Have you ever been curious how relatable the Torah really is? A group of staff from the Kutz365 Alumni Network decided to spend an entire year rapping the weekly Torah portion, or parasha, from the Torah. Shabbat Sha'Raps started at camp in the summer of 2016, and then grew through Zoom over the course of an entire year. Filmed from Zoom boxes around the globe, this creative interpretation of Torah is a fun and easy way to understand the weekly Torah portion. Join Evan, Matt, Melissa, and lots of special guests on this joyful journey of discovering Torah!
In this parasha, God explains blessings and curses, and when you receive each. Moses then discusses laws of worship and sacrifices during the Pilgrimage Festivals. Listen in to hear what these holidays are.
Transcript
Saturday morning and the peeps are here
It’s time for Shabbat – let me get a cheer
We’ll talk about Moses, Aaron, the Levites too
Ayyoo Matt, you know what to do
Well just like always, we throw it back
To Parashat Eikev, we never slack
We’re excited for the land that’s nice and sunny
You know the place, it’s got milk and honey
In Parashat R’eih, it’s time to choose
Blessings over curses cause we don’t want to lose
When the praises go up, the blessings come down
Like ya boy Chance the Rapper, there’s no time to clown
Just in case y’all forget, our God reminds
That we only eat animals of certain kinds
And we won’t put up with worship to an idol
Let’s keep going with the rules of the Bible
Now for holidays, it’s worth repeating
We gotta know the rules for all the feasting
Passover is one, and then Shavuot
This portion even brings up the mighty Sukkot
In terms of the poor and needy in the group
We gotta do more than give ‘em some soup
We don’t harden our heart or shut our hand
We bring them in as family in our new land
This day I set before you a blessing and curse
Thanks for listening to our thirteenth rap
Stay tuned for more, we’re putting ourselves on the map
This has been your – Shabbat Sha’Rap!