"The most interesting part of this matchup isn’t, of course, the pure cheesiness of the latter song. No, it’s about how 50 Shekel watched The Passion of the Christ and became a Jew for Jesus under his real name, Aviad Cohen. So when you see him in the subway handing out leaflets to anyone who looks remotely Semitic, you can kick him for being annoying and for having once recorded a Jewish parody song."

Publication: The Messianic Times
Type: Newspaper/Online
Date: September/October 2010
Country: USA
Title: Letter To The Editor by Aviad Cohen

Dear Editor,

In Danny Cohen’s Messianic Youth article [March/April 2010 issue of the Messianic Times], four young Jewish believers were polled about which direction they think the Messianic Movement should be steered. Katie Repogle said she “would like to see more traditional Jewish prayers, practices and customs implemented in the worship,” alluding to various rabbinic laws and regulations. (Yeshua addresses this issue in Matthew, chapter 23).

Judith Seidner mentioned “I have been a follower of Yeshua and plugged in to a Messianic congregation my entire life, but I’ve never been on a mission trip, whereas my church friends go on these outing almost every school break.” Katie suggested a “conversion process” intended only for Messianic Gentiles…which would include “knowledge of traditions and prayers.” (The Apostle Paul, sent by Yeshua, counters the subject of Gentile conversion in the Book of Galatians).

I was raised in a Conservative and Orthodox upbringing. Five years ago, Yeshua revealed Himself to me, and pulled me out of the trappings of Rabbinic Judaism. Therefore, I find it surprising that three of the four young Jewish believers would embrace and encourage extra-Biblical laws and practices that are contrary to D’Var Elohim (the Word of God).

Danny Cohen’s article concludes by stating we are to “remain faithful to the Word.” Although the comments of these young believers are not representational of all Messianic youth, their quotes might give the opposite impression to the reader.

Aviad Cohen
Messianic music artist
 

Here is the article that I responded to:

Messianic Judaism: Where Do We Go From Here?

By Danny Cohen

In the First Century, it was only natural for Jewish people to worship Yeshua as their redeemer. Prior to Paul’s ministry and the reigns of emperors Constantine and Theodosius I, Jews were the only followers of Yeshua. But in accordance with the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) and Peter’s dream in Acts 10, the apostles preached the Word to the Gentiles. Only a few decades later, after the combination of fierce persecution, the split in the Jewish community over Yeshua, the tremendous success of Paul’s travels, and the formation of the Biblical canon, the majority of Jewish believers diminished into a minority.

As Jews became a less significant portion of the early Church, the distinction between Jew and Gentile became more polarized, until Judaism and Christianity were distinguished as two separate faiths. Division among the Jewish people and the continuation of persecution and injustice against them throughout history has cemented a fundamental distinction between Jews and Christians in the eyes of the world. It is not so difficult to fathom how the Jewish people, Yeshua’s original following, have become so estranged from their Messiah.

For approximately 1,700 years, the iron wall between Jew and Christian has existed. But by the late 19th century, a revival of faith in Yeshua began. In 1866, the Hebrew Christian Alliance of Great Britain was formed, and in 1915, the Hebrew Christian Alliance of America (HCAA) was established. The International Hebrew Christian Alliance was founded ten years later. The modern Messianic movement began in the early seventies with the founding of Jews for Jesus, and the expansion of the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America (formerly known as the HCAA), by Moishe Rosen and Martin Chernoff, respectively. Today, there are hundreds of thousands of Messianic Jews, hundreds of Messianic synagogues, and several Messianic congregational organizations, including the UMJC (Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations), AMC (Association of Messianic Congregations), and the IAMCS (International Alliance of Messianic Congregations and Synagogues)—a ministry of the MJAA. Many Messianic Jews are convinced this exponential growth is a sign of the Lord’s plan to bring Israel to their Messiah. In light of these statistics, how can we equip ourselves to make us more effective for God? Four Messianic youths were asked to weigh their thoughts on this issue. Each one answered these four questions:

1) What are the strengths of the Messianic movement?
 
2) What would you like implemented or increased?
 
3) In what direction would you like to see the movement progressing?

Each participant gave original answers to these questions and reached a consensus on several issues, while diverging on others. “One of the greatest aspects of the Messianic movement is that it promotes a familial type of bonding in sharing common experiences related to a Jewish lifestyle,” shares Heather Blecher, 35, of Chicago, Illinois. Judith Seidner, 18, of Atlanta, Georgia, agrees with Heather. “One of the most vital attributes is that fellowship with other Messianic Jews is highly emphasized, and provides the right type of environment to do so, mainly through annual conferences.” Both Heather and Judith admit that “outside of the Messianic community, Jewish believers are often misunderstood or misinterpreted.”

Ben Weisman, 20, of Nyack, New York, states that the Messianic movement is powerful because “It comprises a committed group of people that are not afraid to do what God is calling them to do, even if it seems strange or unusual to the general public; the remnant of Israel who is following Messiah with a unique, prophetic calling.”

So what can be done to build upon what Messianic Judaism already offers? Katie Replogle, 25, of Overland Park, Kansas, suggests, “I would really like to see more traditional Jewish prayers, practices and customs implemented in the worship. I have attended a lot of young adult Messianic gatherings, which have incorporated similar elements as Evangelical Christian conferences and retreats. I would also like Hebrew being taught on a wider scale.” Heather and Judith concur that outreach opportunities must be expanded. “I have been a follower of Yeshua and plugged in to a Messianic congregation my entire life, but I’ve never been on a mission trip, whereas my church friends go on these outings almost every school break,” explains Judith. “I think it is absolutely necessary to begin implementing excursions like these, especially for the youth.” Heather would also like “an increase in evangelism.”

“We need more unity,” Ben Weisman states. “Recently I have observed members of different Messianic organizations interacting positively, especially in the New York metro area. I would love this generation to continue tearing down the walls that have divided the movement in the past.” Some of the disagreements include variations on spreading the Word, the emphasis of congregational worship, and relations with other Jewish sects. Perhaps various Messianic organizations could join together for a national or international evangelism campaign. What could be a more awesome display of God’s work than the united effort of Messianic Jews to share the Good News with the world?

After considering the strengths of Messianic Judaism and the potential changes they recommend, the participants pondered the future. Ben would like a community that comes across in a more confident manner. “I would like our faith to be more mature and secure in its identity. We must make a statement showing we are Jews. That’s who we are.” Katie desires a “Messianic conversion process” because it “would be a huge step in gaining acceptance among the other Jewish sects.” Katie states that this process would only be intended for “Messianic Gentiles who identify with the larger Jewish community. [Publisher’s note: There is strong resistance to this idea, as it could undermine our credibility as a Jewish movement] These requirements would include: basic Hebrew literacy, a knowledge of traditions and prayers, and a Biblical diet,” which includes…to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animal (Acts 15:20).

Heather would love to witness “a re-emergence of up-to-date Messianic music that reaches young people.” To date, modern Messianic music is comprised of bands such as Hazakim, Remnant 11, Sharon Wilbur, HaShir, Stephanie Winer, and Netzer, to name a few. However, the Messianic population as a whole has not been extensively exposed to these artists. Most congregations still tend to favor older, more quintessentially Jewish-sounding vocalists, such as Lamb, as opposed to more contemporary performers.

2,000 years after Yeshua’s death and resurrection, a remnant is beginning to expand. Based on the tremendous growth of Messianic Judaism, it appears that the Lord is doing a mighty work through the Jewish people, as He is preparing to restore them spiritually. Romans 11:12 proclaims, “Again I ask: Did they (the Jews) stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all. But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means wealth for the Gentiles, how much more will their full participation be?

