Lea Kalisch - Eshet Chayil of Hip Hop (Music Video)

© 2020 Lea Kalisch, all rights reserved

You wonder what Hasidism has to do with Hip Hop???
"Eshet Chayil of Hip Hop" is a feminist update on the ancient Jewish song "Eshet Chayil" (Woman of Valor). The video explores the unlikely parallels of female objectification in two clashing worlds—Hip Hop and Orthodox Judaism.

CREDITS:
Conceived, written and composed: Lea Kalisch
Featuring the Eshet Chayil melody by *Ben Zion Shenker* and a verse of Rainer Maria Rilke's poem *Der Panter*
Co-composed, arranged and produced: Enat Ventura
Directing: Einat Propper
Editing: Einat Propper, Lea Kalisch
Filming: Jonathan Hauerstock (primary), Vladdy Grinberg
Coloring and Animation: Boo Gao
Mixed/mastered: Arnold Mischkulnig

Musicians: Jordan Hirsch (trumpet), Jonathan Peled (trombone), David Valbuena (clarinet), Zoe Aqua (violin), Augustin Uriburu (cello), Ofri Pinto (piano), Tal Mashiach (Bass), Fernando Saci (drums, percussion), Shelley Thomas (oud)

Dancers: Yoav Hougui, Paloma Muñoz, Constanza Gimpel, Ingyang Müslin, Paloma De Vega Centenera
Extras: Zohar Amar Mokady , Tobias Moss, Tony Park, Benny Kadosch, Fernando Saci

Cover art: Juan Hernandez

LYRICS (Hebrew, English, German, Yiddish)

Eshet chayil mee yimtza
Verachok mi’pninim michra
Batach ba levbala
Vashalol lo yechsar

You wonder what hasidism has to do with hip hop?
Not much one would think
that’s why I’m here for you to make the link
Have you noticed both words start with an H
Inflame passion in me but also rage
I know you are looking at my style and think like wha the F***?
I gottcha
A bomber Jacket and shtreimel
Not the usual combination
it’s my representation
of these two worlds
and I actually kind of like it

Extravagant, non-chalant, just you wait
Tomorrow everybody will be late
Cause they have to get themselves the new trend
Yes my friend
That’s where my rap could end
But no I’m on a mission
I made a decision
I‘ll marry hassidism and hiphop
and you won’t stop, a rock it to the bang bang boogie say up jump the boogie to the rhythm of the boogie the beat

You know how hassidism to the shuklin?
You know how hip hopers to the head boppin?
It’s actually quite the same
both worlds don’t give space for a dame
The one shows tits and asses quite a lot
the other ones barricades everything that’s hot
But neither if them allow true femininity
women's divinity is not just their virginity
but overtrumps men in infinity

Eshet chayil mee yimtza
Verachok mi’pninim michra
Batach ba lev baala
Veshalal lo yechsar

She’s worth Far beyond pearls - the ideal wife
but where is the trace of the praise in real life?
What’s wrong with these beautiful ugly worlds
enslaving encaving the girls
Behind the kitchen stove
to bake another loaf
Or make them shake their asses for the masses
She is like a merchants ship
that’s what they sing
Huge hips, only wearing a string and a lot of bling bling
Huge hips taking care of billion children
she has to bear
Huge hips seen in video clips
when she sips a sex on the beach
That’s what you teach?

What’s wrong with these beautiful ugly worlds ?
Where women only serve as a decoration on a xmas tree
I sing for liberation
one day they shall be free
to let hair down wearing the crown of a bride
these beautiful ugly worlds
where women are only seen on the screen
Behind bars, wearing leopard leotards
Sein Blick ist vom Vorübergehn der Stäbe
so müd geworden daß er nichts mehr hält.
Ihm ist, als ob es tausend Stäbe gäbe
und hinter tausend Stäben keine Welt
behind the bars of the Benai brak or borough park or ghetto

Ikh bet a tog vet kimen un frume froyen kenen singn,
frume froyen, lebn frume mener - di velt volt geveyn a sakh shener

Eshet chayil mee yimtza
Verachok mi’pninim michra
Batach ba lev baala
Veshalal lo yechsar

Sheker hachen,
Vehevel hayofi,
Isha yirat A-donay,
He tit'halal

Tnu la
Mipri yadeha,
Vi’yhaleluha

Lea Kalisch is a singer who dances, an actress who raps, an old soul who loves new things, all in one, never one thing!
#jewishmusic #judaism #jewish #yiddish #hebrew eshes chayil * shtreimal rap is the new black * shtreimel hasidic jewish music rapper
Eishet Chayil
Eishet Hayil
Aishes Chayil
Eshet Jail
אשת חיל

[LeaKalisch]

Subscribe if you want to catch the next one from this Eshet Chayil of Hip Hop!

[poguelet]

Lea shows the strength of Jewish women! Love her work!

[josephohotto]

I'm a polish German catholic and I find this to be an absolute banger! Hoping to catch you in minneapolis next week!

[shmuelrosenthal]

Just watched this again after nearly 2 years since I first watched it. Love it!

[ffluvssg]

You look just like Rebbitzen Lea who I am following on TikTok! 😉 I just watched this as a YouTube suggestion. What a journey in four minutes.

[sonjak]

When I saw the video for the first time, I thought it was vulgar. Now, after watching it countless times I think it is wonderful.

[NaomiOff]

אלוהים איך פספסתי את הדבר הזה זה מושללללם

[yosefnisan]

דו ביסט דבסטע וואס איך אב גאטראפן
אסעך הצלחה
את אלופה חחחח😂❤

[DJW]

No idea how I got here but I'm very glad I did!

[comabearmusic]

This is PHENOMENAL. I found this from Twitter, a rabbi shared it who isn't a fan but I am now your biggest one. BH and good shabbos. Incredible.

[Heightofacloud]

I love you so much Lea!! You hit the nail on the head for this one. Much love from NY.

[mascha]

This is how I always wanted to sing Eshet Chaiyl! Wow, it’s beautiful, catchy and unapologetic, - like the modern Jewish woman we need so much to be represented! Thank you girl ♥️♥️♥️

[ChristianCosta]

saw this on kleztival yesterday, have been watching it since, just love it! keep making music, lea! (and put it on spotify, please) :)

[bennoah]

The day you were born, you carried the future of the world as with all women.
A man's future is carried by his wife.

[rosehill]

I always found it funny how for a movement that maintains that woman is actually the most spiritually advanced of the G-d's creations, even more advanced than men, Hasidism has a funny way of showing it. Asked a rabbi once how come Torah could endorse a woman as a judge and a leader of her nation, but we see no women on Ultra-Orthodox Beit Dins these days, still waiting for a coherent answer.

[Bigredfitnessmoshe]

You are incredibly talented, but I also don’t understand the need to mock the frum people. I know you think you’re not., but you are.

[CNFir-fszs]

Hard to believe that so many think this is cool. It's irreverant, immodest, and disrespectful. Chutzpah!

[brachaalmondnamu]

Where's the music. Got it. She knows how to wiggle and make me wriggle. Words betray her unhappiness with G-d given gifts of being a woman.

[gilahby]

I don’t see why it’s “cool” to disrespect people’s culture... to make beautifully in the secular music industry, you will need to learn how to respect “culture”. For many people a Shtreimel is a dear remembrance of their family’s pain and going through Judaism with dedication and love for HaShem. This is definitely not cool and does not picture success.