Rabbi Rubin speaking about the song *“I Don’t Need Your Bekatche." Says that the song is a contradiction to our Mesorah"

 

DIN: Before you read the translation from Yiddish by CBN, I want to point out that the mesorah of the "Bekishe" is about 200 years old, meaning that 99.9% of your ancestors never wore one! To say that Jews were redeemed from Egypt "because they wore a bekishe" isn't clear, read a Medrish Shmos Rabba that states that Jews dressed like the Egyptians and they looked alike! 

Now I agree in principle that clothes are important, I'm talking about trying to stop kids from listening to a song made in jest and fun! 

My advice to Rabbi Rubin who I respect, is to stop taking joy out of our teenagers, we live in difficult times and if they find this song fun, so be it! 

שה"ר פרשה ב או הנסה אלהים לבא לקחת לו גוי מקרב גוי, ר' יהושע בשם ר' חנן אמר גוי מקרב עם ועם מקרב גוי אין כתיב כאן, אלא גוי מקרב גוי, שהיו אלו ערלים ואלו ערלים, אלו מגדלין בלורית ואלו מגדלין בלורית, אלו לובשי כלאים ואלו לובשי כלאים, אם כן לא היתה מדת הדין נותנת שיגאלו ישראל לעולם, אמר ר' שמואל בר נחמן אלולי שאסר הקדוש ברוך הוא עצמו בשבועה לא היו ישראל נגאלין לעולם, הדא הוא דכתיב (שמות ו') לכן אמור לבני ישראל אני ה' והוצאתי אתכם מתחת סבלות מצרים, ואין לכן אלא שבוע 

CBN translation:

"We can’t just be producing and putting out songs to the masses that are a stira to our Torah and our Mesorah. You guys know who you are and you have a big achrius to Klal Yisroel.

You will make a parnassa if you do what is right….."

"There is a lot to talk about regarding the 'external' and the 'internal.' There is this kind of awakening—that I don't need the bekishe [traditional long coat], I need you [the internal self]. Everyone talks about being 'religious' with 'internality.'

But once someone starts with 'internality,' they start to belittle the 'external.' And that is a big problem. The 'external' holds a very large place in Judaism. Yes, the hat, the jacket...

But one will say: 'Inside, I am empty! So what should I do? I'm waiting to be filled up.' Oh! Until the hat and jacket are 'filled up' inside, you have to work. What does the Almighty say? In Egypt, I do need the bekishe. You may be empty inside—'these and those were idol worshipers'—so why were they redeemed? Because they had the bekishe; they did not change their clothing.

The Almighty says: 'I need the bekishe AND I need you.' Both are correct. I need everything. I need the external, and I need the internal."

The Mastery Perspective: The "Container" Theory

Since you value elite hacks and unique insights, here is a high-level way to think about this "External vs. Internal" debate that the Rabbi is touching upon:

In many spiritual or self-improvement disciplines, there is a tendency to favor "authenticity" (the internal) over "ritual" (the external). However, a master of behavioral psychology or deep theology would tell you that the external is the "container" that preserves the internal.

The Hack: Don't wait for the feeling to drive the action; use the action to summon the feeling.

The Insight: If you only act when you "feel it" (internally), your progress will be as volatile as your moods. By maintaining the "external" (the habits, the dress, the routine), you create a structure that stays ready for when the inspiration eventually returns.

The Sharp Angle: ritual  isn't "fake" just because you aren't feeling it in the moment; ritual is an insurance policy for your values during the times you feel empty. It’s easier to fill a cup that already exists than to try to hold water in your bare hands while you wait to find a cup.