, but his dulcet tones certainly give the “Baby” singer a run for his money. After a performance of “Good Life” by One Republic, Pinchot passed through to the Las Vegas with flying colors. He’s already built up a substantial YouTube following with videos of pop covers plunked out on his home piano, singing everything from John Lennon’s “Imagine” to Shontelle’s “Impossible”. Sharon Osbourne — herself half-Jewish — praised Pinchot for the emotion in his voice, but made no reference to his Jewishness. Both Howard Stern and Howie Madel gave Pinchot the thumbs up, so we’ll being seeing a lot more of the mellifluous-voiced youngster.

Watch Edon Pinchot Wow the Judges:

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO