Matisyahu and Substance Abuse

Ever since my husband got his iPod (about a year ago) there has been a renewed enthusiasm in our household for many kinds of music. So when we heard about a new, fantastic Hassidic Jewish Reggae star called Matisyahu, we were thrilled and ordered his CD. His music and voice are great. He is obviously very talented. His music seems to have a positive religious message, yet he appeals to the masses. He has recently been featured on MTV and NPR. But when we went to hear him in concert in NYC this past weekend I was tremendously shocked and disappointed by what I witnessed.

First, let me say, that I don't frequent clubs in Lower Manhattan, but we discovered when we got there that he was playing in a club. Having just turned 30, I think I brought up the average age in that room significantly. There were many young listeners - High School and College students (many clearly Jewish, but some not). But there were also some young couples who looked somewhat "Carlebach-y." I think I saw two couples in their 40's or 50's.

Here is why I was shocked: About 5 minutes into the show three guys and a woman standing behind me started smoking pot. I was HORRIFIED! There were many young kids there, and I have never seen anyone doing this out in the open (Perhaps I am incredibly naive). When I turned around and screamed "There are 15 year olds here!" they laughed and offered me some. When the smell continued to be unbearable, I turned around and asked them to move. They then pointed out that they had stopped, but there were puffs of smelly smoke coming from other pockets of listeners. This was further compounded by the fact that when my 9th grade babysitter came over that night and I told her where we were going, she told me that a few of her friends recently "got high" at his concert. Needless to say, we left early.

Here is why I am very disappointed: Matisyahu, you have a real opportunity here. You are cool and High School kids admire you. But not only are you not helping a very serious problem which is raging through our yeshivas, you are majorly contributing to it. If you are not aware of what is happening at your concerts, "Shake Off the Dust...Arise" as your album says. You have the ability to send your listeners a message, and to create a drug-free environment at your concerts. Why can't your concerts be cool and trendy sans drugs?!

Substance abuse in Jewish schools has been well-documented. ATID has two discussions on the topic which can be downloaded from their website (Part I & II). There was also an article in last week's Jewish Week, by a High School junior which included some anecdotes of how widespread the problem is. As a mother of three young children, I have real concerns of what will be happening in Jewish schools by the time my children reach High School age.

What seems so disingenuous to me about Matisyahu is the combination of a man who looks frum and sounds frum but who is (directly or indirectly) fostering unacceptable behavior. I am all for making Jewish music and Judaism cool, but not in a way which involves such irresponsible behavior.

p.s. First, thank you to all those who have commented on this post. One point which was repeated in some of the comments was a recognition that teens are using marijuana at concerts (not just Matisyahu's) but that it is not any worse than drinking alcohol. I came across this article which makes some really interesting points about the harmful effects of marijuana use.

Comments

[shanna]

If you listen to the lyrics of some of his songs, you will notice that he directly advocates NOT using mind-altering substances (e.g., "don't you know drugs impurify your mind?"). There was absolutely no drug or alcohol use at the Matisyahu concert I went to in January. Perhaps what you experienced was attributable more to the setting (a Manhattan club) than to the artist.

[Esther]

Never saw him perform, but pot happens. Especially at events that are reggae-infused. I'm sure Soulfarm (ne Inasense) had its share of stoners. Actually, I'm most surprised because of the citywide ban on smoking of any kind.

Regardless, I don't think you can blame the man for his fans' behavior.

[Yossi]

Substance abuse? Or substance use? Once you're going to be mvatel zman by going to a concert, why is sharing a joint worse than having a drink?

[karen]

Another link to discussion about substance abuse in yeshivas:
http://www.torahcurrents.org/index.php/article/substance_abuse_on_the_rise_who_bears_responsibility/

[Chaim]

I can see why it upset you so much, but I dont know what you want him to do about it more than mentioning many times in the lyrics to his songs drugs are bad, and the positive message he sings in his songs are hopefull going to teach those types of kids (the pot smokers) that what theyre doing is wrong, and they should connect spirtually.

secondly, i have been to 4 of his shows and never seen any pot smoking, thatw as def the venue you were at, Matisyahu performs many times for chabad houses and school across the country and I doubt people are smoking up at those places.

Give the guy a break. He is TRYING to infuse postivie change, but he can't go to every kid and take the joint out of thier mouths.

[Dane]

I know someone who knows him.I love his music, how can you blame him for other people's actions?!? In my opionion, don't be quick to criticize someone. They should not let people with drugs enter concerts.

