Bieber Cover: ‘Rebbe, Rebbe, Rebbe, Oh!’
Image by YouTube
Among the 34,000 YouTube covers of Justin Bieber’s hit single “Baby” — including one by the original crooner himself, “Baby, baby, Haiti”, to show support for the Help Haiti Telethon — is a ridiculously adorable (and adorably ridiculous) cover called “Rabbi.” by a group called Shepsalach.
Shepsalach, which means sheep in Yiddish, is a baby-faced trio armed with only the requisite shaggy haircut, a candle adorned keyboard and a shofar. The group was put together by Yuval Nobelman, a film student and television writer shooting a comedy about a Jewish Orthodox boy band.
On the film’s fundraising page, Nobelman explains the idea behind the film:
Growing up, I wanted to be the lead in a boy band like many other children. Unfortunally, I never got to be one. I started writing the script for “The Shepsalach” about a year ago with my brother Dror. This short film, is a comedy, a biography, a little boys’ dream.
The Israel-based crew wants to show the “lighter and funnier side of orthodox Jewish life” and is still trying to raise $2,500 to realize the project. A $50 donation gets you a surprise gift: band poster, signed dreidel, etc. It’s a hilarious little parody — and fits right in with the recent rash of Jewish Biebers, like Edon Pinchot of America’s Got Talent.
I’m personally matching all gifts to the Forward, up to $36,000. Can I match your gift now?
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
