Jewish superstars release 'Japan Song'

(Video) Music video, initially created to raise funds and awareness for two Israelis jailed in Japan, edited following disaster as 'sign of solidarity' with country

Reuters | Published: 04.12.11, 14:59

VIDEO - Jewish music superstars, Shloime Daskal and Avraham Fried, initially started this project to raise both funds and awareness for two young Israeli men they say are being held unjustly in a Japanese prison.

Now with the recent tragedy in Japan on everyone’s mind, they have edited their music video as a ”sign of solidarity” with the country.

Almost three years ago, Yoel Zev Goldeberg and Yaakov Yosef Greenwald were imprisoned in Japan after suitcases they were carrying for someone else were found to contain drugs. The men have passed polygraph tests in hopes of proving their innocence, but have not yet been released.

"The Japan Song" is a remake of the Dveykus 2 classic, "In a Vinkele," later re-recorded as "Tatte" by Yaakov Skwekey, featuring new lyrics by Moti Illowitz and Moshe Kravitsky in both English and Yiddish.

The music video, directed by Danny Finkelman, was filmed on two continents (mostly Japan and New York City). The majority of the footage was captured at the Chiba Detention Center where the prisoners are being held, only a few days before Japan was devastated by the earthquake-tsunami.

While in Japan, Daskal and Finkelman were given the opportunity to spend half an hour with each of the two prisoners. They claim this short time with the men inspired them to launch this project immediately and to continue fighting for their release. The seven-minute long music video describes the journey and plight of Goldberg and Greenwald, and now includes sliced in footage of the tsunami.

"While I was impressed with the good nature of the Japanese people and their respect for us as Jews," said Finkelman, "it was heartbreaking to realize that despite the fact that these two young men are imprisoned just a few feet away from each other, they are kept separated and have not spoken to each other for almost three years.

"While so many of us pray for the welfare of these two young men, it is important that we remember them both with prayers and the donations that are so desperately needed to fund their defense."

Some controversy is surrounding this music video. The musicians claim they have included footage of the tsunami in support and solidarity of the disaster that has claimed many lives. Others believe that, in a subtle way, they’re implying Japan was affected by this disaster because they’re holding innocent men in prison.