As imperfect human beings, it is important to bear in mind that we have to make room for improvement if we want to help reveal the Messiah to the Jews and to all people. We must utilize all of our assets and adapt to the world, while remaining faithful to the Word.

Aviad Cohen - Hooked on the Truth Music, How to Share Yeshua

Today Stacy talks to Aviad Cohen who is formerly known as 50 Shekel, a Jewish parody rapper. After finding Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, Aviad started producing music about Jesus. We talk about how to share Yeshua with Jewish people, and songs from Aviad's CDs. Please visit http://www.hookedonthetruth.com or http://www.aviadcohen.com and tell your friends about Aviad's music.

Publication: The Messianic Times
Type: Newspaper/Online
Date: May 1, 2010
Country: USA
Title: Dining Out In Israel
Reporter: Keren B. Negev
Article: link

Aviad Cohen was interviewed for the "Dining Out In Israel" article in The Messianic Times, as well as suggested some dining venues and information for the article. Here is a quote from the article: "Ironically, if you‘re looking for the most mouth-watering falafel and hummus on the planet, you have to go to Abu Shukri in the Arab quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem,” attests Aviad Cohen. “And if you want to sample the best schwarma in Jerusalem,” he advises, “just go to Moshiko on Ben Yehuda Street.”

On the front page of the newspaper and online edition, there is a photo taken by Aviad Cohen of a breakfast plate he took while eating at The Crown Plaza Hotel in Jerusalem (Aviad's pre-wedding DJ gig food).

Publication: Tablet l A New Read On Jewish Life

Her new beliefs and commitments, not surprisingly, have strained or ended many relationships from her Messianic days. One of Orand’s online acquaintances, a Jewish-turned-Messianic rapper named Aviad Cohen, suggested to Tablet that Orand’s horrific conversion experience may have been some kind of message from above. “People choose their own path instead of the path that God lays out for them and then, sometimes things like this happen,” he said.

Publication: Jesus.ch
Type: Online
Date: November 17, 2009
Country: Switzerland
Section: Kulture
Title: Aviad Cohen singt über den König der Juden
Reporter: Daniel Gerber
Article: link

ARTICLE

Aviad Cohen singt über den König der Juden

Aviad Cohen bekennt

Aviad Cohen bekennt sich seit rund fünf Jahren zu Jeschua.

Aviad Cohen, einst bekannt als «50 Shekel», publizierte soeben sein drittes Album. Es heisst «Good News to Mission Control».

«Ja, ich bin Christ; ich wählte Jeschua als meinen Erlöser. Das ist die jüdischste Entscheidung, die ich je getroffen habe», sagte Aviad Cohen vor vier Jahren zu dieser Webseite. Damals nannte er sich noch «50 Shekel», unter diesem Namen wurde der jüdisch-amerikanische Hip Hoper bekannt. Es gebe nichts an Jesus, das nicht jüdisch wäre, schildert Cohen, der ursprünglich aus Tel Aviv stammt.

Nun publiziert der junge Musiker sein drittes Album. Die neun Songs seiner neuen CD «Good News To Mission Control» überzeugen mit gewohnt eingängiger Musik und tiefgehenden Texten über Jeschua, den König der Juden. Das Album kann von Aviads Website heruntergeladen werden, inklusive einem 18seitigen, digitalen Songbuch.

Diskographie von Aviad Cohen

Aviad Cohens drittes
Aviad Cohens drittes Album.
Good News To Mission Control (2009)
Fire Starter (2008)
Hooked On The Truth (2006)

Lesen Sie auch:
Aviad Cohen (Ex-50 Shekel) veröffentlicht erstes Album
50 Shekel: "God Rocks... I just roll with Him"
Webseite: www.aviadcohen.com

Autor: Daniel Gerber
Quelle: Livenet.ch
Datum: 17.11.2009

When it comes to thinking outside the box, look first to Aviad Cohen. He first achieved notoriety in 2003 under the pseudonym of 50 Shekel, billed as “The Heeb- Hop Rapper.” Aviad came to faith in Yeshua in 2004 and eventually dropped the 50 Shekel moniker. Since then, he has produced two albums, including a remake of  Steve McConnell’s “We Delight In Your Shabbat,” bearing Aviad’s unique stamp, plus a collaboration with Sharon Wilbur and her husband Joel. “I create electronica/dance praise and worship music. People of all ages use it as a  tool to witness to their friends and family. Those who aren’t familiar with my work or understand musical genres will automatically categorize me as a Jewish rapper.

“What I do with my music is to surrender to God and be a willing vessel, doing what He wants me to do. It’s quite liberating and exciting. You never know what He is going to do through you next!” Aviad seems baffled by those who might object that an artist’s songs aren’t Messianic because they lack the familiar sound. “Expressing our faith through music does not always have to adhere to old school methods,” he comments.“Hazakim is doing something absolutely groundbreaking. They’re men of God praising Yeshua through distinct and intelligent song writing. At the 2006 Messiah Conference, they sang hip-hop praise songs on stage, and the kids loved it. But several older people in the crowd were not quite ready to receive it. “I invited Sharon and Joel Wilbur to perform with me on ‘Yeshua On the Radio,’ on my new Fire Starter album to do something extraordinary to share God’s Truth. We are one in the Body of Messiah, and it’s a joy when we can work together. Without a doubt, the first generation of modern Messianic singers has paved the way for us to have a platform today. We acknowledge their contribution. We are sowing seeds and encouraging the next generation to use their God-given talents to share the Truth.”

Publication: Sound7.de
Type: Online
Date: November 28, 2008
Country: Germany
Type: CD Review
Reporter: Tobias Michel

Aviad Cohen: Fire Starter

Der jüdische Spassrapper »50 Shekel« war eine kleine Internetsensation. Doch als er anfing, sich mit seiner Religion ernsthafter zu befassen, begegnete ihm Jesus und er wurde Christ. Seither ist er unter seinem richtigen Namen Aviad Cohen im Auftrag des Herrn unterwegs.

»Fire Starter« lautet sein neues Album, welches er in Eigenregie produziert hat. Musikalisch handelt es sich um ein modernes Pop-Album mit vielen unterschiedlichen Einflüssen. Nach einem kräftigen Einstieg mit einigen Dance-Nummern, wird das Album immer mehr zur Pop/Rock Scheibe. Gegen Ende erklingen ruhige, stellenweise fast meditative, Lieder, die mit durchdachten Texten und passender Begleitung glänzen.

»Yeshua On The Radio« kommt als evangelistischer Partyhit im Elektropop-Gewand daher. Das Lied »Fire Starter« ist ein aggressiver R'n'B Song mit deutlicher Message. Wer den jüdischen Gruß »Shabbat Shalom« schon immer mal als Hands-Up hören wollte, wird beim gleichnamigen Lied fündig. Eine Ausnahme bildet der Instrumental-Track »Marriage Supper of The Lamb«, ein wunderschönes, mit Drumloops angereichertes Klaviersolo. Hiphop, wie beim ehemaligen Vorbild »50 Cent«, fehlt ganz.

Textlich liefert Aviad Cohen eine Menge. Von gehaltvollen Predigten in Lied-Form, Gebeten für sein jüdisches Volk, Anbetung und sehr persönlichen Texten liefert er auch einige Interludes mit vertonten Bibelstellen und Psalmen. Wer des Englischen mächtig ist, kommt voll auf seine Kosten.

Das Cover zeigt Cohen, wie er seine Musik zum Volk bringt, wie Mose die Zehn Gebote. Aviad nimmt seinen Missionsauftrag ernst und verschenkt seine zwei Alben »Hooked on the Truth« und »Fire Starter« als mp3-Dateien auf seiner Webseite.

