Would you like to hear non-Messianic Jewish music on Chavah?
As you might know, I’ve built a little Messianic music service called Chavah – internet radio for Yeshua’s disciples. I’m particularly proud of this work. It’s a Pandora-like music player that streams Messiah tunes through your web browser, enriching your ears in the process.
And it’s cross-platform. That means it runs on Mac or PC, and on just about every web browser, including the big 4: Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, and Chrome.
Since I released Chavah about 2 months ago, we’ve streamed over 8300 Messianic tunes! Woot!
Up till now, I’ve included only Messianic artists –
- Marty Goetz
- Lamb
- Joel Chernoff
- Meha Shamayim
- Roman & Alaina
- Ted Pearce
- Israel’s Hope
- Avner & Rachel Boskey
- Barry & Batya Segal
- Steve McConnell
- Sharon Wilbur
In addition to the music, I’ve included some Hebrew chants, liturgical prayers, and theatrical Scripture readings. A little something for everybody. It’s a good mix.
I’ve been selective about which tunes to include, trying to keep quality above quantity.
My initial thinking in using only Messianic artists was, “this is music for Yeshua’s disciples – why include music from artists that reject Yeshua?”
In fact, a Hebrew Christian musician friend advised me in the same – only Yeshua music for Yeshua’s disciples, he said.
But I’m having second thoughts. I like some non-Messianic Jewish artists – Shlomo Carlebach, Simcha Kanter, Shlomo Katz, even the modernly-popular Matisyahu. Their music is about God, too, and much of it is based in the psalms or the siddur, glorifying God. Some of those songs even point to Messiah. I’m conflicted.
What say you, fine blog reader? Yea or nay – include Jewish non-Messianic music on Chavah?
yes to jewish music.
ReplyDeleteThere are some really wonderful non yeshua believing artists whose music fits seamlessly.
The Moshav Band
Craig Taubman
Dan Nichols & Eighteen has some good stuff as well...
I also don't think we can deny the impact that Debbie Freidman has had on modern jewish lyturgy.
Thanks for the feedback. That's +1 in favor of including Jewish music.
ReplyDeleteMy humble opinion (since you asked for it): it depends on your purpose for Chavah.
ReplyDeleteYou said "this is music for disciples of Yeshua..." As one of Yeshua's disciples, I would disagree with the idea we should only listen to music composed by other disciples (as this rules out a lot of the world's great music).
However, as far as I know, Chavah is the only internet radio station of just Messianic music. I don't think there's anything wrong with having such a thing.
Would adding more Jewish music cause me to listen to Chavah more? Perhaps.
Darn, Jon beat me to first comment. "lyturgy"--intentional, Jon?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback.
ReplyDeleteMy purpose is simple: internet radio for Yeshua's disciples. I want Chavah to be something that will build up Yeshua's disciples.
It sounds like you believe Yeshua's disciples can and should listen to music from, for lack of a better term, unbelievers.
With that in mind, I'm understanding you're in favor of adding Jewish music to Chavah. +2 in favor.
Firstly, Chavah's a great idea! Good on you for starting it.
ReplyDeleteSecondly: What Yahnatan said: it's your site and depends what you want for it.
My opinion, well, there's a few ways to think about this.
I like listening to Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra singing gospel music, but then I wouldn't necessarily put them on a praise album because I'd think they were singing as entertainment rather than as praise.
But then how do I know that my favourite Christian artists are genuinely singing out of love for God? That said, it does make a difference to my enjoyment of praise music as praise if I know that we're saved, and singing about the same subject.
Now I love Bob Marley, but I know when he's singing about leaving Babylon and entering Zion, he means something different to me. That's fine because music is about what you feel and not what's intended.
I mean, can you join in with Matisyahu singing "We want Moshiach now let's get out of the exile", knowing that his Moshiach is the Lubavitcher Rebbe? Sometimes I can and sometimes I can't, it really depends on how you're feeling.
Yasmin Levy's not a believer but her version of Odecha is beautiful, and it makes me feel closer to God listening to it sometimes. Her lyrics here are way more theologically sound than the song Days of Elijah! And Mor Karbasi's Adon haSlichot is an old Jewish prayer which again is more Biblical than a lot of Messianic/Christian lyrics are.
