There is an armor invisible to others which I've always worn, and comes to play when an individual I previously respected says something ugly to me, about me, about my family, and my family includes the Jewish people. This individual's opinion becomes nothing to me. I could not care less for their opinions about anything, I not only don't need them to like me, I prefer they not. Any talent or intelligence I previously discerned in them vanishes, it was an illusion, a mistake. I no longer see it, perhaps blind to it, but more likely Hashem has opened my eyes, cleared my mind, and removed the deception. So too it is with kanye. There is no talent, only deceit and devil inspired hatred. The fact he has many followers means nothing, at least to me. And in sight of Hashem, what am I?
Sometimes I wish I had that armor, but art is art, and I would be lying if I said I don’t still think his music was phenomenal. As an artist, I think there is a very thin line between that which is divinely inspired and that which is demon-inspired. I will always believe that someone has the capacity to return to g-d and seek forgiveness, but I understand your position, 100%.
And I think what you’re saying about “hashem opening your eyes,” is very true. But I think my eyes have been opened to something else, something about the horribly destructive power of antisemitism to pollute everything it touches.
I do not believe Kanye was antisemitic when he released his first 10 or so albums (up to Donda, which I still believe was a fantastic work of art.) Rather, I think that, as his marriage to Kim kardashian fell apart, he lost what remained of his grip of reality and the beauty of hashem’s creation, and he fell in with the only people who would still embrace him — people like Farrakhan.
I still believe, perhaps naively, that Kanye can find his way back to the fold — but I am not holding my breath.
One of the most tragic things about mental illness is that the people who may be most in need of help and support, do the very thing that distances anyone who would be willing to help them.
If someone contacted me from Kanye’s team and asked me to try to rehabilitate him, I would take the opportunity.
But I am also painfully aware of how main stream his hatred has become, and the damage he has done to the Jewish community by normalizing that hatred.
I believe that hashem is infinitely powerful, and he has the power to bring people back from the darkest reaches of hell — I have seen it happen in my own life.
But I also know that hashem is a passionate G-d, and One who hates those who hate His people.
That’s why I hold on to the hope, however naively, that this piece might reach Kanye before it is too late.
But, until that happens, I will continue to cringe at his name and the sound of his music, and I will continue to write my own songs about the glory of Hashem, His Torah, and His People.
I’m sorry for your loss. Art is amoral. It is the artist that holds the quality of morality or immorality. Two seemingly exclusive things can both be true. Kanye is a miserable, ugly wreck of a man, causing much harm, his mental illness being no excuse. And he created art which was beautiful to you and made your life better. Should the life of the artist affect our experience of the art? That’s a decision that each one of us must make for himself. Kanye has the resources and the support to get the best possible help. I think he is too far gone, too broken, for teshuva. I also think he’s too dangerous to merit my sympathy.
I agree that he is too dangerous to merit any of our sympathy, but, as someone who has struggled with the very same issues as he has, I do have sympathy. Because G-d delivered me from the abyss — G-d in the form of my loving family and community.
So, while I agree that he is too dangerous to merit your sympathy, I am compelled to believe that he is not too far gone for teshuvah — no one is.
That is why ultimate judgement rests in g-d’s kingdom and not in ours
There is an armor invisible to others which I've always worn, and comes to play when an individual I previously respected says something ugly to me, about me, about my family, and my family includes the Jewish people. This individual's opinion becomes nothing to me. I could not care less for their opinions about anything, I not only don't need them to like me, I prefer they not. Any talent or intelligence I previously discerned in them vanishes, it was an illusion, a mistake. I no longer see it, perhaps blind to it, but more likely Hashem has opened my eyes, cleared my mind, and removed the deception. So too it is with kanye. There is no talent, only deceit and devil inspired hatred. The fact he has many followers means nothing, at least to me. And in sight of Hashem, what am I?
Sometimes I wish I had that armor, but art is art, and I would be lying if I said I don’t still think his music was phenomenal. As an artist, I think there is a very thin line between that which is divinely inspired and that which is demon-inspired. I will always believe that someone has the capacity to return to g-d and seek forgiveness, but I understand your position, 100%.
And I think what you’re saying about “hashem opening your eyes,” is very true. But I think my eyes have been opened to something else, something about the horribly destructive power of antisemitism to pollute everything it touches.
I do not believe Kanye was antisemitic when he released his first 10 or so albums (up to Donda, which I still believe was a fantastic work of art.) Rather, I think that, as his marriage to Kim kardashian fell apart, he lost what remained of his grip of reality and the beauty of hashem’s creation, and he fell in with the only people who would still embrace him — people like Farrakhan.
I still believe, perhaps naively, that Kanye can find his way back to the fold — but I am not holding my breath.
One of the most tragic things about mental illness is that the people who may be most in need of help and support, do the very thing that distances anyone who would be willing to help them.
If someone contacted me from Kanye’s team and asked me to try to rehabilitate him, I would take the opportunity.
But I am also painfully aware of how main stream his hatred has become, and the damage he has done to the Jewish community by normalizing that hatred.
I believe that hashem is infinitely powerful, and he has the power to bring people back from the darkest reaches of hell — I have seen it happen in my own life.
But I also know that hashem is a passionate G-d, and One who hates those who hate His people.
That’s why I hold on to the hope, however naively, that this piece might reach Kanye before it is too late.
But, until that happens, I will continue to cringe at his name and the sound of his music, and I will continue to write my own songs about the glory of Hashem, His Torah, and His People.
I’m sorry for your loss. Art is amoral. It is the artist that holds the quality of morality or immorality. Two seemingly exclusive things can both be true. Kanye is a miserable, ugly wreck of a man, causing much harm, his mental illness being no excuse. And he created art which was beautiful to you and made your life better. Should the life of the artist affect our experience of the art? That’s a decision that each one of us must make for himself. Kanye has the resources and the support to get the best possible help. I think he is too far gone, too broken, for teshuva. I also think he’s too dangerous to merit my sympathy.
I agree that he is too dangerous to merit any of our sympathy, but, as someone who has struggled with the very same issues as he has, I do have sympathy. Because G-d delivered me from the abyss — G-d in the form of my loving family and community.
So, while I agree that he is too dangerous to merit your sympathy, I am compelled to believe that he is not too far gone for teshuvah — no one is.
That is why ultimate judgement rests in g-d’s kingdom and not in ours
Wonderful insight and view of the emotional impact on Kanye’s fall into the inferno.