Persönlich habe ich eine geteilte Meinung zu »Fire Starter«. Es glänzt durch Vielseitigkeit, trifft aber nur stellenweise meinen Geschmack. In der zweiten Hälfte des Albums erklingen mir zu viele ruhige Töne, allerdings empfinde ich die erwähnten Lieder »Yeshua On The Radio« und »Shabbat Shalom« als große Partykracher. Auf Grund der Abwechslung ist wohl für jeden etwas dabei, vom Durchschnittshörer bis hin zum Israelfreund. Da das Album kostenlos zu haben ist, kann eigentlich jeder bedenkenlos zuschlagen.

JESUS TOLD ME TO MAKE MUSIC FOR HIM

“The way the pastor spoke made sense, and it was different from the way that the rabbis spoke,” the Jew Aviad Cohen says.

By Kaja Lauterbach

As a student he made music for commercials in New York and Los Angeles. In 2003 he became known in Jewish circles worldwide as the hip-hop and rap-musician 50 Shekel. Aviad Cohen is 32 years-old and was born in a Jewish family in Tel Aviv. When he was two, the family moved to New York. Here he was brought up in a Jewish way and went to religious private schools. “But the Judaism, I was taught, was only traditions and oral legends. I was never told that I could have a personal relationship with God. On the contrary, I was told that he was too busy to deal with individuals,” he says.

Exalt the name of Jesus

However, in 2004 Aviad Cohen came to believe in Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, and now he uses his music to proclaim the gospel. “I have been playing since I was a child. To play and to create music is a gift which God has given me. I am not able to read or write music, but use the computer. I like to make contemporary music for the young people. Now performing is worshipping God. Before I became a Christian I did not know why I did it,” he says. “I do not want to be a super star, but to exalt the name of Jesus.”

More about Jesus

Aviad Cohen first met Christianity through some morning devotions in the radio. “Where I lived, the radio waves were somewhat unstable. Often I was not woken up by the buzz of the clock radio, but by a pastor speaking about Jesus,” he tells. “I did not understand a word of it, but everything he said was about Jesus. It was very clear and made sense, and it was so very different from the way the rabbis used to speak. Their sermons are full of arguments and reminds me a lot of court trials,”

Aviad Cohen began to read the Bible secretly on the internet. He discovered that everything in the New Testament builds on the Old Testament, and it all started to make sense. Aviad Cohen simply had to find out more about Jesus. He bought a DVD with Mel Gibson’s film ‘The Passion of the Christ’ even though it was a controversial film in Jewish circles. He saw the film at home and through the film he was convinced that Jesus was a Jewish man, and that all surroundings and ways to do things were totally Jewish. “When Jesus was crucified, it became alive to me that it was for me. God used to film to glorify Himself,” he says.

Music for Jesus

A late night shortly after, Jesus came to Aviad Cohen. “I could not see Him nor touch Him, but I could feel His presence. It was really nice. He said that I should make music for Him,” he tells. “I hope that he can use my CDs to reach other people – just as He used the (Mel Gibson) DVD to reach me. When I accepted Jesus as my Saviour, the Word came alive. The Bible was no longer just a book about religion, but about my relationship with my Heavenly Father.”

Go2007

From November 5th to 16th Aviad Cohen was touring to a number of schools in Denmark. He was invited by Joffi – Unge i Ordet og Israel. The tour concluded with a concert on the Mission Conference Go2007 in Tilst on Århus.

Jewish rapper found his Messiah. Mel Gibson’s movie “The Passion of The Christ” showed Aviad Cohen that Yeshua is the Jews Mashiach. Former ”50 Shekel” rapper Aviad Cohen, known as ”The King of Heeb-Hop” found ”Yeshua, The King of Kings”.

”I thank Yeshua Ha’Mashiach, (Jesus Christ) who led me out of religious bondage and back to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and His Truth.” That is how Aviad Cohen expressed his joy and thankfulness that he found the Messiah. Aviad was born in Tel Aviv in 1975. Two years later he moved with the Cohen family to Brooklyn, New York. He was raised in New York and New Jersey and attended Jewish private school until high school. Later he majored in Communications with a concentration in film production and minored in Fine Arts photography at Hofstra University. Aviad’s family were conservative Jews and from an early age he was taught in Judaism by Rabbis and orthodox Jews.

Descendant of Aaron

Aviad Cohen in not an ordinary Jewish name, it has a special significance. Aviad is the Hebrew name for ”Everlasting Father.”
- It is one of the names of Messiah mentioned in Isaiah 9:6 in the Bible, Aviad says.
- It’s rather interesting that my parents who were not believers in Yeshua Ha’Mashiach at the time of my birth named me after the true Jew Messiah, he says.
Aviad’s surname Cohen originates from the ”Kohan title”. A Kohen or Cohen is a Hebrew priest, is assumed to be a direct male descendant of the Biblical Aaron. Aviad Cohen is therefore a Kohen.
- Because Aaron was a member of the Tribe of Levi, all Kohanim are Levites, as tribal membership passes via patrilineal descent. However, not all Levites are Kohanim. Non-Kohen Levites are Korbanots, siger Aviad.

Worked in Hollywood

Before Aviad was known as 50 Shekel, he worked in Hollywood in TV, film and music video production. He also had a background in working at a company in New York’s SoHo district, that composes music and sound design for commercials like Mercedes, Audi, Jaguar, etc. Aviad was so talented that he won an award for ”Best Music Composition for Television” while at university.
- During this time I was also a “wandering Jew” who was looking for truth, but in all the wrong places. Traditional Judaism had left my stomach empty and so I tried many other ways to fill that empty hole in my heart that only Yeshua would eventually fill, Aviad says.

The rapper 50 Shekel

Before Aviad ever heard about ”50 Cent”, he was one day sitting in his room wondering why none of the rich Jews working in Hollywood would think enough of the young Jewish kids to give them some positive entertainment. So he decided that he would give them some cool Jewish entertainment.
- Shortly after I heard about ”50 Cent” and his ”In Da Club” song, I ended up making a parody of it, called ”In Da Shul” (shul means temple) and the song got out there. It was a fun, current, positive message and to many Jewish kids and adults around the world, they looked to me as the voice of the new Jew generation, Aviad says, who became famous within few days.
- But what is really interesting is that God had a plan to elevate me for His glory, so that at the right time I would be saved by Yeshua and then proclaim His Truth to all those who visited my website around the world, Aviad says.

Searching for truth

When Aviad became aware that he as 50 Shekel represented the Jews, he decided to become as Jewish as he could. So he attended the synagogue on the Sabbath and tried to keep the traditions until he couldn’t stand it anymore. - There were Christians who were ministering to me and told me about Jesus, then I went online and began to read the Old and New Testament on the web, Aviad says. When he heard of Mel Gibson’s movie ”The Passion of The Christ” the rabbis warned him and told him not to have anything to do with it, they thought it was anti-Semitic.
- Every time I asked the Rabbis or orthodox Jews about Yeshua, they forbid me to mention His name again. So I concluded there had to be something about this Yeshua. But who was he? One day I decided to go to ”Best Buy” and get ”The Passion” - even though it was Shabbos (Sabbath) and I was in my traditional Shabbat suit, Aviad says. When he arrived at the store, he was afraid to be seen by the orthodox Jews, went inside and quickly grabbed ”The Passion of The Christ” and hid it under another DVD and went to pay for it.
- I felt I was like an agent on a top-secret mission. I gave the register lady the money, looked around to make sure that no Jews could see that I purchased ”The Passion” and hurried home, Aviad says.

