[Video below.] Rav Aharon Teitelbaum, the Satmar Rebbe of Kiryas Yoel, delivered sharp words of criticism last week regarding what he described as the increasingly inappropriate atmosphere that has become commonplace at many contemporary weddings within the frum world, calling it “ekeldig,” or “disgusting.”
The remarks were delivered during a gathering in Williamsburg last Tuesday, where the Rebbe addressed a range of concerns affecting the broader tzibbur. A central focus of his comments was the changing style and tone of contemporary chasunos, particularly the growing dominance of nightclub-style music and behavior that many ehrliche Yidden feel has drifted far from the spirit of a traditional Jewish wedding, calling it “ekeldige negginim mit ekeldige tantzeray” (disgusting songs with disgusting dancing).
The rebbe lamented what he described as a steady erosion of the kedusha and dignity that once defined a chasunah. He expressed pain that weddings, which are meant to be sacred occasions centered around building a bayis ne’eman b’Yisroel, have increasingly become centered around spectacle and goyishe noise.
The rebbe joins the chorus of rabbonim who decry scenes now commonly witnessed at weddings, where guests dance to booming DJ-driven music that resemble secular nightlife culture far more than a traditional simcha shel mitzvah.
WATCH:
{Matzav.com}
The Rebbe is saying good.
the same observation and consternation was expressed by various gedolim forty years ago .
every generation the music shifts and changes raising yet again the same ire.
In Israel, it is almost impossible to find a band who can play normal music and even if it can, who will resist the demands of the guest for the wild stuff.
There is one band who can be relied on, in my opinion, called B’sof Umachol, run by Nosson Kirshner. They play exquisitely, and only kosher nigunim, at an acceptable noise level.
You don’t have to go with the wind. You do what suits you. If your guest don’t like it, let them leave. Many charedi families discuss the music with the musicians before the wedding. Indeed their wedding have a charedi geshmak.
The Rebbe shlit”a is so right! This “music” is taken from the lowest non-Jewish rap banging. Feh!
The Rebbe slit”a also condemned the new meshugas of elaborate chuppahs.
Do we really know what kind of music they liked in the time of the Tano’im and Amoro’im. Perhaps it’s exactly the opposite of what we think of as decent music.
Do you have any proof to back up this hypothesis?
He is so right. One wonders where these bochurim saw these dances. And that “music “ – disgusting
There is plenty heimishe beautiful lebedik niggunim. Why do they need to play goyishe garbage?
If he’s saying it to his people in his community, then he has the right, cause its his place. And also, these people want to hear from their Rebbe.
Personally, I would pick my battles wisely. A lot of worse problems out there today.
I’m also always an expert as to what another person should or should not say. So when a manhig talks to his people, and commentators let their anonymous expertise be heard, I will do likewise.
Keep your stupid expertise to yourself. Nobody is interested in your self gratification by degrading others. As long as you have a job that does not involve getting feedback from 1000’s of people as to what’s going on in the general klal, just you “know”, סייג לכחמה שתיקה!
I’m waiting for the moderator.
Okay. Keep waiting.
I’m sorry to say that bands hsve been pulling tbe wool over the eyes of FFBs for many more years than you realize.
I’ve been to weddings going years back where my jaw just dropped by the chuppah because if the FFBs in the room knew the REAL lyrics to a tune being plsyed…. (insert numerous horrified emojis)
I think what’s worse, is the intro music that they pound out just before the chosson and kalla come back into the hall as they get ready for the first dance. THAT is when it’s most grotesque and goyish! And that’s besides for the fact that they are blowing everyone’s eardrums out. How that type of jungle bongo garbage is aligned with yiras shomayim is beyond human comprehension. It is a bezayon of the highest order.
Simple. Before the wedding, insist – in the contract as a condition of payment – that all music played, including in that intro, is Jewish, and confirm the actual tune they plan to play.
There is plenty of Jewish music that can be used for the intro – and for the rest of the wedding, too.
Totally agree with you. Thanks for speaking up.
25 years ago, I attended a very American wedding in Eretz Yisrael in which the chassidic-looking band played mamesh love songs. I hadn’t encountered that before, and didn’t again until several years later.
Recently, someone showed me a clip in which “Hotel California” was played at a frum wedding in the USA, the same lyrics and everything. Sick.
I could not agree more with what the Rebbe said…………I am a kashrus mashgiach here in Antwerp and just last night i entered one of the restaurants where i am a yoitse vnichnas in the evening hours and was disgusted to see,firstly,a so called non chassidish frum group of men & women sitting mixed together with no separation whatsoever all swaying together with bright smiles on their faces to a goyisher singer singing a well known pop song of many years ago…I was disgusted,but wasnt going to make a scene as i could not have stopped it anyway.I just entered the kitchen which was my responsibility, not the entertainment inside,did what i had to do and left without a thought of wishing the baal simcha a MT in such an atmosphere !……….. a posuk from tehilim came into my mind on my way home..Vayisorvu bagoyim vayilmudu maasayhem……….