Though he may be the only hasid in the world to boast bleached-blond peyos, singing at the White House and appearing in a Pepsi commercial, Lipa Schmeltzer  (also known as “The Jewish Elvis,” and “The Lady Gaga of Hasidic Music”) had a rather typical hasidic upbringing in terms of religion. Emotionally, there were challenges. Growing up […]

As the Grammy Awards approach, the music industry hands out honors to an elite few. The American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) does the same, and when they name someone songwriter of the year, they mean business. Did you know that in 2014 that honor fell to a Hasidic Jew? Alex Clare is a […]

Donald Trump Taps Hardline Orthodox Attorney as Israel Ambassador Donald Trump has nominated David Friedman, a Jewish Orthodox bankruptcy lawyer, to serve as his ambassador to Israel. Friedman served as an adviser to Trump during the campaign and is believed to be a strong force behind the President-elect’s hardline pro-Israel stance. Kung Pao Kosher Comic […]

Watch How White House Kitchen Goes Kosher for Hanukkah Party This week’s White House Hanukkah party, where President Barack Obama lit the menorah for the last time as Commander in Chief, featured festive food out of a kitchen that meets the highest standards of kosher observance. So how is this feat accomplished? Married couple to […]

  Sarah Dukes, a 33-year-old mother of five from Crown Heights, is the first Hasidic woman to be on the Grammy® ballot. She is currently on the ballot (as a potential nominee) for best New Age Instrumental Album for the 59th annual Grammy® Awards. Born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, Dukes started weekly piano […]

Beloved singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen died last week at the age of 82. Most famous for penning the hauntingly poignant ballad “Hallelujah” among other songs in the past 40 years, as well as poetry and novels, not many people were aware that Cohen was born and raised Orthodox, spent some time involved in Buddhism then returned […]