arts&life
music

Rapper Nissim will
perform Thursday,
Dec. 6, at Chanukah
Wonderland.

SCAN THIS PAGE
TO SEE A MUSIC
VIDEO FROM NISSIM

Celebrating

Nissim’s raps bring holiday
joy to Chanukah Wonderland.

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

T

he rapper known as Nissim was
raised by parents who gave him
career direction through their
rapping careers, but he had to establish
personal stability on his own.
Nissim experimented with different
religious practices to find the spiritual-
ity he felt was missing from his life and
became inspired by Judaism. At 31, he
happily looks back on converting with
his wife in 2010. They are raising their
five children in Jerusalem.
As Nissim continues rapping, his
performances reflect his religious
transformation. The entertainer brings
his lyrics to Chanukah Wonderland,
where the musical rhythms setting the
background for his words will be pre-
sented on recordings.
The rapper will perform at 5 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 6, at Orchard Mall in
West Bloomfield as part of the event
that runs Dec. 2-6. Now in its 10th
year, the programming includes crafts,

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November 29 • 2018

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Life

activities and holiday food for partici-
pants of all ages.
“Chanukah is about miracles in the
midst of darkness,” says Nissim, who
tours to many distant cities. “It’s almost
like my whole life. I love Chanukah,
and I love the season. It feels that God
is so present at this time of year.”
Chanukah Wonderland is under
the direction of the Sara and Morris
Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center in
West Bloomfield.
“Our goal at the Chanukah
Wonderland is for people to celebrate
and share in the joys of their Jewish
heritage and traditions,” says Rabbi
Shneur Silberberg, outreach director
at the Torah Center as he co-directs
the holiday celebration with his wife,
Zeesy.
“Sadly, there’s been a whole lot
of hate going around recently, and
the tragedy in Pittsburgh was a sad
reminder of the horrific impact hate

can lead to. Chanukah — along with
the Wonderland — provides an oppor-
tunity to enjoy a holiday that celebrates
the victory of good over evil and that
emphasizes our ability to work togeth-
er to bring light to the darkness.”
The days of holiday fun will include
some 30 activity opportunities. Among
them are what has been billed as the
world’s biggest dreidel-shaped moon
bounce, a hands-on olive oil-mak-
ing demonstration, doughnut- and

details

Chanukah Wonderland runs Sunday-
Thursday, Dec. 2-6, at the Orchard
Mall in West Bloomfield. Thursday’s
concert tickets are $5 per child; $10 in
advance and $15 at door. (248) 207-
5513; rabbishneur@baischabad.com;
chanukahwonderlandmi.com.

latke-making opportunities and the
design of socks to keep and give to Yad
Ezra.
A Home Depot workshop will
introduce youngsters to lots of tools
as they learn to build wooden crafts.
On Sunday morning, “Caffeine for the
Soul” will be served. Chef Cari will
prepare delicious kosher fare from her
food truck on Monday afternoon.
The event, decorated with images
from the Jewish News Chanukah Art
Contest, will feature the selection of
winners and the distribution of awards
during the finale, when there also will
be the lighting of a 12-foot menorah
and the serving of soup, latkes and
doughnuts.
“I focus my performance a lot on
celebrating life,” says Nissim, who
was given the birth name of Damian
Jamohl Black and originally performed
under the name D. Black. “I try to keep
people excited and happy. I want the
joy of the holiday to be in the perfor-
mance and the hearts of the people.
“Music usually reflects a person’s
outlook, and I talk about my own
experiences through what I have writ-
ten. Since I’ve changed outside the
music, it’s changed the music. I con-
verted trying to find the truth so I can
live my life to that truth. In my doing
so, I spent a lot of time on the Chabad
website, and I feel closer to God.”
Nissim, who is making his debut in
Michigan, performs in English with an
occasional Hebrew word.
“Judaism has changed my life in
almost every way possible and has
brought structure to my life that wasn’t
there before,” he says. “It encourages
people to engage in family life and
grow in a healthy way.”
Nissim does not write every day
because he spends time in learning and
meditating. His writing usually takes
place during days when he has accept-
ed studio work.
The rapper explains that his most
recent recording, “King of the World,”
expresses the grandeur of God. Earlier
religious recordings include “The Black
Miracle” and “Hashem Melech 2.0.”
“A Million Years” provides an exam-
ple of how he expresses the essence of
his life through rap:
I came from a place where everything
was different
And I called out to you, and you
showed me that you listen.
From there, we became best friends,
and I gave my life to you.
You showed me who I am. ■