Yeshua Ha’Mashiach

When Aviad arrived at his home he slipped the DVD into his Mac computer and watched the movie.
- What first intrigued me was that they called Jesus by His real name, Yeshua. Also, the story just seemed like a typical Jewish quarrel. It was like a family matter. There was nothing gentile about any of this. Seeing the Pharisees attack Yeshua, they reminded me of the rabbis I had to deal with - They wanted to “play God” instead of “obey God.” For some reason, I just did not feel that rabbis were telling me the whole Truth about God’s Word. I was right. They were keeping me from my Mashiach, Aviad says and continues:
- At the end of Mel Gibson’s movie, the Romans crucified Yeshua and my mouth dropped. ’Oh my! That’s my Messiah! They crucified Him! He died for me! For me?’ I think I was a little teary-eyed and moved like I’ve never been moved before. Moved by the Holy Spirit, Aviad says.

Problems in the air

The media soon discovered that Aviad had converted to Christianity, and the news spread like fire.
- I wanted to tell my family and friends about my faith in Yeshua, when the right timing came. But that was not how things came to pass. Someone in New York wanted to cause me grief and called my parents, who freaked out, Aviad says and adds:
- Jewish anti-missionaries are scared of Jewish celebrities and rabbis who come to faith. Why? Because people will listen to what they have to say. But the same goes for any Jew who comes to faith. So, I was Jewish Enemy #1 because I believe the Bible is the truth. I’m not surprised that this is how they treat me and others who tell them to drop man-made religion and return to God and His righteousness, Aviad says. His faith in Jesus cost a lot of friends and a great deal of fans, who were shocked and sent him evil e-mails.
- Many emailed me malicious, threatening, evil hate mail that made Hitler look like a birthday clown. But there were other fans who began to think about my transition from a Jewish rapper, to a man after God’s heart. To this day, there are still fans that follow up to see what’s going on. I believe many of them have and will accept Yeshua as their Mashiach. After all, that would be the True Jew thing to do, Aviad says.

Jews and faith in Jesus

Why is it hard for Jews to believe that Yeshua is the Messiah?
- Because they don’t bother to investigate. Some “rabbinic reporters” tell the Jewish masses that it’s not true about Jesus being the Jewish Messiah and so they follow the rabbinic lies like cattle being led blindly off of a cliff. The other issue is that most Jews are Bible illiterate. They don’t bother to read God’s Word; hence they do not know Him, or His Word. I pray for them. Surprisingly it seems that Jews are more open to hear the Gospel when it comes from a non-Jew who is a Christian. It’s not easy for them to take in the Good News when it comes from a Jew. It’s just something I have learned through experience, Aviad says.
How can Christians tell Jewish people that Yeshua is the Messiah?
- First off, they need to learn about the Hebraic roots of their faith. Jesus’ real name is Yeshua. Christmas and Easter are pagan and Jews do not celebrate what God abhors. Jews are delicate. They need to be handled with care, Aviad says and continues.
- When I was first witnessed to, it dawned on me that this was in fact truth. I never trusted rabbis as a kid. They always seemed to have something they were hiding. It was like they were putting on a show. When I found out the Truth, I thought to myself, “How could we be so stupid? We have some of the most brilliant minds. Albert Einstein, Steven Spielberg, Ben Stein and so on, and none of these Jews have even figured out the truth about Yeshua yet. I had to drop my pride and get right with God, even if it would end up costing me everything, Aviad says.

Music for Yeshua

Aviad’s music career didn’t stop at 50 Shekel. Today he has his own record label, (Hebrew Homie Records), studio and has published his debut album: ”Hooked on the Truth”.
- ’Hooked On The Truth’ is my testimony. It’s for the new believer, the backslider, and the non-believer who is challenged. But most of all, it’s for Yeshua. I give Him all the glory, Aviad says and adds during the interview:
- Did you know that Yeshua came to me in my room when I was 50 Shekel? He spoke with me late one night. He said: ’Make music for me!’, I replied, ’But people won’t get it!’ Yeshua answered, ’Don’t worry, they’ll get it!’ Yeshua spoke to me for 15 minutes. After that, I got up from my bed and began to learn this impossible music software that I was trying to figure out. After Yeshua visited me I got it. I was shocked. From there on, I began to compose on my Mac computer, Aviad says, who’s coming to Denmark in November. He’s touring across the country giving concerts and sharing his testimony.

Please read the interview with him and the Danish organizers on next page.

Aviad Cohen in Denmark
From November 5 to 16 Aviad Cohen is on the ”Hooked on the Truth” tour
in Denmark, to sing and share the message about Jesus.

Joffi.dk has invited Aviad to Denmark to present him and his music to the youth. Aviad Cohen doesn’t give concerts just to play; he has a message on his heart, which he wants to share with Jews, Christians and people who don’t believe. Martin Ramlov from Joffi.dk has been in contact with Aviad during the last two years and has a good relation to him.
- We have invited him to Denmark because he has a sharp message. But also because he has a new kind of music style, which is different from what we are used to listen to here, Martin says.
- We want the Danes to meet a Jew who is on fire to tell young people about Jesus. Aviad has experienced the world from a religious Jew’s point of view, until he suddenly realized the truth about Jesus. Aviad’s tour goes across of churches, boarding schools and high schools in the country.

The cold Denmark

It’s the first time Aviad comes to Denmark. When I ask what he expects of the country, the Danes and the tour, he says:
- I am not a superstar. Instead, I am humble and their brother in Messiah. They will know this when they meet me. My expectations in regards to the people are that we will get along, praise Yeshua and have a great time doing so. As far as the country, I’ll bring a winter jacket and two arms to hug everybody! And as for the tour, I just really hope that people find value in the experience. We are going to be moving in the Holy Spirit, only Yeshua knows where these 2-hour concerts will go.
Martin is excited to see how the Danes will greet and receive Aviad.
- I think it’s something that will get people up from the chairs and listen. It’s a deal in Joffi to make him known among the Danish people. His message reaches many people worldwide. He can say something new to us in Denmark, which can have new impact in our lives.

This is why Aviad comes

Aviad comes to Denmark, because he wants to spread the message about Jesus everywhere.
- I come to pray with the people of Denmark for the Jews and non-Jews who do not yet know Yeshua as their Messiah. But also to exchange testimonies with believers and encourage the youth to continue to walk in Truth. To gain a unique perspective about Yeshua through the eyes of people in Denmark and then share that with people over in the United States, Aviad says.
- I come also to sing praises and worship Yeshua together with the Danes. I hope to see children, young people and adults receive Yeshua as their Savior, Aviad says. He has a prayer request for the readers of The Challenge (”Udfordringen” in Danish).
- I ask everyone who reads this article to pray for me and my team who travels along with me. Please also pray for the people who attend the concerts, he says.

Let God’s light shine

Just as Martin Ramlov from Joffi said, Aviad is on fire to show people to Jesus. Since Aviad found the truth about Jesus, his message is clearer than ever:
- Seek the Truth and don’t compromise with the devil. Many of the youth have done so today by reading Harry Potter, playing violent video games, practicing Yoga, listening to the wrong music and practicing sexual immorality. Look, I too was once their age, but they have an opportunity to live an amazing life filled with real adventure through Christ. They don’t need some magic spell to feel powerful. Power comes through reciting the Word of God and standing on it, having faith and believing in His promises, Aviad says and adds:
- This new generation has to become the no-compromise generation, who will shine like a burning flame for Yeshua. The whole world will see who died for you and me and how we are to be saved from a fallen world that holds no true promises that are everlasting and good.

