American rabbi takes Lizzo song viral
Inspired by the Grammy award winner's support of Jews, an LA minister makes her hit 'Juice' a hit of her own
Brigit Grant is the Jewish News Supplements Editor
Lizzo is already popular with Jews. The diva rapper and gifted flutist showed her allegiance by attacking Yeo (aka Kanye West) for his antisemitism and then scored brownie points by bringing a rabbi on to the stage at the People’s Choice Awards in Los Angeles.
Iranian-American Rabbi Tarlan Rabizadeh who is vice president for Jewish engagement at Los Angeles’s American Jewish University was invited to join Lizzo at the ceremony, as the Grammy Award-winner recognized her as one of the women advocates who “deserve the spotlight” for “building a bridge between Jewish people of all colours and backgrounds, and fighting to amplify the plight of the Iranian people.”
And now after generating so much good feeling, a rabbi at a synagogue in Los Angeles has paid her the ultimate tribute by parodying her hit song as Juice. Jews: A Tribute to Juice is the creation of Rabbi Jaclyn Cohen of the Temple Isaiah synagogue with the help of her congregation who also appear in the video.
As the Maccabeats had nothing new for Purim, the rabbi’s all-singing, all -dancing, shabbat observing mash-up has gone viral, which is thrilling for Rabbi Cohen as she is a fan of Lizzo’s music and message of acceptance.
Hence the new ‘Juice’ chorus “I’m proud to be a Jew” which is repeated through the song which also includes such memorable lines as “We’re like Manischewitz, sweeter as we age” and “there ain’t one type of Jew/Because baby, we’re diverse.”
Rabbi Cohen told US platform Kveller: “Our response to the Hamans of this world is to take profound pride in our tradition, culture and rituals. Raise them up high and share them far and wide, all framed by the gorgeous positivity of the one and only Lizzo.”
Cohen not only wrote the lyrics but also produced the video in which members of her congregation dance the Hora and provide, “a celebration of our Jewishness: a joyful and whole-hearted message of love for our diverse, extraordinary Jewish community.”
Under the video on Youtube the rabbi also wrote “This Purim, we hope you’ll join us in spreading a message of love, positivity & immense Jewish pride … because we are so proud to be Jews, baby. And absolutely no one can take that away from us. L’Chayim! To life! Celebrate big.”
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