Matt Bar Presentationgood2

Slide 1: The Bible Rap Project: a new approach to Jewish education “Kid tested, Rabbi approved!” Matt Bar, Founder, The Bible Rap Project, 2007

Slide 2: Cain and Abel (verse 2) I go to work, I teach about Cain and Abel, Some say it really happened, some say it’s just a fable, It doesn’t matter to me, there’s something sadder to see, Kicked out the garden, no pardon, yeah Cain and Abel are starting, To live in the real world giving gifts to the Lord, Poor Cain’s is rejected but he don’t know what for, Mad at the Lord, he takes it out on Abel with that murder murder more murder more murder, Abel is willing and able The blood started flowing til it wetted up the ground, The ground started moaning so the Lord came round, Put that mark on his head, though he’s better off dead, When people see him coming they’ll say “There’s a fugitive!” He was a farmer, but now when he digs, The earth is wearing armor and his shovel’s made of twigs, Cursed all his days til he faces the reaper, All Cain had to say for himself is…

Slide 3: Am I my brother’s, my brother’s keeper? Am I my brother’s, my brother’s keeper? Am I my brother’s, my brother’s keeper? I’m all about my people, I’m all about my people! Ha shomer Achi Anochi? Ha shomer Achi Anochi? Ha shomer Achi Anochi? I’m all about my people, I’m all about my people!

Slide 4: The Bible Rap Project: a new approach to Jewish education “Kid tested, Rabbi approved!” Matt Bar, Founder, The Bible Rap Project, 2007

Slide 5: Bible Rap is loved by all. (in their own way) Bible Rap is Fun!!! Bible Rap is a Hiddur Mitzvah!!! Bible rap is Gangsta!!!

Slide 6: The 10 Plagues Moses at the Red Sea, like “who’s gonna follow me?” Pharaoh’s in the tide, we gonna ride to our destiny, In back of me, so sad to see, bodies in the red sea, Chariots get buried, b-b-buried in the red sea. Pharaoh sat and laughed when a staff became a snake, Too long we’ve been your slaves, just let us go and pray, said “don’t make this mistake,” No pardon his heart was hardened so started what we regard as: The Days of 10 Plagues! One: blood in the river, gonna shiver, gonna freak out Lips take a sip, now there’s blood in your mouth Two: frogs in your house, in your bed, on your plates Don’t matter what’s for dinner, better like frog legs! Three…

Slide 7: Bible Rap is loved by all. (in their own way) Bible Rap is Fun!!! Bible Rap is a Hiddur Mitzvah!!! Bible rap is Gangsta!!!

Slide 8: The Bible Rap Project’s Future is Promising - Pilot performances - Trends in Music - Respect for material

Slide 9: 1. The Album

Slide 10: Rabbi Akiva and Raquel (verse 2) Akiva say “well, gimme dalet, hey,” Sitting in the class with the kiddies all day And the kiddies all laugh, cause his beard going grey And Akiva wouldn’t last but Raquel she say: “Akiva, Akiva, I know you’re not defeated In town they call you clown, but up in heaven you are seated Your soul could be the future, learn tradition and then be it You’re light is out of sight, you need a vessel for to see it so… Learn Torah, learn Torah, learn Torah, learn Torah Bit by bit, from alphabet to sentences to passages To pages with phrases from sages, oh baby, Learn Torah, learn Torah, baby I’ll be there for ya!”

Slide 11: 2. The Curriculum Discussion questions Modern Ancient commentary commentary (including rap) Relevant text from Tanach.

Slide 12: 3. The Website

Slide 13: The (refinement) Tour Before performance After tour Teacher’s feedback Teachers and students Updated Performance use Curriculum Curriculum and website

Slide 14: The Bible Rap Project: a new approach to Jewish education “Kid tested, Rabbi approved!” Matt Bar, Founder, The Bible Rap Project, 2007