Rapper and educator Noah Shufutinsky came to Maryland Hillel to share music and stories with the Jewish community.
Shufutinsky tours with Stand With Us, a nonprofit organization committed to educating the world about Israel and antisemitism. Shuftinsky’s presentation “Israel Through Music” interwove personal anecdotes and the musical history of Israel.
Shufutinsky, also known as Westside Gravy, has recorded hip-hop since high school. His musical disposition comes from a rich cultural background. Shufutinsky’s mother is an African American woman from Mississippi. His father is a Jewish refugee from the Soviet Union who did not grow up with a strong religious identity. Shufutinsky has always resonated with hip-hop, a genre that has historically given a voice to underrepresented communities. Opening up about the prejudices he has faced as both Black and Jewish, Shufutinsky spoke about the personal impact of making music.
He grew up in San Bernardino, California, listening mainly to West Coast Hip-Hop. This gave him a free-spirited approach to music. Additionally, rap’s political content would later influence his lyrics about Zionism and Jewish life in the diaspora. Shufintisky’s multicultural upbringing meant that he was exposed to all forms of music. He inherited the blues from his mother, and Russian folk from his father. As Westside Gravy, Shufutinsky strives to implement a diverse musical palette into hard-hitting rap bangers.
Shufinsky majored in Judaic Studies at George Washington University, and he became enamored with Israel after a birthright trip. After graduating in 2021, Shufutinsky made Aliyah and now lives in Hadera, Israel. His musical style has been influenced by a wide range of Western and Eastern styles, and Shufutinsky incorporates Hebrew and Arabic lyrics into his rap songs.
Shufinsky’s presentation followed the chronology of Israeli styles – from Early Zionist folk music to modern pop and rap. Throughout history, the music of Israel has been heavily influenced by foreign sounds, yet the lyrical and stylistic content have made it uniquely Israeli. During the presentation, he related Israeli music to his own experiences in music and the Jewish community.
Shufutinsky stressed that Israeli music was influenced by Jews from all over the world. Take Israeli folk music for example. Most of the earliest Jewish settlers were Ashkenazim from Soviet states. The socialist ethic of working hard, the heart of Soviet work songs, carved their way into Israeli classics. Traditional Russian instruments like the balalaika are featured heavily in these tunes. Additionally, these early songs focused on the physical land of Israel as well, and celebrated the Disapora’s return. Much of the groundwork for the cultural and lyrical elements of Israeli pop was established in these early days – themes like national identity and a strong military tradition are essential to Israel today. Shuftinsky resonates deeply with these sounds, as he grew up listening to his dad’s European folk songs.
After Israel gained independence in 1948, the Sephardic and Mizrahi diasporas flocked to the land. Every part of their culture – from food to language, would make Israel the nation it is today.
The intrinsically Eastern flairs did not click immediately with the Ashkenazim that pioneered the State of Israel and its music.
Opening up about his racial and cultural identities, Shufutinsky noted how unfamiliar sounds are often dismissed by wide audiences. Due to racism, traditional Mizrahi tunes were dismissed at first. Throughout his life, Shuftinisky has felt isolated in the Jewish community due to his Black heritage. Yet, music has the power to bring people together. Eventually, talented artists would adopt their music to fit broader Israeli tastes – such as changing the lyrics of folk tunes from Arabic to Hebrew. These newer, Mizrahi-influenced tunes were often inspired lyrically by universal themes – such as the pride for the Jewish nation in Israel. Much like these revolutionary Mizrahi artists, Shuftinsky has used his own music to connect with the wider Jewish and Israeli communities.
In the modern era, Mizrahi and Middle Eastern sounds are littered over all of Israeli pop. Most of the contemporary music coming out of Israel is influenced equally by Mizrahim and American trends. Israeli pop has also made its mark all over the world. These tunes have become very popular in the Jewish diaspora, and big names such as Netta Barzali have won Eurovision as well. Just as the Western world has shaped Israeli music, the art coming out of Israel has also resonated with the world.
Shufutinsky discussed the rise of Israeli rap and its cultural significance. Like all genres, hip-hop is influenced by external sounds while remaining a distinct force. The emergence of rap in Israel exemplifies the spread of mainstream American culture into the Middle East, yet hip-hop’s cultural impact has particularly resonated with Israeli artists. Shufutinsky traced hip-hop’s history, emphasizing that the best rappers often come from regions of unrest. The persistent war and terrorism Israelis face have fueled intense artistic expression. He defines hip-hop as an inherently political genre—born from civil unrest and the pleas of underserved communities. In the wake of the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks and the ensuing war against Hamas, angry, military-inspired tracks have surged in popularity.
In November 2023, rap group Ness & Still released “Harbu Darbu,” an electric track that calls for vengeance against Hamas terrorists. The song has faced international backlash for its violent demeanor, but many have praised it for capturing the spirit of Israel during the war. Shufutinsky stressed that art should portray real struggles and conflict without worrying about moral backlash.
As Westside Gravy, Shufutinsky lives in the world of conscious hip-hop. He frequently raps about Zionism, the Hamas War and American responses to Israel. Shufutinsky shared his single “From the River to the Sea”, a song that represents the Jewish people’s historical precedence in Israel while criticizing claims that Israel is a colonial state. Westside Gravy’s new album, No Apologies, released in January, and its lyrics focus on Zionism and Jewish pride.
Shufutinsky’s visit to Maryland Hillel showcased the deep connection between music, identity, and activism. Through his presentation, he demonstrated how Israeli music has evolved over time, and how it has been shaped by the diverse cultural backgrounds of Jews from the Diaspora. Whether through folk, pop, or rap, Israeli artists have used music to express national pride, resilience, and the struggles of their communities. Shufutinsky continues this tradition in his own music, using hip-hop as a platform to amplify Jewish voices and tackle contemporary issues.