[psychotoddler]

I've said this over and over on my site and others:

Kids don't belong in these clubs. Period. If you're an adult and your kid "needs" to go to a show at a club, assuming they let people under 21 in, then you should accompany your kid.

We saw Matisyahu at a club in Milwaukee, but the show was heavily regulated by Chabad, and the bar was closed. I didn't see or smell any pot, and there were a lot of kids there, but the club was basically booked out for Chabad so it was slightly more family friendly.

[H.a.D]

"don't you know drugs impurify your mind?" lyrics from his song. Matisyahu is against drug and hi sing it in his song ....REggAE is baset on weed becouse of that MAtis have many dug using listeaners:)

[TheRoper]

was that a joke? 'cuz it was funny like a joke... check it out...

annual deaths in the u.s.:
tobacco...435,000
poor diet/inactivity...365,000
alcohol...85,000
car accidents...26,347
suicide...30,622
homicide...20,308
marijuana...0

don't be naive, marijuana is not bad for you... regardless, matisyahu DOES NOT ADVOCATE DRUG USE, he's using what he's good at (music) to speak out against it... what have you done besides cramp his style...

[chai18]

just because his fans do stupid things does not reflect at all on matisyahu himself, he cant really regulate what goes on at his shows, you will find drug use at any of these sort of things.

[Malach Hamaves]

Stop Kvetching!!!

People who go to clubs in Lower Manhattan smoke pot there. It is the minhag hamakom whether or not Mattisahu is playing.

Pot use is rampant in all walks of society and it is nothing new, the fact that you were "HORRIFIED" shows how out of touch you are with much of society, even frum society.

Would you have been "horrified" or even batted an eyelash if the people behind you were drinking beer? Tachlis what is the difference?

Smoking a joint has never killed anyone, while it is not healthy, certainly not for someone who wants to "shtieg" in Torah, someone already in a club in Mahnattan and not Night Seder won't be harmed too much by it.

Perhaps instead of being horrified, you can help the problem by giving frum kids KOSHER ACTIVITIES to do. I have experienced this problem first hand, I have learned my fill for the day (everyone has physical limits) and I want to blow off some steam, but there is nothing kosher for me to do. Sports leagues are banned or at least seriously frowned upon, movies and TV are assur (understandably) what is left to do but "hang out" and too much "hanging out" leads to other not so favorable activities the least of which is smoking pot.

Be part of the solution and not part of the problem by living in your little bubble of tmimimus.

[Danny]

Karen please, your sophomoric claim of Matisyahu contributing to this problem is outrageous. I know you understand Matisyahu has positive lyrics and is sending a good message. However, you fail to understand the teen concert subculture, yet alone Reggae. I am on the tale-end of my teen years and have been to many concerts, am still around much substance abuse, and, quite frankly, am going to let you in on something.

His concerts are much more innocent and clean than others I have been to, to say the least.

Can you expect him to change things overnight? I'm sure Matis frets when he sees this everywhere, but he cannot fix the problem upon arrival like a Brady episode. This isn't TV; PROGRESS TAKES TIME.

Matisyahu could be what Reggae is looking for to pull it out of its rut. Matis IS obviously trying to help them see the truth because after reading his short bio, (he deserves that much respect) he was one of those troubled children not long ago.

I undertand your concern, but bashing Matisyahu is exactly the wrong way to express it.

P.S. This could have been 20 times longer due to how frustrated I am.

Thank you for reading and considering my opinion,
Daniel

[karen]

Dear Daniel,

First, thanks for your comments. Just so you know I have edited out some of the more offensive language. I do take your comments seriously, but I try to keep the tone of my site cordial. I realize you think that I insulted Matisyahu, but I actually think I was careful in the piece to be critical but not offensive.

Also, I have added a p.s. to the Matisyahu piece which may interest you.

Thanks for your comments.
Karen

[Dan]

Karen, thanks for the curteous response and sorry for the offensive language. Though I am not Jewish, after reading those articles, I can see how you are concerned upon seeing this at the concert. I still believe Matisyahu is not to blame.

All I can say is that what you saw was the issue at its worst. Most teens grow out of this phase as I have and seek greater things. Hopefully the guidance and care of the people they love will help them to overcome the stress and pressures of being a teen in 21st century America.

