Despite Video – Lapid has NOT Done Teshuvah

Youtube Review

Often, immediately before an election, videos are released to convince viewers of incorrect or false information.  The video linked here purports to show Yair Lapid in religious garb and a song that he penned the Hebrew lyrics reworked to reflect religious Jewish sensibilities.

Yair Lapid had translated a secular American song written by Bob Dylan into Hebrew.  Dylan’s original version was entitled “Forever Young.”  Lapid’s version was made famous by Rami Kleinshtein.

The song under discussion is entitled “Tzaddik LaNetzach” – as opposed to the original “Tza’ir LaNetzach.”  In the accompanying pictures of Mr. Lapid, it is often difficult to recognize him behind the beard, payot, and Shtreimel.

The song requests the listener to remain righteous forever.  It requests that the listener engage in every Mitzvah and grow to be a Tzaddik and learn Torah.  It states that the listener should perform acts of kindness to others and that his hands should be involved in completing the entire Talmud.

Israelis are voting in the country’s third election within 12 months.  This is unprecedented in the history of Israel. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing off against his former army chief of staff, Benny Gantz and the second in command, Yair Lapid.

Experts are divided as to how the attempt to depict Lapid in Hareidi garb and thought will affect the upcoming election.  Some see it as having the opposite effect – that people will vote for Netanyahu, rather than picking up votes for Kachol v’Lavan.

The Youtube video can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEnGFDB1U4g&feature=youtu.be.