JULY 22 • 2021 | 21

Rabotai chose the “Mr. 
Red, White and Blue” melody 
after sifting through a few 
song ideas, including both 
American and Israeli songs. 
“The patriotic emotional 
pull that song had … I fell in 
love with that tune,
” Brill said. 
“When this opportunity came 
around, it seemed to me that 
having that story being told 
with some of the Zionistic 
unity perspectives would make 

so much sense.
” 
Cantor Smolash said he 
doesn’t like getting into poli-
tics. “I like sticking to music. It 
brings people together. Where 
there are tensions between 
American Jews and Israeli Jews 
... music is the perfect counter-
balance.”
The cantors’ relationship 
with Rabotai dates back to 
Purim. Cantor Smolash left 
a comment on Rabotai’s 

YouTube channel praising the 
group’s work. Rabotai approved 
of the cantors’ Purim video in 
return. 
Cantor Smolash said he 
filmed music videos virtual-
ly at Temple Israel with his 
colleagues in the past using 
shared green screens, and it 
worked well. “We figured we 
could work just as well from 
Detroit to Jerusalem. 
“It was amazing to see 

how Rabotai worked because 
they’re super creative, they’re 
super innovative and it’s lovely 
to see how the ideas bounce 
around and get refined,
” 
Smolash said. “
“But also doing a project 
with Israelis remotely, we made 
friendships and formed a con-
nection that was unique!” 

The video can be viewed at youtube.

com/watch?v=eASJ5YteU4k.

“ONE FAMILY, HAVE ONE 
HOME, AND WE PRAY TO THE 
ALMIGHTY TO CONTINUE TO 
WATCH OVER US, BRING US 
HOME AND BRING PEACE TO 
ALL NATIONS.”

APPLY TODAY FOR THE ADL MICHIGAN

ANTI-BIAS SUMMER INSTITUTE
FOR JEWISH TEENS

APPLICATIONS DUE
JULY 23 @ 10 PM

PROGRAM DATES:
August 10-12, 2021

QUESTIONS?

kjager@adl.org or

248.353.1264

Supported by the Schulman Family Foundation

ADL Michigan's Inaugural Anti-Bias Summer Institute will
empower Jewish teens (ages 12-17) to be social justice
leaders and act against bias and hate during three virtual
90-minute sessions facilitated by ADL Education
professionals.

Participants will explore identity and culture and how it
shapes our views, learn how to examine bias, and develop
a community project to demonstrate their new leadership
skills with the support of the ADL Michigan Education
team.

LEARN MORE AND APPLY HERE:

www.michigan.adl.org/2021summerinstitute