A youth message

How do you think the young generation of Christians can stay true to the truth?
- Don’t compromise, even if your “so called friends” think you are a fool for following Christ. I will be addressing this in more detail at the events. It will also be important to hear the feedback of the students and adults. If anyone has anything to do with evil video games and music CDs, Yoga DVDs, magic tricks, illegally downloaded MP3s horror movies and other things that are an abomination to God, bring them to the event so that you can destroy them. I’ve personally had to repent and destroy some things, when I realized that I had to choose whom I wanted to serve, and I chose Yeshua. This is my message on the ”Hooked On The Truth tour”. See you in Denmark, Aviad ends.

Publication: American Jewish Life
Type: Magazine
Date: May/June 2007
Country: USA
Section: Musical Notes
Title: Jews To Be Proud Of
Reporter: Mordechai Shinefield

A look at a classical violinist with a pitch-perfect name, Ms. Winehouse, Mr. Y Love, Heedhoosh, the klezmer band from Cracow, Mickey Avalon and the artist formerly known as 50 Shekel.

[Excerpt]

Aviad Cohen: Hooked on the Truth

The artist formally known as 50 Shekel shocked the religious world when he abandoned traditional Judaism and became a card carrying member of Jews for Jesus. Now he finally has an album documenting his change of heart, and it’s a surprisingly powerful musical document. At times it becomes preachy, the conversion-bias of J4J showing. Other times, though, it’s a gospel hip-hop album following in the heavy footsteps of DMX. His autobiographical tracks (“Hooked on the Truth”) feel as raw and pained as an exposed nerve. He’s a world away from his 50 Cent parody persona. It’s a shame he had to leave traditional Judaism to do it.

Publication: The Jerusalem Post
Type: Newspaper
Date: March 14, 2007
Country: Israel
Section: Jewish Discs Review
Title: Aviad Cohen / Hooked On The Truth
Reporter: Ben Jacobson

AVIAD COHEN
Hooked on the Truth (Hebrew Homie Records)
Aviad Cohen used to be an Upper West Side Modern Orthodox scenester and a novelty rapper called 50 Shekel until he decided one day to buy and watch The Passion of the Christ instead of eating Shabbat lunch. His life was changed forever, and now Cohen maintains a video blog where he explains that Valentine's Day and Harry Potter only distance individuals from Jesus. Now he's released his born-again debut CD, complete with a keyboard-as-crucifix album cover pose.

Traditional Jewish dogma dictates that even those who convert out of Judaism remain Jewish, and Truth (as the disc is called, anyway) addresses distinctively Jewish themes - flipped on their heads as they may be. Cohen believes that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, a belief that was popular among a community of Jews at the time of the Second Temple's destruction - until that community spun off and became the Church about 250 years later. Cohen expresses his new faith with self-produced and programmed arrangements reminiscent of the Night at the Roxbury soundtrack: early Nineties synth-driven techno-pop taken to the extreme.

Jesus-embracing Jews are known for their subtle, under-handed tactics for recruiting more Jews, but this disc is more of a badgering coming-out party than a subversive campaign. Cohen even gets overtly preachy on three tracks, where organ-backed spoken-word monologues espouse the search for Salvation. And from the opening dance-pop "Delight in Your Shabbat" (a day that's "a time to reflect and give props" to God) to the thump of "Reach Out to You" (which explains that "He's the one who saved me / for real / yes he'll save you too / that's right") to the centerpiece "J-E-S-U-S" (which of course rhymes with "the king who's best"), Cohen is on fire.

Publication: Israel Today
Type: Magazine
Date: January 2007
Country: Israel
Section: Messianic Jews, Page 20
Title: Jewish Gospel Music
Reporter: N/A

Messianic Jewish musician Aviad Cohen has a new album. He talks about it in this open letter to Israel Today readers.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Messiah, I pray that all is well with you in the US, UK and around the world, and that Yeshua will pour His abundant blessings upon you and your family. By the power and direction of the Holy Spirit, my album entitled Hooked On The Truth has now been released on CD. It is a fusion of my testimony of how I, a Jew, came to know Yeshua (Jesus), the Jewish Messiah—a mixture of electronica/dance, pop, hip-hop and rock praise and worship music. I also recite Psalm 140 and Mark 10 over intense orchestral music. It’s all about glorifying Him and He is using it to reach people in many nations. I think you will enjoy this fresh approach to praise and worship! Also, giving this CD as a gift to friends and family who do not yet know Yeshua can create an opportunity to share the faith. You can listen to samples of the music and find out where you
can order it online, by visiting: www.aviadcohen.com

Stay strong in Messiah,
Aviad Cohen

Publication: Big Shot
Type: Magazine
Date: December 1, 2006
Country: USA
Title: Jew Unit
Reporter: Zel McCarthy

[Excerpt]

The journey of religious discovery took a different turn for Israeli-born Aviad Cohen. Better known by the moniker 50 Shekel, the self-proclaimed King of Heeb Hop, Cohen made a living as a sort of Jewish alter-ego of 50 Cent. He took on the character while living in New York amid post-September 11th religious tension.

“I was like, nobody’s representin,’” so he found a way to be a proud Jew who appeals to a G-Unit loving generation. Jewish religious leaders and the Jewish hip-hop community immediately embraced him. He made a name for himself in a short time, getting mentioned in the same breath as Jewish hip-hop artists who had been in the game much longer: Y-Love, Hip Hop Hoodios, Ill Bill, MC Paul Barman. He would get paid rock star cash for ten-minute appearances at rich kids’ bas mitzvahs. And while one might think wearing a massive star of David in homage to a blingin’ number fifty would be the impetus for a musical identity crisis, Cohen had a religious one instead.

“I’m a Jew and I came to Yeshua,” Cohen explains. Yeshua for those not familiar is the Hebrew name for Jesus, though Cohen pleads, “don’t call me a Jew for Jesus. Call me a Messianic Jew; call me a true Jew,” and you can even call him a Christian. Cohen’s belief is that while there are Jews and Gentiles, the “true” Jewish faith is in adherence to the teachings of Christ, in a holistic consumption of both books of the bibl and irreverence for the Talmud, books of Kabbalah, or other texts not directly G-D given, according to scripture, at least.

While the cover of his album tags him The Artist Formerly Known as 50 Shekel, there is little association, musically or ideologically, with his former self. “I’m not in this for entertainment, I’m here to praise god. I make electronic music, I make hip-hop, whatever G-d wants me to make,” Cohen explains. “I listen to Paul Oakenfold, Lasgo, DJ Sammy, and Dave McCullen. They’re all big influences,” remarks Cohen, no doubt contributing to Oakenfold’s own pre-existing messianic complex.

The Oakenfold influence (make your own judgments) can be heard on Cohen’s latest album, Hooked on the Truth, self-produced and released on his own Hebrew Homie Records. In conversation, Cohen inserts the word “Jew” infixatively into words whenever possible (i.e. sit-jew-ation) and talks loquaciously on the merits of scripture versus Talmud. Naturally, he’s been the target of attacks by the Jewish community-hip-hop and otherwise-who see Cohen as a traitor, and have made no bones about it on message boars, in the Jewish press, and even through some minor property damage to Cohen’s Los Angeles-area home. This hasn’t stopped him from being something of a #### –stirrer.

“I’m not here to criticize,” Cohen claims, “but Matisyahu says, “I found religion,’ but you should be saying ‘I found G-d.’ What’s religion? I know Y-Love. Nice guy! I’m not going to judge him because I don’t know what he thinks about me walking in truth. I know these people. Maybe these other Jewish rappers aren’t there yet. I’ve been there, and G-d has pulled me out of that and said, you know, ‘Avi, I want you to know me and I want you to share my truth with the world,’ and I’m like, ‘you got it.’ Or as I say, “Jew got it.’”

