Hasid of rock 'n' roll
Menachem Herman is a thick-bearded, payot-sporting Hasidic man with guitar in hand, whose goal is to convert classic rock to Judaism. He believes in ‘giving good music a Jewish, positive significance’
As soon as the first verse begins, it is clear that this is not the Lynyrd Skynyrd hit, but something different, similar yet different.
The first verse does not begin with, “big wheels keep on turning” but rather with “eagles' wings keep on flying.”
Moreover, the subject of the song is not “Alabama where the skies are so blue” but rather the holy city, Jerusalem.
The pretext for the new version is the discussion on the possible division of Jerusalem as part of an agreement with the Palestinians.
If you haven’t guessed, the words of the song are in protest of the intention to:
"Well I heard the UN talk about her
But a Jewish boy won't drink this brew
Uncle Sam please remember, that
Jerusalem won't be split in two!”
A rockin' Herman
Herman’s new album, which is the 10th in number, is expected to be released in mid-September. He has already been working on it for a year with his fellow band members who have performed with him since 1995.
Some of the songs on the new album are originals and some are covers to other familiar songs.
Amongst the “converted” songs on the album are Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” Elton John’s “Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word,” and the Beatles’ “With a Little Help from My Friends.”
Herman believes that by converting these songs to Judaism, so to speak, he is able to “give good music a Jewish and positive significance.”
Herman will perform on Sunday night with his fellow musicians at the Yad Binyamin settlement as part of the “Fun, Inspiration and Your Favorite Classic Rock” festival presented by the Emuna Outreach.
Rabbi Lazer Brody will also get on stage and insert a Torah lesson in between the first and second sets.
Sweet Home Jerusalem
Lyrics by Rabbi Lazer Brody and Steven Gasner
Eagles' wings keep on flying
Carry me home to see The King
Singing songs about my City
Jerusalem you're in my dreams
And I'm gonna sing, yes
Well I heard the UN talk about her
But a Jewish boy won't drink this brew
Uncle Sam please remember, that
"Jerusalem won't be split in two!"
Sweet Home, Sweet Jerusalem
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home, Sweet Jerusalem
L-rd I'm coming home to you
We're all waiting for Mashiach
You can bet he's coming soon
We'll all be dancing in Jerusalem
And we'll all be singing the same tune
Now that's the truth
Sweet Home, Sweet Jerusalem
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home, Sweet Jerusalem
L-rd I'm coming home to you
The wise men of the Holy City
They've been known to pick a song or two
They help my soul when I'm hurting
They give me joy when I'm feeling blue
Now how about you?
Sweet Home, Sweet Jerusalem
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home, Sweet Jerusalem
L-rd I'm coming home to you
Sweet Home, Sweet Jerusalem
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home, Sweet Jerusalem
L-rd I'm coming home to you
