Lil’ Yiddy (aka Sam Shanker), an eighth-grade student at Epstein Hebrew Academy, raps during a concert to benefit the school’s eighth-grade class trip. At right, is Sam’s ‘hype man’ Shai Fendelman.

Electricity fills Epstein Hebrew Academy’s cafeteria as 8^th-grade student Sam Shanker takes the stage, illuminated in purple. Friends, classmates and neighbors crowd in front of the stage, raising their phone flashlights in support of Shanker’s performance Feb. 3 to raise money for the Epstein Hebrew Academy 8^th-grade class trip. 

“We have always wanted to do a Lil’ Yiddy concert and we thought of the idea of having it at school as an 8^th-grade trip fundraiser,” Shanker said.

Shanker, stage name “Lil’ Yiddy,” performed original rap songs with lyrics related to Jewish practices such as keeping kosher and Shabbat. 

“I started to do school projects as rap songs with my friends at Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School. That’s where my first songs like ‘Da Hallel’ were written,” Shanker said. 

Shanker was inspired to start listening to and creating his own Jewish rap songs during car rides with his father, where he was introduced to artists such as L’Chaim OG and Nissim Black. He later began to listen to clean secular rappers as well, but Jewish artists remain his biggest influences. The first song Shanker ever wrote was “Da Hallel,” inspired by the prayer, Hallel, recited at some Jewish holidays. 

“At the time I made the song as a joke, but that was when I realized I should start making more songs,” Shanker said.

Shanker’s songs can now be found on all the major music platforms, including Soundcloud and Spotify. A new Lil’ Yiddy album is currently in the works, so another concert may be on the horizon. 

 “We are considering having our next concert being a fundraiser to give money to organizations in Israel,” Shanker said. 

Rabbi Shmuel Miller, head of school at Epstein Hebrew Academy, supported Shanker by helping plan the event, as the school aims to celebrate the talent of its students. 

“Once I listened more carefully to his meaningful lyrics on Jewish themes, I suggested the idea of a concert, and let them run with it,” Miller said. 

Overall, the concert was a great success in raising funds for the 8^th grade trip. The concert relied on the Epstein and local Jewish community to come together to bolster the students.

“This was an outstanding fundraiser and opportunity to bring Jewish teens together in a very unique way,” Miller said.