‘Soul Vey’ Shabbat Unites Black and Jewish Communities with Music and Comedy

Over the past several months, every time Jewish rapper Kosha Dillz and his event producer friend and collaborator Adam Swig turned on the television, they saw more violence facing the Black community. Swig told the Journal the images made them want to say, “Oy vey.” Swig told Dillz he wanted to do an event that captured their exasperation and call it “Soul Vey.” Dillz responded, “I want to do something Black and Jewish.”

“Me, too,” Swig replied.

And so, Soul Vey — a virtual Kabbalat Shabbat dinner of music, comedy and civil rights, organized for the Jewish and Black communities — was born.

The inaugural event was held July 3 via Zoom, hosted by Dillz (whose real name is Rami Matan Even-Esh) and Swig, founder and executive director of the San Francisco-based nonprofit Value Culture.

The approximately 200 people who participated in the free event were encouraged to order a box of Shabbat supplies containing challah, candles and more through OneTable, one of the program’s myriad supporters. The event also was supported by the ROI Community at the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation.

“This has fired us up. We are always motivated to create unique content for the Jewish community and our allies.” — Adam Swig

The three-hour gathering featured Black, gay Rabbi Sandra Lawson; Pico Shul Rabbi Yonah Bookstein; Holocaust survivor Sami Steigmann; Ethiopian refugee Nafatali Aklum, who lives in Israel; rapper Akil (whose real name is Dante Givens) from the alternative hip-hop group Jurassic 5; comedian Sarah Afkami; and musician Mikey Pauker. All expressed solidarity and coming together around Jewish and Black ally-ship to fight racism and anti-Semitism.

Shortly after Dillz delivered impromptu verses at the start of the program, musician and vocalist Happie Hoffman led Shabbat candle lighting and the recitation of the Shema. She also performed a rendition of Mi Chamocha on acoustic guitar that segued into “Redemption Song” by Bob Marley.

Rabbi Lawson, who is based in a small town in North Carolina, also brought her guitar and performed. Such was the creative spirit of the evening, which blended liturgy with discussion and spirituality. “We need more civil, community spaces,” Swig told the Journal.

Since the program’s live broadcast, produced by Rachel Horning and Zach Sekar, the recording has racked up more than 1,700 views at ShabbatStream.com.

On the heels of the event’s success, Swig said he and Dillz hope to host a follow-up program focusing on Jews from Africa, and another event later this year introducing the Black community to the rituals of Rosh Hashanah.

“This has fired us up,” Swig said. “We are always motivated to create unique content for the Jewish community and our allies.”