One gets the sense from talking to Cohen that he’s prosthelytizing, and as a Messianic Jew, he’s not bound by traditional tenets of Judaism that teach against missionary0style tactics. As for Y-Love, he brushes off such indirect criticism with the same bemusement that he does the concept of being a Jewish missionary. “I’ve spent many years in Christian churches. I’ve learned more about Judaism and found it to be encompassing of what all the world religions espouse as truth.”

Publication: CBN
Type: Online
Date: November 4, 2006
Country: USA
Section: CBNMusic.com / Between The Liner Notes
Title: The Artist Formerly Known as 50 Shekel
Reporter: Hannah Goodwyn

CBN.com – Rap artist 50 Shekel is no more. The man behind the popular Jewish version of 50 Cent has put that life aside.

Meet Aviad Cohen. He’s still the same fun-loving Jew, who loves to write and produce songs for his fans. The difference is he’s more Jew now than he ever was before.

In the midst of his emerging career, Aviad grew curious about his faith. He wanted to learn more about God and how to know Him. So, he set up residence back in New York after being in Los Angeles for a few years. There he met with a rabbi who taught him the finer points of being a good Jew. But that wasn’t enough.

“Seems like it was more about doing and less about knowing God,” Aviad says.

Living in Jackson Heights, NY, he was pursuing a deeper level of faith and appreciation in his Jewish roots all the while being 50 Shekel, the Jewish rapper. Through a series of events including a Christian radio station and the release of Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, Aviad began to question Judaism. When he heard about Jesus’ sacrifice, he saw the Truth.

“God’s Word made sense coming from this Christian pastor,” Aviad says. “These miraculous morning radio sermons would begin the journey towards my ultimate salvation.”

Aviad began his new life at a Jews for Jesus meeting in Pennsylvania in 2004. This young artist had been looking for God, and finally found Him through realizing and acknowledging the Messiah is Yeshua (Jesus Christ).

“Little did I know Jesus was more Jewish than my rabbi,” Aviad says.

The Messiah has come. He came, died, and rose again. These are the truths that Aviad began to recognize and now works to share with other Jews and Gentiles. So many people are missing out on the Truth, which compels Aviad to use his talents to share his new found faith in Yeshua.

“They are missing out on the Truth,” he says. “Jesus gave up His own life. He was not killed. He gave it up willingly. He was the last sacrifice. This was supposed to happen.”

With a sincere hope and holy frustration, Aviad seeks to do God’s will in making music that probe his listeners to ask questions about their faith in the hopes they find the Truth in their journey. His latest CD, Hooked On the Truth, does just that. It’s a compilation of Aviad’s original rap songs, a reading from Psalm and Mark, and a “Meeting with the Rabbi” that creatively examines the differences between faith and Judaism. Here's the kicker: it was done entirely on his laptop.

The verse in II Corinthians 5:17 is especially relevant to Aviad. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.”

Aviad dropped the 50 Shekel label symbolizing his turn from an old lifestyle and his new faith in the Messiah. He left everything behind: his plans as a rap artist, an entertainment company owner, and his lustful actions in looking for satisfaction through sex. All of that is behind him now.

“Who cares about the sex? I want the Savior,” he says.

Life isn’t easy, but knowing the Truth and love from Yeshua makes everything more than bearable. He’s also just taking it one step at a time.

“I used to commit adultery against God,” Aviad says. “It was destroying me…. I’m staying celibate until I get married or even if I never get married. It’s not a suggestion from God. It’s a requirement.”

He freely confesses past sin and resolves to be repentant of his wrongful actions against his Father, God.

“I used to watch porn; now it digusts me. I know that Satan uses it to try to trip me up. I would be lying to you if I told you that I don’t struggle with lust issues,” he says. “The good thing though is that I am aware of it and am working to overcome these issues.”

Many things have changed for Aviad since 2004 when he became a "True Jew" and confessed his faith in Jesus, the Jewish Messiah. In giving God his whole life, Aviad has gained a close, personal relationship with the Creator of the Universe, which is what he wanted most of all. By giving up 50 Shekel and his past, Aviad is free to follow his Messiah’s leading. Through it all, God even has given him the opportunity to start his own entertainment company, Hebrew Homie Entertainment.

“I have refocused my direction on something greater,” Aviad says of his artistic transformation. “I’m not doing it for the Jewish culture anymore. I’m dedicated to glorifying the Lord instead of Judaism.”

Hooked On the Truth doesn’t play on his thoughts on Jewish culture, like his 50 Shekel CDs did. He’s got a new motivation these days.

“After all, Jesus is the executive producer, and this is really His album,” Aviad says. “This [album] is coming from a young 'True Jew' who is using modern electronica music to share the same Gospel that the apostles were sharing back in the day.”

He’s moved on from rap artist to God praiser.

“For real… it’s all about Him,” he says.

Publication: YNet News
Type: Online
Date: October 16, 2006
Country: Israel
Section: Jewish World
Title: Not so 'Jewish' Chronicle
Reporter: Leslie Bunder

Not so 'Jewish' Chronicle
Is the Jewish Chronicle aiming to tempt its readers to sway towards messianic Judaism?

Messianic Jews, for those who don't know, believe that Jesus is the messiah, which of course is a million miles away from being Jewish.

Twice in the last few months, features have appeared in the Jewish Chronicle in which readers are invited to visit websites that promote messianic Judaism.

The first time it was to visit a podcast aimed at converting Jews to Christianity and this week, it's saying that Messianic "Jewish" rapper 50 Shekel is a top 10 Jewish interest on You Tube.

Maybe, the JC could have first visited the home page of 50 Shekel who these days uses his name Aviad Cohen and discovered that for the last couple of years he has become a messianic Jew keen to spread the word that Jesus is the messiah.

Next time the Jewish Chronicle decides to write something about the internet, it should really do some proper research on subjects it is writing about.

As the so-called "organ" of anglo-Jewry, one would have thought the Jewish Chronicle would make sure that any external links it provides whether in paper or indeed online are checked before being published.

Today it's messianic, what could it be tomorrow?

Publication: Jesus.ch
Type: Online
Date: July 19, 2006
Country: Germany
Section: Kommentare & Interviews
Title: Aviad Cohen: Der Da Vinci Code ist antisemitisch
Reporter: Daniel Gerber

Der Film «Da Vinci Code» ist antisemitisch. Das sagt der messianische Hip Hoper Aviad Cohen, einst bekannt als «50 Shekel». Jesus sei der grösste Jude, der je gelebt hat. Und er sei der Retter der Welt. Das werde im Streifen angegriffen, darum sei der Film antisemitsch.

Tief stappelten die «Da-Vinci-Code»-Macher nicht. «Das Kino-Ereignis des Jahres» nannten sie ihren Streifen. Das misslingt gründlich: Der Film rangiert nur auf Platz 56 in der Jahreshitparade 2006 der Schweizer Kinos. Bis Ende Jahr fällt «Das Kino-Ereignis des Jahres» wohl aus den ersten 70 Plätzen. Noch läuft der Film in 20 Schweizer Kinos.

Aviad Cohen ist ein Hip Hoper aus Amerika, bekannt wurde der Musiker unter dem Namen «50 Shekel». Cohen schaute den Film «The Passion of Christ» von Mel Gibson. «Ich sah, dass Jesus der Messias ist.» Cohen entschied sich für Yeshua, für Jesus. «Das war die jüdischste Entscheidung, die ich getroffen habe», sagt er. Der «Da Vinci Code» bringt Jesus wieder ins Kino. Diesmal warnt Cohen. Im Da-Vinci-Code-Film sieht er die Christenheit angegriffen. «Jesus war und ist ein Jude. Nicht nur der grösste Jude, der je gelebt hat, sondern der Messias dieser Welt. Die Macher attackieren das Christentum, aber letztlich greifen sie auch Juden an.» Jesus.ch sprach mit Aviad Cohen.

