Sure, Chananya Begun was shocked when she saw people on TikTok obsessing over a performance by the Miami Boys Choir in 2008, an Orthodox Jewish pop group led by her father, Yerachmiel Begun. But he wasn’t that surprised.
After all, it’s all ridiculously good. The towering pre-teen voices! The funky sax break! The choreography! That’s not to mention the poignant song, “Yerushalayim,” or the specific era silk shirts that really tie the whole thing together.
Since the beginning of September, MBC’s video for “Yerushalayim” (“Jerusalem” in Hebrew) has attracted more than 8.7 million views and countless cheers and duets from TikTok users in love. Some have even taken to drawing fan art and choosing their favorite soloists, as if this group of Orthodox Jewish teens were a K-pop sensation.
Watch MBC’s performance of “Yerushalayim” here
“These are amazing kids,” Begun tells CNN. “We want this group to be a vehicle of positivity, excellence and hard work.”
Begun, who manages MBC’s TikTok account and is heavily involved in the group’s leadership, is pleased to see so many people from different cultures and places discovering the appeal of orthodox pop music. Furthermore, Jewish voices on social media are moved that the music of their childhood has become a far-reaching celebration of Jewish joy.
Make no mistake, the Miami Boys Choir is not some little-known group plucked from obscurity by some kaleidoscopic TikTok algorithm.
“For families and children throughout the Orthodox world, it is very important to be a part of this institution,” says Begun.
MBC was founded in Miami in 1977 by Yerachmiel Begun, a well-known Jewish composer and musician at the forefront of the orthodox pop genre. The elder Begun, a New York native, moved the entire operation to New York City in 1980. MBC concerts are major events in the Jewish community, and in 1995 the group made Jewish music history when 15,000 people attended. one of his shows at the Nassau Coliseum. .
Chananya Begun says that her father composes all of the group’s songs: more than 500 and counting, including 32 entire albums.
Watching MBC perform songs like “Yerushalayim”, one thing becomes clear: these kids are really talented. But there is something else that Begun says that he gives the group that stratospheric je ne sais quois.
“Miami has a broad appeal in the orthodox pop world, and there are a few reasons why. There is definitely a spiritual element, and bringing people closer to God, however you want to define it. It keeps people connected and it’s very entertaining,” he says.
“But there is also a genuine depth of feeling in these artists.”
About 500 artists have come and gone from the ranks of the Miami Boys Choir, which is made up of boys ages 10 to 14. Begun estimates that thousands more have auditioned. Given the standard of work and the artistry required to be in such a group, it’s no surprise that many MBC alumni have had successful music careers. Contemporary Jewish music figures such as Yaakov Shwekey and Ari Goldwag got their start on MBC, as did several members of the Jewish a cappella group The Maccabeats.
The stars of the 2008 “Yerushalayim” video have also enjoyed their newfound fame on TikTok, reprising their vocal parts and even sporting those fabulous satin shirts. David Herskowitz, now 27, was an MBC solo artist for years and is entertaining new fans on social media with original compositions and old favorites from his MBC days. Listeners who have branched out to other MBC performances via TikTok and YouTube have also discovered the childhood voice of Jewish recording artist Dovid Pearlman.
While new MBC fans are clamoring for a reunion of the 2008 team, the MBC artists are playing nice for now.
“This is an open road,” Herskowitz told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “I’m not really drawing any conclusions yet. And I’m seeing where this is going.”
All the fascinations of social media eventually wear off, but the Miami Boys Choir’s new cultural imprint means more to Jewish communities than catchy tunes and charming characters.
“These guys get everyone talking about the Jewish people… in a positive way,” said a Jewish TikToker in a popular video, noting that all of MBC’s love, if only for a while, overcame the usual cloud of anti-Semitism that overshadows social networks. spaces.
Other users in their comments section agreed: “It makes me so happy to see people talking about our culture and language in such a positive way.”
Other users were excited and a little surprised that the orthodox music they have loved for years is growing so much.
“Yerushalayim” by the Miami Boys Choir
from Psalm 125
YerushalayimHārîm sābîb lāhwa Yhwāh sābîb le’ammōwmê’attāh we’ad-owlāmJerusalemMountains surround her and God surrounds his Nationnow and forever
“We grew up listening to MBC,” wrote one TikTok user, who kindly provided an English translation of “Yerushalayim” which has been viewed more than 1.6 million times.
When Chananya Begun opened the Miami Boys Choir TikTok account three months ago, she knew people would love the content. She knew they would reach new audiences and maybe gain new fans.
Even he is surprised at how universally positive the reaction has been.
“People always assume that anti-Semitism is going to happen, and it does,” he says. “But here, there is almost a complete lack of that. There’s all this positivity and love.”
It’s disheartening that such a lack of hate is noticeable. However, Begun says the point of music like this, from groups like the Miami Boys Choir, is to spread a message of love.
“This is what we want to show. If you seek excellence like the genuine people you are supposed to be, that can change hearts and minds,” says Begun. “That can make a difference in the world.”
Source: news.google.com