On February 10, Chabad House had a special visitor.  Jewish Rapper and Raggae star Matisyahu was in Maine for a sold out concert at Colby College.  But being on a national tour has led to some interesting arrangements for the 26 year old musician, his wife Talia, and his infant son.  With a scarcity of kosher restaurants and hotels in Waterville, Matisyahu and family lodged with the Wilansky’s for Shabbat. 

To call the Hassidic musician atypical is an understatement.  Matisyahu was born Matthew Miller in West Chester, Pennsylvania in 1974.  At the age of 14 he discovered the alternative lifestyle of a latter-day hippie, wearing dreadlocks and Birkenstocks, listening to The Grateful Dead, Phish, and Bob Marley.  Living for a time in Israel and then two years in Bend, Oregon, Matt began to explore his roots.  He found comfort and meaning in the Chabad-Lubavitch philosophy and lifestyle, took on the name “Matisyahu” (the Hebrew form of Matthew or Mattithias), and bound himself to the Hassidic community.  For a time he served as a chauffer, driving Jewish dignitaries and scholars to bring Torah to Jews worldwide.  Today, he is more of a shofar, blasting out a sound that awakens Jewish souls.

Matisyahu is a popular face on MTV and has appeared on The Tonight Show, Late Night with Conan O’Brian, and the Late Show with David Letterman.  In the two weeks following his visit to Maine, he was featured in two subsequent issues of Rolling Stone Magazine.  He has been featured in the children’s magazine Babaganews, The New York Times, and the cover of the Forward.

During his visit with the Wilansky’s, while holding his son on his lap, the six foot three inch tall Hassid shared stories of life on the road.  Saturday morning he participated in the Shabbat Minyan, and afterwards, during the Kiddush luncheon, his wife Talia, a graduate film student at New York University, delivered a D’var Torah.  Matisyahu’s third CD, “Youth,” has been topping the Billboard charts since its debut on March 7.  To learn more about Matisyahu, visit his website at www.hasidicreggae.com.

For pictures of Matisyahu at Chabad Click Here.