Aviad Cohen, warum nennen sie den Film «Da Vinci Code» «antisemitisch»?
Aviad Cohen: Dan Brown, Ron Howard, Tom Hanks und brachten einen Film heraus, der den Gott Abrahams, Isaaks und Jakobs angreift. Sie fechten sein Wort und die Göttlichkeit von Jesus an. Sie werben, der Film erschüttere die Wurzeln des Christentums. Wer die Bibel und ihr Gelten anfechtet, attackiert den Gott Abrahams, Isaaks und Jakob. Und damit auch die Juden und die Christen. Hätten sie einen Film produziert, mit der Absicht die Wurzlen des Islam zu erschüttern, wären ihnen die Köpfe sofort und live im Fernsehen abgeschnitten worden und das Gebäude von Sony Pictures wäre innerhalb einer Stunde in Flammen gestanden.

Was finden Sie an diesem Film gefährlich?
Gott sagt in seinem Wort, am Schluss der Offenbarung, dass man seinem Wort nichts wegnehmen oder zufügen darf. Dan Brown fabriziert eine Geschichte, in der Jesus Maria Magdalene heiratet und er fordert die Göttlichkeit Jesu heraus. Dan Brown wurde vom Teufel gebraucht. Die Macher des Films wissen nicht, dass sie vom Feind missbraucht werden. Man sah das in ihren Gesichtsausdrücken beim Filmfestival in Cannes. Sie wissen, dass sie etwas rebellisches und falsches tun. Aber sie sind stolz darauf.

Es gibt darin auch einen positiven Aspekt. Es ist ein Weg, den Gott nutzt. Er bringt damit das Thema Jesus als Messias auf den Tisch. Er eröffnet die Diskussion, wer Jesus ist und ob er heilig ist. Es kann sein, dass jemand nach dem Film neugierig wird, und nachher in der Bibel darüber lesen will. Ich vertraue lieber der Bibel als einem Tom-Hanks-Film – du kannst mich so zitieren.

Was schmerzt Sie an diesem Film?
Dass Menschen darauf hereinfallen. Hier führen Blinde andere Blinde. Es macht mich traurig, zu sehen wie Juden wie Akiva Goldsman, Brian Grazer und Amy Pascal Gift säen. Gift gegen die Bibel und Gott, der sie gemacht hat. Noch schlimmer ist, dass sie das Passahfest und Rosh Hashanah feiern und nicht daran denken, dass sie den Gott attackieren, denn sie zu kennen glauben und den sie im Tempel anbeten. Jesus hatte recht. Er wurde einst gefragt: «Wo ist denn dein Vater?» Jesus antwortete: «Ihr wisst ja nicht einmal, wer ich bin; deshalb kennt ihr meinen Vater erst recht nicht. Wenn ihr mich kennen würdet, wüsstet ihr auch, wer mein Vater ist.»

Der Spruch des Da Vinci Code-Films ist: «Die Suche nach der Wahrheit». Wenn jemand das wirklich tut, entdeckt er, dass der Da Vinci Code-Film ein unheiliger Schabernack ist und dass Jesus heilig ist. Ein andermal sagte Jesus zu den Menschen, die ihm zuhörten: «Ich bin das Licht für die Welt. Wer mir nachfolgt, wird nicht mehr in der Dunkelheit umherirren, sondern folgt dem Licht, das ihn zum Leben führt.»

Ich finde wichtig, dass wir für die Menschen beten, die dieses Projekt drehten. Speziell für Dan Brown, den Autor des Buchs. Wer weiss, vielleicht wird er gerettet. Das Ziel des Films ist, Menschen von der Erlösung durch Christus wegzubringen. Wenn alles gesagt ist, was der Teufel sagen wollte, sehen wir, wie Gott es für das Gute braucht.

Website:
www.aviadcohen.com
Das neue Album von Aviad Cohen soll innerhalb eines Monats erscheinen.
Aviad Cohen bei Jesus.ch: 50 Shekel: "God Rocks... I just roll with Him"
Aviad Cohen – ein jüdischer Hip-Hopper lebt mit Jeshua

Publication: The Messianic Times
Type: Newspaper/Online
Date: June/July 2006
Country: USA
Section: North America, Page 3
Title: A Shekel for your thoughts?
Reporter: Rebekah Kolber

As he launches a new CD, one-time Orthodox Jewish rapper Aviad Cohen shares portions of his often painful transition to a new life in Yeshua and how one family helped provide calm in the midst of the storm.

The former 50 Shekel rapper has been carving out a new niche.

“It’s pretty rare to find someone making jumpin’ Jesus electronica dance music tracks and it’s even more rare when that person is a Jew.” –Aviad Cohen

Aviad Cohen is releasing a new CD this summer—“For His Glory”—that was inspired by the triumphs and travails he experienced after his radical change from Orthodox Jewish rapper to Messianic believer.

Cohen has shed the “50 Shekel” moniker that brought him fame and respect from the Jewish community and created his own independent record label called Hebrew Homie Records. The new CD includes a variety of styles, from electronica, dance and trance-style, to pop, rock and hip hop. In several interludes, classical music plays in the background while Cohen recites the Word.

Among the tunes is an electronica dance remake of Steve McConnell’s Messianic praise song “We Delight in Your Shabbat.”

McConnell was “delighted” by the remake, says Cohen, who produced it after he came out as a believer and experienced all the rejection that comes with making that decision.

“I had no home of my own at that time,” he said. “God linked me up with a kind family who are believers. They gave me a place to rest my head, fed me and allowed me to make my music in their home way up in the mountains of Agoura, California.”

He recalls staying up late into Shabbat producing the remake. “You should have seen the view of the mountain greenery as the sun came up later that morning. I thought to myself, ‘wow. God made all of this. He’s amazing.’ I will never forget the experience.”

Cohen is excited about the new sounds coming from Messianic musicians these days. “When most people think of Messianic or Christian music, they think: guitar, bass, piano, drums, tambourine. I didn’t have any of that,” he said. “Instead, I had an Apple Powerbook, Apple’s Garageband software, a two-octave M-Audio MIDI keyboard controller, a mic and headphones.”

Cohen, a native of Brooklyn, said he was raised on 80’s synth pop, listened to a lot of electronica/dance and trance music and loved to compose and program dance tracks. “I thought, ‘Why not make some bass-kickin’, synth-ravin’, God-glorifying tracks?

“It’s pretty rare to find someone making jumpin’Jesus electronica dance music tracks and it’s even more rare when that person is a Jew.” He hopes music by young believers will create new trends in Christian and Messianic music.

Testimonial track
One song on the album, “Hooked on Truth,” is described by Cohen as “an emotional hip hop-based, orchestral-driven track that tells of my coming to faith.” It opens with a skit about an actual conversation between a Jews for Judaism anti-missionary and Cohen at a New York kosher restaurant where they debated the meaning Isaiah 53.

“You hear us spieling, the people in the background, the sounds of the plates, the subway,” says Cohen. “It sounds like you are right there sitting in the restaurant. If you listen with headphones on, the rabbi is heard on the left ear and I’m talking on the right ear. It’s like you are right in the middle of the conversation. It’s so real…this really happened.”

