Internet sensations, The Amazing Rabbis almost sell themselves short with their name. Aryeh and Gil Gat, two Orthodox Jewish brothers, have been going viral on YouTube for over a decade with their totally unorthodox classic rock covers busked on the streets of Jerusalem. Taking to the concrete with an exceptional rendition of Dire Straits’ “Sultans of Swing,” these Rabbis of Rock gave one of the most phenomenal performances the Holy City has ever heard!
Scoring just under 2 million views to date, this “Sultans of Swing” cover is absolutely smoking; called “a masterclass in control and execution” by some spellbound viewers as Aryeh, the lead singer, acoustic guitarist, and drummer multitasks with flawless timing. Lead guitarist, Gil, fingerpicks godspeed solos that run like liquid gold through the softened lyrics and, by the end of the video, a whole crowd is encircling to splash coins into their guitar case.
Devotees of Haredi Judaism typically avoid secular culture, including Western music and TV. But the Gat brothers skim the cream off rock music’s crop and indulge in those finer retro tunes, first going viral with an exceptional cover of Pink Floyd’s “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” which has gained 6.6M+ views to date. Amongst their online repertoire lies the hits, “Stairway To Heaven” by Led Zeppelin, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” by The Beatles, and “Hotel California” by The Eagles.
But one of the brothers’ wildest moments came in 2013, taking to the stage of Israeli TV talent show “Rising Star” for a haunting cover of Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence.” Gil, then aged 37, and Aryeh, 48, played in ultra-Orthodox contrast to their hair-gelled competitors, winning votes with their blinding originality while covering songs we’ve all heard a thousand times before. The Music Man can’t get enough of this complete irony, considering neither Haredic brother owns a TV.
Despite their secular religion, the Rabbis of Rock have jumped through the loopholes in Jewish law that allow them to become viral rock sensations. Aryeh told The Washington Post quite plainly, “We don’t cross any red lines. We have the blessing of our rabbis. The food is proper. We don’t see immodest dress. We don’t see the women dancing.”
The Gat brothers learned their love for rock in their youth, growing up in Eilat on the Red Sea, years before committing to Haredi Judaism. After their Orthodox conversion, the Gats’ raw love for formative bands such as The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and Dire Straits lived on uncontrollably, matched with a musical philosophy which transcends all divisions. As Gil and Aryeh told AP News, “Music brings down all barriers between secular people, religious people. There is this kind of love […] The power of music is above everything.”
