Jewish Group ‘Maccabeats’ Clarifies White House’s Stance on Pro-Obama Video
- Posted on June 6, 2011 at 1:14pm by
Billy Hallowell
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Last week, we ran a story about the Maccabeats, a Jewish choral group from Yeshiva University. As you may recall, we covered the singers’ performance at the White House and the allegations that the government asked the men to subsequently take down concert footage they posted online. Following reports in a number media outlets, the Maccabeats want to set the record straight.
Last week, the ensemble posted the following message on its Facebook page:
So there’s a really interesting rumor circulating online about how the White House demanded we remove a video of us privately singing for the President. Never happened. We only posted the video privately in the first place, out of respect for our host, especially after we were treated so well by the entire staff. We think the White House has more interesting things to do than hunt down Maccabeats videos.
This response contradicts reports, so The Blaze decided to dig a bit deeper. As readers may recall, the story about the video’s removal was originally reported by Matzav.com:
Mordy Prus, a baritone with The Maccabeats, told Matzav.com that following the President’s request, the group removed the video from Youtube. They then asked Matzav.com, which had hosted…the video on its own server, to remove it as well.
The Blaze connected with Immanuel Shalev, the Maccabeats’ associate director, to discuss this issue further. In an e-mail, Shalev explained that the actual story is a very different from what Matzav.com posted. He wrote:
The performance you can find online is the performance we did publicly at the White House. We met the President privately and that was the video Matzav is talking about. It never happened that we posted a video and the White House contacted us to take it down. They just asked us not to post private videos in the first place.
You can watch the video of the group’s public performance below:
In a phone interview earlier this morning, Shalev reiterated these sentiments. He explained that, following the event, the group complied and posted the private video meeting with the president on a secure YouTube account. Someone then took the video and reposted it publicly, thus ignoring the White House’s request. According to Shalev, it was this video — the “leaked” private video — that the Maccabeats, not the government, asked Matzav.com to remove.
Following this revelation, we reached out to Matzav.com to corroborate. We received an e-mail this morning that reads as follows:
We were told by the Maccabeats that which we reported. The Maccabeats have since backtracked a bit. See their clarification on our site today.
On Matzav.com’s web site, a clarification from Shalev reads:
When [the video] was posted by several third parties without our permission or knowledge, we asked those parties (your site included) to remove the video, as per our original instructions.
So, it seems that there’s still a discrepancy between Matzav.com and the Maccabeats; what the Maccabeats say is misreporting, Matzav.com calls backtracking.
The Blaze reached out to Mordy Prus (the Maccabeats member who Matzav.com claims originally divulged the video removal controversy), but we did not receive a reply. Shalev said Prus forwarded him the e-mail, but that he (Shalev) is speaking on behalf of the group.
Interestingly, WhiteHouse.gov has a video posted of President Obama thanking the group for its performance, but footage of the performance itself cannot be located on the site. Shalev told The Blaze that the White House did provide them with an official copy of the performance, which is now posted on Yeshiva University’s YouTube page.
Some may assume there’s an effort on behalf of the Maccabeats to cover up for the Obama Administration. However, Shalev told The Blaze that, politically, most of the group disagrees with the president.
“Most of the Maccabeats are actually Republicans,” he explained.
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Comments (71)
UlyssesP
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 3:55pmSing for fame and photo-ops while you can, when Obama has his way you won’t even be able to sing for your supper.
Report Post »Bhaub
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 4:21pmHi Ulyssesp,
What is “his way?” I haven’t seen Obama pass any bills banning group singing. Was there a piece of evidence to your claim?
Report Post »Talmid of Yeshua
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 3:43pmLiberal Jews are a disgrace to Judaism. How can you say you are a follower of HaShem and be a liberal? Everything liberalism stands for is anti-God.
HaShem hates theft (entitlement programs).
Report Post »HaShem hates homosexuality.
HaShem hates abortion (murder).
HaShem hates adultery (liberals always attack marriage)
Freedom1984
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 3:35pmI completely don’t trust our whith house…
Report Post »They are probably happy that the Saudi’s tried to get into Isreal today.
Think Dumba$$ will even say anything to our “supposed ALLIES?”
tylertxsteve
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 3:29pmI wish there would be a Simultaneous march at the united nations at the same glenn beck is in Israeli, i would go. i think it would send a msg.
Report Post »busterpuddles
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 3:21pmIf you are in your twenties and are not liberal, you have no heart.
Report Post »If you are in your forties and are not conservative, you have no brain.