The talents of several other Messianics are included in the album. The “We Delight in Your Shabbat” remake includes Belinda Benko doing female backing vocals, Scott Holtz from Rivers in the Desert International’s “Arise” music CD is heard blowing the shofar and a Israeli Jewish believer named Haya is heard reciting the Lord’s Prayer during one of the album’s interludes.

Cohen, who attended yeshiva and took the mainstream Jewish community by storm as a rapper before coming to faith more than two years ago, says he’s still “getting over the fact that Jesus is the true Jew Messiah” and doesn’t yet know what his future holds. But he is confident that “it’s all in God’s hands.” Producing more albums may very well be on his plate, says Cohen, as Messianic music greats such as Joel Chernoff, Ted Pearce and Marty Goetz have all encouraged him to continue producing to fill the need for new music that reaches out to Messianic youth.

Publication: Beliefnet
Type: Online
Date: April 27, 2006
Country: USA
Section: Entertainment/Music
Title: Jewish Hip-Hopper Hops Away From Judaism
Reporter: Alana B. Elias Kornfeld

Jewish parody rap star 50 Shekel, who was once billed as "The World's Most Kosher MC," recently shocked the Jewish world with an announcement on his website: he's accepted Jesus as the messiah.

50 Shekel, whose real name is Aviad Cohen, 30, made a name for himself with his hit "In da Shul," his spoof on gangster rapper 50 Cent's single "In da Club." Cohen gained popularity with gigs around New York in 2003. At the time, he told Beliefnet he wanted to rap about Judaism. "'In da Club' inspired me to do something with rap," he said. "50 Cent talks about what he knows. I choose to talk about what I know."

Raised an observant Jew in Israel and Brooklyn, Cohen told Beliefnet in 2003 that he was in the process of becoming closer to the Torah and orthodoxy. "Judaism is what made me--all the values and ethics that the Torah teaches," he said. "That's something that's been evident in my life.

But he has now chosen to lead a Messianic Jewish lifestyle.

Messianic Jews, like Christians, believe that Jesus (or as they refer to him, Y'Shua) was the expected Messiah. Though they claim to be following the true Judaism, mainstream Jews are nearly unanimous in rejecting the idea that Messianic Jews are Jewish, and many believe them to be Christians intentionally targeting Jews for conversion.

Cohen says his change of heart was divinely inspired.

"This random morning I woke up to pastors speaking on the radio, and they were speaking about Old Testament stuff," says Cohen. "I didn't set my alarm, I didn't set it to that station."

This experience, Cohen believes, was a sign from God that he should have enough "matzoh balls" to explore Christianity.

After that, Cohen watched Mel Gibson's movie, "The Passion of the Christ," and immediately became fascinated with Jesus. It was then, he says, that he "came to faith." "After seeing 'The Passion,' my mouth was wide open for about 20 minutes straight," Cohen says on his website. "I was shocked... Jesus was the messiah! Messiah is moshiach The Anointed One that we've all been waiting for. This movie is not anti-Semitic. I have just fallen in love with God."

Cohen, who has been practicing Messianic Judaism for about 10 months but just let fans know about his new faith several weeks ago, believes accepting "Jesus into his heart" makes him a "true Jew."

"A lot of people are stuck in [Microsoft] Windows 98," he says. "The New Testament is Windows XP. It's 2005. I have no interest in Windows 98. I upgraded. This is where we're supposed to be right now. I am a true Jew on course."

But David Klinghoffer, the author of "Why the Jews Rejected Jesus: The Turning Point in Western History," which tells the story of the Jewish response to Christianity, including Messianic Judaism, explains why embracing Jesus is not Jewish.

"Jews don't believe in Jesus because he inspired a religion that seeks to cut us loose from the covenant God made with us at Mt. Sinai," he says. "The New Testament rejects the Torah as 'obsolete,' a 'curse,' a 'captor.' That covenant is the grammar of our relationship with God. Without it, we lack the language to relate to Him as Jews. So a Jew who believes in Jesus has given up his relationship with God."

Klinghoffer also thinks there is something strange about Cohen's conversion.

"There are a lot of question marks about his story," Klinghoffer said. "It's not an ordinary conversion. It's not transparent and leaves bizarre questions. It's got to make anybody skeptical."

He says that Cohen's posture is unusual for someone with a Jewish background.

"He puts Jews in a light that only someone who has had very little exposure to Jews could put them in," Klinghoffer says. "It's like it's been filtered through a Christian scrim that Christians are comfortable with if they've had no contact with Jews."

Although Cohen holds that he has had a yeshiva education and an Orthodox upbringing, Klinghoffer, however, is unsettled.

"It would be like someone who went from being a Christian to being someone with a website for all different kinds of citations from the Lubavitch Rebbe," Klinghoffer said, referring to the late-Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson the leader of the Lubavitcher Hasidism sect who died in 1994. "There's a level of Christian literacy that I don't see how someone could have acquired within ten months."

Cohen maintains he is still Jewish and says that people who disagree are not following what God wants from them.

He says Jews tend to be more biased against Jews becoming Christians than against Jews who explore other religions.

"If I became a Buddhist, Jews wouldn't care. They would probably think I'm spiritual and edgy," he says. "If I became a palm-reading-astrologer-Kabbalist, they would cheer and think I'm hip. But now that I have come into the arms of God, they are freaking like crazy, cause they know I'm sold out to God and His Annointed Son and no longer sold on 'Judaism.'"

But Cohen's fans may wonder not only what his shift will mean for his religious life and place in the Jewish community, but also what it might mean for his music. In the past, he rapped about praying in temple, with lyrics like "you can find me in da shul, praying after school/ I'm just into making peace, I ain't into causing trub/ so come give me a hug if you're into getting love."

But he says those kind of lyrics don't fit his current belief system. "People love these Jew-pride anthems and that's not what G-d wanted for me," he says. "I didn't want to sell out."

Some of Cohen's new songs, which can be found on his website, embrace his newfound belief. In "Fallen World" Cohen sings, "I was saved by the Son washed away by His blood/ In a fallen world drowned by sin/ No more lost start again now reborn live for Him/ and my life's never been the same."

Cohen believes it is his responsibility to share what he sees as the truth with the Jewish community. "It ain't easy being the true Jew on the block," he says. "I'm a sinner like anyone else, just like Adam from Genesis. Y'Shua was the last sacrifice. I asked Him for forgiveness and my sins were atoned for."

He doesn't seem concerned about his fan base, either. Richard Dukas, the president of Dukas Public Relations, an agency that represents national Jewish organizations that appeal to the 18-25 year old demographic, agreed that Cohen's coming out as a Messianic Jew isn't likely to hurt his career.

"From a pure marketing point of view it seems to be a good move because there's a much larger evangelical/Christian audience than there is a Jewish audience," Dukas said. "The fact that he's become a Messianic Jew could play well in the evangelical community because evangelicals, while they're not all out there trying to bring Jews to their faith, it certainly is part of their mission."

Craig Taubman, the owner of California-based production company Craig n' Co, says that there are other Jewish hip-hop artists to fill the role left by 50 Shekel.

"The hip-hop scene is very alive and well and is not dependent on the whims and fancies of any one artist," Taubman said. "I do not think it is the demise of the Jewish hip-hop scene, or even close."

Taubman is the producer of "Celebrate Hip-Hop" a compilation of Jewish hip-hop worldwide that includes tracks by Mook E., Solomon & Socalled, Etan G. and the Hip Hop Hoodios. "There are plenty of other Jewish hip-hop artists," Taubman said. "I do not think it is a huge loss."

Regardless of the stir Cohen has caused in the hip-hop-loving Jewish world, he still likes to use the Jewish jargon that made him a success. "I just want to Jew the right thing," he says. "And walking with Jesus is definitely Jewing the right thing."