Thanks for listening,
Daniel

[Humbled One]

"But not only are you not helping a very serious problem which is raging through our yeshivas, you are majorly contributing to it." How was he contributing to it any more than you? He was there and people were smoking and you were there and people were smoking. I do not feel that you support your assertion that he has anything to do with their drug use. As many posters have told you, probably because someone linked the message boards at Matisyahu's site to this page, see:
http://www.jdubrecords.org/boards/viewtopic.php?t=739&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
he has no message about drugs other than the strongest "just say no." In fact, at shows where there semms to be more use going on, he will add in lyrics into the songs where they do not normally appear discouraging pot ("me no need no marijuana it will only bring me down/burn away may brain, no way my brain is too compound..."). He also says "if you try to stay high you're bound to stay low (King Without a Corwn). Most interestingly, see his WYPR interview where he contrasts the "quick-fix high" of drugs with the "high" of the long term effort of working on spirituality within Judaism. I really do think you owe him a retraction. Especially since what you said can potentially harm his parnassah (see my posting on his site on this thread). Please do the right thing.

[Samantha]

Marijuana is never going to go away and if Matisyahu focused his energy into trying to fix the "problem" of teens smoking pot, he would be wasting his time... The problem with people like you is that you live in a bubble. Things can't be picture perfect all the time and Matis sees that. He is thriving for meshiach by trying to better the world through his music, yes... but he is not pretending to be a man that can change the world in an instant. You think that if he were to stand up on stage and say 'hey you.. in the back... put out that joint!' that it would help anything? Sure it would embarress the pot smokers, but then after the concert they'd leave, get stoned, and probably never listen to Matisyahu again. Kids with drug problems need someone who isn't condescending, who isn't going to preach and who has been where they are. You should focus your energies elsewhere. You complain and moan about how messed up our youth are today, so maybe you should get off your computer and go out there and start teaching young elementary school kids about the dangers of drugs instead of complaining about how a man (who could easily be making more money by channeling his talent into music with a much less religious/positive message) isn't condemning pot smokers in the middle of his concerts. Live a little.
peace,
sam

[karen]

Dear Sam,

Thanks for your comments. I have edited your post too, since I think your thoughts will come across better without the angry language. I am sorry to you and everyone else who I upset. However, my post is not meant to persuade teens to stop doing drugs. It simply was meant to raise awareness, especially for parents, about what is going on.

peace to you too,
Karen

[zack]

hi karen -

i was just curious where in the article you linked to on the website for The Jewish Week, were any references to anecdotes of pot use.
btw -the amount of pot found that was referenced in the article (0.65 grams) is about equal to the amount of tobacco found in one cigarette.
as others have mentioned, it may be more worthy to spend your time and obvious concern trying to deal with known killers within (and outside of) the Jewish community - alcohol, tobacco abuse (any use of tobacco is truly abuse, as it is a known killer - what other federally regulated product, if you use it exactly as directed will guarantee major health problems, if not death?), spousal abuse, etc.
indeed, pot has never been known to kill a single person (should you find otherwise, i'd be more than happy to eat my words).

while i'm sure the likelyhood of you ever trying pot is not very great, were you to try it (as indeed a great percentage of americans have) you'd be surprised at how badly it has been demonized over the past 8 decades or so.

thanks for (possibly) reading.

z

[Jobber]

Karen, Where I live, the adults of one of the minyans have a obsession w/ whiskey. It seems to be the highlight of their Shabbos. They lay out 12-15 bottles of the finest whiskey at their kiddush.

The truth is, the smoking of anything is supposed to be against the law, so you should have spoken to the manager. The issue of abuse would be if the kids smoke every day, before classes, etc... If they only do so on a night out, it is no different than a beer.
THe smoking is harmful but the item can be baked and eaten or done in a vapoirzer. So it is less harmful than alchohol.

Your surprise is that why would kids need this?

I believe we live in very confused and diificult and depressing times. But you would have to ask each kid. Maybe their Dad has not worked in 3 years, who the heck knows. They find the use of this pleasant and helpful.

Perhaps I missed the point, but what exactly are you upset about if someone ingests some marijuana?

[karen]

Once again thanks to everyone who commented on this post. I have decided to close comments since things are becoming quite repetitive. I have left many comments up that disagree with my post so that readers who feel differently are represented. I know this conversation also continues on other sites.

Many Matisyahu fans have felt that this was a personal attack on Matisyahu. That was not my intention. I do think he is a great musician and that many wonderful people attend his concerts. I was mainly interested in raising awareness among parents about marijuana use by teens in Jewish schools.

I hope that together, parents, teachers, rabbis, teens and great role models such as Matisyahu can help create an environment where teens feel they can reach out to other people for help instead of resorting to marijuana.