-Winston Churchill
symbolsofa
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 3:06pmThere are as many as 10 million to 12 million Muslims living in the United States and contributing to the country as doctors, engineers, artists, actors, scientists, lawyers, attorneys and professionals, but for a decade many have found themselves and their religion wrongly equated with the acts of terrorists like israeli prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, israeli foreign minister libermann, George W Bush, Chengez Khan, Adolf Hitler, Israeli Secret Service Mossad, CIA, FBI, MI5, KGB networks. Many have been the victims of fear, suspicion, prejudice, Muslim-bashing, unlawful surveillance, illegal search, arrest and imprisonment. the jews and the jewish lobby of america is behind in spreading hatred against muslims and islam through the western media. The Muslims of America will definitely teach their kids not to make friendship with your enemies ( orthodox christians and jews). they cannot be your friends. The enemies of islam are fully aware of the fact that islam is the only religion which can bring peace and calm to this world, and these enemies of islam do not want the world to know what islam teaches and what islam believes. they want to create hurdles in the way of islam and want to stop islam in america and in rest of the world. Muslim kids must prepare themselves to confront with this jewish lobby who is behind the screen and playing the foul game against islam and muslims and Indeed jews are haters of mankind, eaters of human flesh and killers of women and kids.
Report Post »evko
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 2:57pmit is paradoxical – here in US we’ve came to the point when to be pro-Israeli and passionate about it – one can’t avoid but start feeling very uneasy about most of american Jews – who continue to support obama even after “1967” remarks – which was direct thread to existence of Israel and of course lives of Jews who live there – so one can’t avoid but become anti-semite either for Israeli Jews or for most of American Jews – and it is just matter of choosing right side of common sense and eventually history
Report Post »rightwingheroes
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 2:56pmIt’s no surprise that Barry “Mel Gibson” Soetoro is anti-Semitic.
Report Post »Cold War Vet
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 2:48pmToo many American Jews are liberals. Israeli and conservative Jews are realistic.
I Stand with Israel.
Report Post »donedunn
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 2:46pmWhat were they singing? Springtime for Obama in America? While we are being ridiculed for standing up for Israel and the Jewish community and trying to sound the alarm, you are doing private concerts for people that hate you and want to see the Jews in Israel driven into the see.
Report Post »Cold War Vet
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 2:45pmI wish the Maccabeats would get a clue. Along with their liberal Jewish American friends, join the growing ranks of Jewish people who are learning that liberals are NOT their friends.
Most Jewish people know this, but there are still some hardcore liberals who are going to have to learn the hard way.
All Jew-haters and detractors of Israel be damned. I stand with Israel.
Report Post »Rightsofman
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 2:39pmOnce again I say; Alas! Those poor young fools.
Report Post »DesertRose1960
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 2:29pmI once got yelled at by the Secret Service for trying to take a picture of the White House front door from the portico in 1994. Filiming at the White House has always been hit or miss. They will let you take pictures in some places and not others. When you tour the White House, you respect the rules. There is nothing extraordinary about that. As usual, you’ve made a mountain out of a mole hill.
Report Post »thetang
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 2:22pmInto the spiderweb they go,and for what? I guess I will never understand some people? Oh well,so be it????
Report Post »historypaper
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 2:19pmRecently the phone rang and Hillary didn’t pick up so the top-secret information continued to Barack. The doctor awakened the White House switchboard and the emergency call went to Barack Obama’s chief of staff and then to Barack himself. It was truly 3:00 a.m.
Report Post »The I.B.M. researcher, Brady Kennedy Ph.D., set up the entire system to monitor the internet and dispatch squad cars if the computer picked up a threat to Obama.
The computer recorded a man making threats and he was given a computer generated code name of “Sprinkler” and the processes of emergency notifications were started with great urgency.
Three times the Doctor shouted, “The Sprinkler is on the first floor” Barack was remote and drunk and told the doctor to call Hillary.
After six attempts the brilliant doctor had a plan.
“Mr. President, there’s a “Jew” on the first floor!”
Barack grabbed his gun, kicked the dog and told Michele to shut up because the damn Jews got inside the White House.
A tapping on the outer security door sent the president under the bed. “Mr. President, we have a few urgent questions!” “Mr. President this is Wolf Blitzer, are you there?”
Bushie
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 2:12pmBarry Dunham, no I mean Barry Soetoro, no I mean Barry Obama, no I mean Barack Hussein Obama, no I really mean The TRADER hates the Jews.
Report Post »What is wrong with you? Please WAKE the hell up.
vennoye
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 2:56pmWell, if you believe the information from Stephen Pidgeon, his name was Barak Mounir Ubayd, until he changed it in 1982 (British Columbia). This dude has more names than I have fingers!
http://teabook.org/video/atty-stephen-pidgeon-found?xg_source=facebook&id=5555135%3AVideo%3A196536&page=2#comments
Report Post »publicuss
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 2:00pmZionists unite! Prepare oh Israel for the impending Arab attacks. Today, border fence is being cut, tomorrow Syrian, Jordanian, Egyptian tanks will roll across your hard fought won jewish borders supported by local Arabs sabotaging infrastructure and eyeing the throats of babes. Happened before in Hebron and the Arab is an old dog with few tricks. Save for the news camera-always a tear ready for the news…
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 4:04pmThey should go across those borders which were created by western powers.it’s not a game and the indiginous arabs should [like the berliners] move freely in their indigenous lands[what is now israel was greater syria ].They should treat it like it is their homelands.The people on the ground matter more then artifially imposed regimes[israeli state]. The 21st century is the century of the people ,not states.The arabs and jews should co-exist there together as a greater syria, palestine/israel -one people ,one homeland [not a racist for jews only state!]
