More questions? Want to shmooze?
Please contact Jonathan Gutstadt
510.847.2378 booking[at]higherkey.com
This page is intented to help you find the right type of performance for your particular needs. The HipHopShabbat Crew performance consists of a two-person act, Yo-Natan and Lion of Judah. Depending on the size of your venue, they usually provide their own sound equipment.
These original music-based prayer services last about one hour and are inspirational, engaging, and new! The HipHopShabbat Crew leads a modernized version of the Jewish Shabbat (or weekday) service, combining traditional prayers with hip-hop and reggae music. See the excitement for yourself in the video below, one of our first performances ever, and our first time with the Chico Haverim.
The services are half performance/half prayer and get the energy going. Each community has the opportunity to interact with the service in whichever way they feel comfortable. Songs are a mix of Hebrew prayers with poetic English commentary. Lyric sheets can be passed out as supplements to prayerbooks so that the audience can connect with the music in a more intellectual way. The overall message behind the music is love for humanity and the Divine, so HipHopShabbat is not just a performance, it is a collective prayer experience which brings people closer to G-d.
Non-Shabbat Performance: Everyday Festivities
The HipHopShabbat Crew can perform during any celebration, not just on Shabbat. With a wide repertoire of traditional Jewish melodies, Jonathan and Judah have played at Jewish street fairs, music festivals, bar-mitzvahs, Israeli holidays celebrations, and school celebrations. The video below shows an example of the HipHopShabbat Crew leading some Israeli dancing at a bar-mitzvah.
Jewish Hip Hop Workshops
In our Jewish Hip-Hop workshops, we remake your favorite Jewish songs right in front of your eyes. The best part is you get to help. From writing rhymes to playing music to individual performances, this 1.5-2 hour workshop is interactive and educational. HipHopShabbat producer Yo-Natan shows you the basics of music production, song composition, not to mention how to make Jewish music your own.
Listen to the tracks below, two of our latest workshop songs, each produced in less than 2 hours! The coolest part of the workshops is that by the end of the session, you will have your own CD to listen to. For additional cost, we can also print CDs of our new song for you to pass out.
"Od Yavo " - Ronald Wornick Jewish Day School- Oct.'08
"Romeimu" - Chico Havurah - New- Sept.'08
Combination Packages
In the past we have combined performances and workshops, usually when when we travel long distance. If you would like to bring the HipHopShabbat Crew for more than one type of performance, we always include a major discount. Typically, we will charge our normal rate for one performance and then throw in a workshop for free. We are ready to work with the needs of you and your community, so feel free to ask us about special combination packages.
More questions? Want a price estimate?
Please contact Jonathan Gutstadt
510.847.2378 booking[at]higherkey.com
Previous HipHopShabbat Performance Locations
The HipHopShabbat Crew has performed HipHopShabbat temple services at various locations in California and even across the country, reviving Reform Judaism by bringing spirituality to the hip-hop generation and a love of hip-hop to the elder generation. People of all ages have enjoyed the HipHopShabbat performance because of the high energy level and amount of joy that the OJGs express in their music.
Synagogues
Chico Havurah, Chico, CA
Temple Sholom, Burlingame, CA
Temple Beth El, San Mateo, CA
Temple Beth El, Berkeley, CA
Chochmat Halev, Berkeley, CA
Temple Sinai, Oakland, CA
Kehilla Synagogue, Oakland, CA
Temple Beth Abraham, Oakland, CA
Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, CA
Temple Isaiah, Los Angeles, CA
Stephen S. Weiss Temple. Los Angeles, CA
Bet Haverim, Davis, CA
Hillels
University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
Silicon Valley Hillel, Santa Clara, CA
San Francisco State, San Francisco, CA
UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
USC, Los Angeles, CA
Schools
Ronald Warnick Day School, Foster City, CA
Tehiyah Day School, El Cerrito, CA
Brandeis-Hillel, San Rafael, CA
Sinai Akiba Academy, Los Angeles, CA
Summer Camps
BBCamp, Lincoln City, OR
Camp Alonim, Brandeis, CA
Youth Group Conventions
BBYO International - Clayton, GA
BBYO M.A.R. - Rocky Mount, MO
Jewish Community Centers
Palo Alto JCC - 2Life Festival
Berkeley-Richmond JCC
San Francisco JCC
Walnut Creek JCC