I'm not sure I've really helped, but anyway, keep it up :)
That said, I'm always uncomfortable with Carlebach...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joseph. Interesting thoughts. I chuckled at the last bit about Days of Elijah. :-)
ReplyDelete>> What Yahnatan said: it's your site and depends what you want for it.
I want it to be internet radio for Yeshua's disciples. Should internet radio for Yeshua's disciples include Jewish, non-Messianic music? I'm conflicted.
>> But then how do I know that my favourite Christian artists are genuinely singing out of love for God?
True. I think much of the stuff I hear on Christian radio is entertainment, honestly. Not all, but it's there and it's quite plain, in my opinion.
>> Now I love Bob Marley, but I know when he's singing about leaving Babylon and entering Zion, he means something different to me...I mean, can you join in with Matisyahu singing "We want Moshiach now let's get out of the exile", knowing that his Moshiach is the Lubavitcher Rebbe?
Good point. You know, never once have I listened to a Matisyahu song and thought, "oh, he's talking about Schneerson." Thanks, now you've ruined Matisyahu music for me. ;-)
Unless you object, I'm going to interpret your comment as a -1, you're against adding Jewish music to Chavah.
I think it would be appropriate as well if Judah included some Jerry Goldsmith music.
ReplyDeleteAs we both know--he was probably the most important Jewish musician EVER. :)
Hahaha! Yes, easily the most important Jewish musician, hands down! :-)
ReplyDeleteI realize the goal of "internet radio for Yeshua's disciples" is too broad. Really, by saying "Yeshua", I'm indicating a bit of Messianic slant. But you all know that. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnother Messianic friend emailed me and said,
ReplyDelete"Yes, I love Carlebach! Haven't heard much of Matisyahu, but I know he is very popular with the Jewish people, especially the youth. I say do it!"
So the tally right now is 3 in favor, 1 against.
Sure.
ReplyDeleteYeah, definitely add some Jewish music, like mentioned by someone else, Matisyahu has some great biblical music... Plus some messianic music is horrible... just like there are some horrible christian music... so give it some flavah!
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could even add some of your own tunes... Judah Himango Live!
Thanks for the input.
ReplyDeleteHahah, true, some Messianic music is just terrible. I've been trying to weed out some terrible ones from Chavah, like I mentioned, I want to keep quality high.
Ok, another one in favor, that's 4 in favor, 1 against.
"Darn, Jon beat me to first comment. "lyturgy"--intentional, Jon?"
ReplyDeleteno...i was twyping too fast...argh!
One thing to keep in mind through all this, I will be shortly adding a "thumb up"/"thumb down" feature that will let you tailor it to your liking. You could thumb down the songs you don't like, and Chavah will favor playing other songs over your disliked ones.
ReplyDeleteMoshav Band rocks!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYes, do include mainstream Jewish music. Israel is one and it is not necessary to divide Israel on the basis of Yeshua-faith. Non-Yeshua-centered Jewish devotion is still devotion to God.
Derek Leman
I can be as inspired by traditional Jewish music as I can be by Messianic music. I really like the Chassidic Jazz Project, largely because I enjoy jazz arrangements and it's rare for me to find Jewish music presented this way (at least in my little corner of the world).
ReplyDeleteThe airwaves have a ton of Christian radio stations, so putting traditional Christian tunes on Chavah would seem redundant. Also, just because traditional Jewish composers and artists don't accept Yeshua doesn't mean we can't hear the voice of the Messiah in the voice of the Chosen people.
Just my 0.2 cents.
Thanks for your opinions, Derek and James.
ReplyDeleteThat's about 7 in favor, 1 against.
How about Israeli music?
ReplyDeleteDan,
ReplyDeleteI'm opened to it. My brother loves Israeli music, and I've listened to some myself.
Any particular artists you have in mind?