Report Post »ClockKing
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 4:40pmYou can’t co-exist (nice buzz word, Rose. I’ve seen it around) with people who want to murder you in your sleep, and who will slit the throat of a 4 month old.
Report Post »Mikhail Kennedy
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 8:22pmRose bin Ellen
Report Post »You are a moron. The muslims will never coexist with Jews. However if Israel is in charge they will let Muslims practice their false religion. If Muslims are in the majority anywhere any other religious group will be killed, or just chased out of the country [if they are lucky] like has happened in every Muslim society.
Allah is Satan and Mohamed is his demon.
jerimiah41
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 1:50pmI remain standing with Israel. Jew Haters are illeterate of history or not nor ever was and American
Report Post »Patriot anyway. I will pray for them to become educated on the history of Israel and the Jews.
http://rantsofaconcernedamerican.wordpress.com
NuffSaid
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 1:50pmWhat a cliche! Who are these mac’s? Do you always answer a question with a question? Can you not get your story straight? (Any Jewish conspiracy may be doomed from the start.) Is this the kind of courage and forthright-ness the Jews in Germany showed in 1933?
Report Post »Steelhead
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 1:49pmAnother made up controversy intended to divide our nation even more.
Report Post »unsalvageable.org
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 1:41pmWhy would anyone honor this President? http://www.unsalvageable.org
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 1:39pmtoo bad the youngsters do not seem to fully realize that ”celebrity” obama would pack them off like sardines in a boxcar if he could, to appease the muslim nations..
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 1:27pmWill the American Jew ever learn than Progressive Democrats cannot be trusted especially with the Jewish community and liberty. They hate both passionately.
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 1:37pmUnfortunately the answer is no.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 1:58pmThen why are there so many in Hollywood?
Report Post »Alky
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 2:13pmThey didn’t seem to realize what was happening to them in Germany in WWII either.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 2:33pmI support the palestinians but i support israeli musicians too.artists and musicians are where common ground and real life can be found.wars and confflicts between peoples or religions are propaganda and eventually are regulated to boring historical trivia.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 1:22pm“Shalev told The Blaze that, politically, most of the group disagrees with the president.
“Most of the Maccabeats are actually Republicans,” he explained.”
I guess that is a good start … Time for the American Jewish population to wake up!
Report Post »gramma b
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 1:39pmIf that is true, why did they break into an impromptu song, chanting “Four More Years”?
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 1:44pm@Gramma B, true that.
Report Post »Kitsune
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 2:01pmYeah. the “Four More Years” think sort of belies the “They’re Republicans” claim.
Report Post »danielsforprez
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 3:13pmI dont know the maccabeats personally but I can tell you that they are orthodox jews, and most orthodox jews are republicans.
Report Post »flsnipe
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 1:20pmSilly Jews dont you know Obummer hates you! I stand with you
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 1:27pmWe LOVE you though… Know why? Just to tick off Liberal/Marxists! Nah… I support Israel!
Report Post »No1YaKnow
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 1:27pmI don’t get that either—makes no sense. Are these people so star-struck by someone not worthy (Barry) that they choose to ignore Obama advocated their eradication? WOW.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 1:29pm“The performance you can find online is the performance we did publicly at the White House. We met the President privately and that was the video Matzav is talking about. It never happened that we posted a video and the White House contacted us to take it down. They just asked us not to post private videos in the first place.”
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS_____OPEN GOVERNMENT!!! HAHA
SHOW US WHAT REALLY HAPPENED
Report Post »PatriotSmith
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 1:35pmOnce they grow up and take off their blindfolds they’ll be staunch supporters of the conservative movement.
Report Post »unsalvageable.org
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 1:42pmI stand with Israel too. Obama has repeatedly pushed for the Palistians, so why would any Jewish organization honor him with song? http://www.unsalvageable.org
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 1:45pmNOBODY wants to be audited by the IRS. Leave it be.
Report Post »Want our country back
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 1:49pmI stand with Israel…. and don’t trust this White House and their thugs
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 2:00pm.
Report Post »Obama and the United Methodist Church are on the same page when it comes standing with the Jews. If you belong to the UMC you need to start asking questions on where your pastor and local leadership stand.
Dustyluv
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 2:17pmWonder if any Jews were standing and singing with Hitler? Kinda makes you go hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 2:25pmI will stand with the nation of Israel and with my home of America; from all enemies within and without we are called upon to not give in or remain complacent as we have for far too long.
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 2:39pmI stand by MY .45 ACP and .308…….
Report Post »GONESURFING
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 8:07pmTECH, interesting vid, keep hearing about Alex Jones, not I’ve heard him. Mostly like what he says, but he’s just repeating the Syrian propaganda as far as how many were killed. So a bunch of terrorists are storming the border, what would do? Am I off topic here, sorry.
Report Post »GODSAMERICA
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 11:23pmI was kinda figuring that obama invited to them so that someone “accidently” let in some muslim terrorists and that they might’ve attacked and did away with the maacabeats. I’m glad to see that I was wrong.
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