Jewish Clergy Not Happy With Drake’s “HYFR” Video [VIEDEO]

Drake's new video "HYFR" was shot in Miami at Temple Israel's school.  In case you haven't had the pleasure of seeing it yet, it features Drizzy getting "re-Bar Mitzvah'd" complete with a huge celebration with fam and friends. Yes, Drake is Jewish.  No big deal really, just to clarify.

The concept behind Drake's new video seems incident enough, right?  WRONG!  Drake has rubbed some in the the Jewish community the wrong way.  Namely, the Temple Israel president Ben Kuehne.  The very man that gave Drake and his film crew permission to use the synagogue for the video shoot.   However, it appears that he was unaware of the profanity that was used and some other elements of the video, that is until a Jewish website called the Times of Israel showed it to him.

After seeing the video, Kuehne released this statement:  The complete video is certainly not consistent with Temple Israel's longstanding history and reputation as a progressive voice in the Jewish Reform movement.  Temple Israel does not adopt, condone, or sponsor any aspect of the Drake video, and was not involved in it's production."

Ben Kuehne isn't the only person of Jewish faith that was insulted by the video.  In a letter posted on MTV.com and written by MTV Celebrity/Music editor Tamar Anitai, she makes it clear the she wasn't feelin it either.

Posted 4/12/12 5:21 pm EST by Tamar Anitai in Celebrity, Music

Dear Drake,

I know you're busy, so I'll get right to the point. We've got two things in common: We're both Jewish, and we both enjoy hip-hop. Granted, you're doing a way better job at hip-hop than I am. I've always admired your unique place as the preeminent Jewish rapper in "the game." And there's gotta be a place for those things to coexist peacefully and tastefully. But unfortunately your "HYFR" bar mitzvah video was not that place.

As anyone who's gone so far as to recommit themselves to Judaism surely knows, the Torah is one of the most holy and sacred objects in the Jewish faith. That's why it gets its own special little home in every sanctuary, why we stand up and pray before and after we've read from the Torah, and why the Torah gets its own holiday. You get it because you know. A cake in the shape of a Torah is slightly tacky, but slamming down down a Torah cake? Undeniably poor taste.

Getting wrecked in the sanctuary? Come on, man. Granted a bar mitzvah is a TON of hard work (you know because you've had two of them), and as far as I'm concerned, it's appropriate to celebrate the tireless amount of work that goes into it. (And don't get me wrong -- I LOVED a good game of Coke & Pepsi.) But a bar mitzvah is not a red cup event. And having Lil Wayne wear a mask and rap about roofie-ing a girl at a bar mitzvah? Not really OK. (Also, side note, I know Weezy could've popped for a suit.)

In my eyes, you took one of Judaism's most sacred objects and events and made them totally profane. (And unfortunately, there are enough people out there willing to desecrate our religious objects and places of worship -- we don't really need to do that ourselves.)  That alone was really disappointing, but so was the fact I had high hopes that you'd be the guy who'd make a music video that made being Jewish feel legitimately cool. But instead you just trashed a temple, a (cake) Torah and a very sacred rite of passage.

Now don't get me wrong -- your bar mitzvah had about 100 percent more celebrities and 1,000 percent more swag than my bat mitzvah did, and I would've killed to have Trey Songz (and KHALED!). And, we all make mistakes, so maybe this move was one of yours. In the interest of Jewish solidarity, I'll forgive you (the Torah has a lot to say about forgiveness, and we even have a whole hungry holiday dedicated to forgiveness too.) And given that you're a hot bro AND my mom would be SO PSYCHED if I brought you home, I'm fine with it if you wanna call me.

We cool? OK then. L'chaim!

Wow!  Well, with the dark cloud that's starting to form around the video, there's at least one fan of Jewish faith, that feels Drake was onto something positive.  Rapper Y-Love is applauding Drake for embracing his religion so openly.  He had this to say about the "HYFR" video, "This is going to help a lot of Jewish kids of color stand up in the hood.  This is really going to help those kids."

So far, Drake has made no comment about any of the statements good or bad.  What do you think?  Should people of the Jewish faith be offended by the video or just look at it as "entertainment"?   You be the judge.

PARENTS BE ADVISED THE FOLLOWING VIDEO IS EXPLICIT:  Here's HYFR by Drake.