Yahnatan wrote: "Chavah is the only internet radio station of just Messianic music"
ReplyDeleteThere is the brilliant Jerusalem based Radio Yeshua with loads of Israeli and diaspora Messianic music
http://yradio1.radioyeshua.com/YRadio.asp
Gev
Thanks for the link, Gev. Unfortunately, their site uses Windows Media Player ActiveX control, so I don't think you can use that on anything other than a PC.
ReplyDeleteThere are some other Messianic stations out there. One prominent one from Israel is Inspired Faith, which plays a wide variety of Messianic and Christian music.
But all those are static stations, like traditional radio stations. They don't let you skip songs, pause live music, etc. One of the things I value about Chavah is how you can pause the live stream and skip songs like a media player, but only over the web. I think that's pretty cool. And the software being smart about what songs to play based on your thumb ups and downs is another thing missing from those static stations.
Bottom line is, I think I'm doing something fairly unique and useful here. So I hope! :-)
Yes!!
ReplyDelete"Unfortunately, their site uses Windows Media Player ActiveX control, so I don't think you can use that on anything other than a PC."
ReplyDelete+1 to Judah!
Hahah. I take it Yahnatan is a Machead. Oh boy. That makes Lasko, Leman, and Dralle all Macheads.
ReplyDeleteLet me guess: I bet all 3 of you have iPods, listen to Moby, and regularly blow $7 on a Tazo Chai Creme Frappuccino Blend Grandes.
Did I nail it? ;-)
Hahah. I take it Yahnatan is a Machead. Oh boy. That makes Lasko, Leman, and Dralle all Macheads.
ReplyDeleteActually, I'm more a Linux/open source guy at heart...I just didn't have the guts (or time, depending on how you look at it) to spend time tweaking Linux on the laptop when I bought my Macbook Pro for grad school three years ago. Plus the Macbook was so shiny!
I bet all 3 of you have iPods,
My old nano has been displaced by my new Droid.
listen to Moby,
Nope! I have a decent collection of vinyl records though, since a good portion of the music I listen to was originally released that way.
and regularly blow $7 on a Tazo Chai Creme Frappuccino Blend Grandes.
Not me--you're more likely to find me drinking instant coffee and saving my pennies to spend at some used book store. Ah...
Ah, thank God, I don't think I could stand another Moby-loving, Frappuccino-drinking Machead. ;-)
ReplyDelete>> Plus the Macbook was so shiny!
LOL. Reminds me of this, where one guy says, "I'll buy almost anything if it's shiny and made by Apple."
By the way, Chavah should theoretically work on Linux via Moonlight, although I haven't tried it.
JUdah,
ReplyDeleteI like the fact that Chavah is "Music for Yeshua's disciples", it is presently all Messianic which sets it apart from most other internet radio. If you start adding differnt types of music, Jewish, Israeli, Christian, it may have broader appeal, but becomes also becomes less unique. Keep it simple, leave it as is.
C.F.
Yes Judah you are doing something unique, hazak v'amatz baby. I do love the skip-ability feature to get to songs I actually want to listen to.
ReplyDeleteI do like a lot of the Israeli stuff on Radio Yeshua though :-)
Gev
Hi Judah,
ReplyDeleteI vote to keep it purely Messianic. To include "nonbelieving Jewish" music without including "believing Spirit-filled Christian" music smacks of the hypocrisy that the Christian world sees in us: That we would rather surround ourselves with nonbelieving people who keep the commandments.
Personally I would rather judge a man by the strength of his character than my the color of his tekhelet.
Shalom, Jeff.
Ok, I think that's 8 for and 4 against. Thanks for your input, Jeff.
ReplyDeleteFor the record, I have included some Hebrew Christian music. Aviad Cohen and Yerubilee are more Christian artist than they are Messianic, but I am have included them in Chavah nonetheless. I assure you it's not a matter of "exclude the Christians".
If its music for Messianic Jews then it should include artists from the wider community. We don't do ourselves any favors by isolating ourselves. Music is an important part of community.
ReplyDeleteMy goal is "internet radio for Yeshua's disciples", with an admittedly Messianic slant.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I'll take you thoughts as a vote in favor of Jewish music on Chavah. That makes it about 9-4.