MB Rabbi blasts Super Bowl for Kanye song in halftime show
Rabbi Joshua Kalev, the rabbi for Manhattan Beach’s Congregation Tikvat Jacob, has called out Super Bowl organizers and singer Rihanna for featuring a song by controversial rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West during the halftime show.
“Kanye continues to spew antisemitic statements in almost every interview,” wrote Kalev in a note to his congregants. “He is unapologetic for his views of our people and yet, his music is still chosen to be performed at the Super Bowl which garners more than” 100 million viewers.
Rhianna, who headlined the halftime show, sang the song “All of the Lights,” from a 2010 album by West.
The rapper has lost ties with sneaker maker Adidas and the Gap and got banned from Twitter since he started spewing hate towards Jews. He’s claimed to have lost over $2 billion in revenues.
“I hate to say it (but I will), if any other minority was the subject of Kanye’s hate, there is no way his song would have been a part of the halftime show,” says Kalev. “The backlash would have been the top story on every news outlet in the country. And yet, today, there is only praise.”
Actually, Kalev isn’t alone in his criticism.
“Rihanna’s inclusion of a Kanye West song on one of the biggest stages in the world is grossly insensitive,” the Campaign Against Antisemitism told Newsweek. “This is a blunder for Rhianna and her handlers, and they must make clear that they do not wish audiences worldwide to associate her with West and his vile views.”
Did @rihanna have to play a #Kanye song during the #SuperBowl #HalftimeShow? pic.twitter.com/oo5DdPozpw
— (((noa tishby))) (@noatishby) February 13, 2023
Kanye at home hearing Rihanna playing “All of the Lights” #SuperBowl #SuperBowlLVII pic.twitter.com/qohbKVzp88
— not cory (@IAmNotCory) February 13, 2023
Sickening to see the NFL openly support anti-semitism during the halftime show. No way Rihanna should’ve been allowed to perform “All of the lights”. Kanye’s work has no place on the big stage. #SuperBowl #Rihanna
— Tommy Schooner (@TommyMU11) February 13, 2023
In his note to congregants, Kalev also mentioned recent anti-semitic attacks in the South Bay, including at Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach schools.
“Recently, the Redondo Beach School District has been facing antisemitic comments and graffiti in their middle school – and the administration has not once used the word ‘antisemitism’ or the specific designation of hate against the Jewish people,” says Kalev. “Luckily, our CTJ families are demanding the district be held accountable.”
Kalev added: “I just find the fact that antisemitism is so malleable to be a bit tiring – in every generation we are blamed for whatever is the ill of the day.”
