Another Reason to Love Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift is having a great month. Since bursting on the music scene 16 years ago, she has sold hundreds of millions of records, won dozens of the music industry’s most coveted awards, and is one of pop music’s most successful stars.  And if that is not enough, her new album Midnights made history this month as it claimed every slot in the top 10 US singles charts and 13 of the top 15.  That is impressive.

If that is not enough, she is also a role model and a positive influence upon millions of people, especially young women, throughout the world. She has leveraged her fame and fortune to promote worthy causes and is counted among the top 10 biggest celebrity philanthropists.

A star of such influence using her fame for good is a welcome relief from so many other celebrities who regularly use their stardom and power to spread falsehood, lies, and hatred.  Have we not been talking about the horrible statements uttered by Kanye West and Kyrie Irving and the vile anti-Semitic garbage they have been spewing for past several weeks on social media platforms?   

Taylor Swift is having a great month, and she deserves it.  But the verifiable rise in anti-Semitic attacks, the inflammatory words of Kanye West and Kyrie Irving (and others), and last week’s warning from the FBI of a possible attack on NJ synagogues (rescinded less than 24 hours later) has led to a heightened level of concern and anger in Jewish communities throughout the country. Our November has not been nearly as uplifting. 

So it was wonderful to read a recent article which described a budding movement of observant Jewish Swifties (as her fans are known) who hoped to encourage Taylor Swift to add additional tour dates to her upcoming tour that would allow her Shabbat observant fans to attend. It seems that up to this point, most of her concerts in big cities with large Jewish communities were on Friday and Saturday nights.

As the article explains, Ms. Swift responded in the most positive and generous fashion to these requests. It seems that several such dates have been added.

We are living at a time of increased antisemitism. So it is important that in the past several weeks we have seen people in politics, entertainment and sports who have not previously prioritized the struggle against anti-Semitism now speaking out. Last Sunday, during the NFL talk show on CBS, James Brown spoke eloquently about the rise in antisemitism, and the need for action. Indeed, as I traveled to St. Louis earlier this week, it was gratifying to hear John Mellencamp, one of the most successful, popular musicians of our generation speak out so passionately at the recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony. For those who get the reference, he may live in a small town, but he understands the global effect of Jew hatred. 

So this week, after all the passion of the recent elections, and our concern, about what certain candidates have said, and actually think about Jews, it was welcome news to hear someone of Taylor Swift’s stature, influence, and importance responding to the needs of Jews and demonstrating respect for our unique concerns. You know, the very stuff that makes us different, the very thing that so many people hate us for. 

Taylor Swift once sang “if someone tells you, they love you, you’re going to believe them.” Judaism believes that love must be accomplished by concrete actions. As our Rabbis taught: far more important is the deed than the spoken word. Taylor Swift came through for a certain segment of her fan base, the segment that thinks, and believes and practices Judaism. In other words, she came through for the Jews!

It’s just another reason to love Taylor Swift. Thanks Taylor, and Shabbat Shalom!