In this inaugural podcast episode, Gedalya, the Folk Rock Rabbi, recounts his recent performance at Cold Township State Prison in Pennsylvania. He describes the setting—a medium‑security facility’s chapel with 50‑100 inmates of diverse faiths, including a few Jewish prisoners and intimidating Hells Angels members. Despite initial fear, Gedalya closed his eyes, sang his signature "Superman" song, and witnessed a dramatic emotional shift: threatening inmates began to cry, applaud, and give a standing ovation, even offering a blessing for his music to reach other prisons. The chaplain was moved, and Jewish inmates felt pride seeing one of their own share music with the whole population, encouraging those who usually avoid Jewish events. Gedalya explains his deliberate practice of performing for the entire prison whenever Jewish inmates are present, noting that this inclusive approach draws out hidden Jewish participants. He outlines upcoming shows in Otisville (NY) and Danbury (CT), and invites listeners to contact him for performances in prisons, rehabs, or nursing homes, emphasizing his mission to provide chizuk (encouragement) through music.
Chapters
Hi everyone, this is Gedalya, also known as the Folk Rock Rabbi, and I'd like to try to start a podcast. I've been thinking, you know, what can I talk about, and I decided to just do a few different things. This first podcast, I'd like to speak about my visits to the prisons that I've been performing in for the incarcerated individuals. There's been some very interesting experiences, and I'm just gonna pick one story for now and see what, uh, how it comes out. Maybe I'll get some feedback. Please, anyone that listens and you, um, you do enjoy it and you just want to let me know that you did, it'll give me a little bit of encouragement and support to continue. And if you don't, you don't have to say anything, and I'll just figure it out anyway. My, uh, I want to talk about a visit that I did to, um, a prison in Pennsylvania, Cold Township State Prison. So this was a prison, it was very interesting. I think it was medium security prison, and the event was set up in Cold Township. I think it was in the chapel, and there was about, uh, a good 50, 60 people, you know. I, I think maybe it could have been up to 100 even. I can't remember how many exactly were there. There were 3 or 4 Jewish inmates, and the rest were all different faiths— Muslims, Christians, um, and, um, I'm sure a few others. So I got there and I set up my equipment, you know. I have my keyboard and my guitar. I set my keyboard board up in front, and I have my guitar so I could switch back and forth. I don't play them at the same time. Everyone always asks, you're going to play simultaneously? And I, I have not mastered that yet or even tried that yet, really. So I got there, I sat down, and I looked around at the audience. And I've learned after this experience, I really, I try not to look around anymore because right in the front row there was like these Hells Angels guys with bald heads and tattoos looking at me with these scary eyes. And it really could have, um, stifled me a little bit to, um, to actually really sing from my heart and feel confident to be able to, you know, give over my message. But I closed my eyes And I started singing some of my songs. The Superman song always, always is a big hit. And by the end, or even while I was in the middle of the show, I noticed that there were tears in some of the eyes of some of these inmates that were, uh, you know, looking at me first like they were, uh, very, very threatening, and they, like, they wanted to kill me. And by the end, they were, they were crying, and they were clapping, and they gave a standing ovation at the end. Someone even took my microphone and gave me a blessing from the whole prison that my music should get out there to inspire, you know, more people in more prisons. And it was, uh, it was a very Unbelievable experience. The chaplain there was a very nice man. He was also, you know, he couldn't believe what he was watching as the, as the show, and he saw the, the reaction and how things turned around. And the Jewish prisoners that were there also, I found, were, um, were were affected more when I performed for the whole group and they saw the reaction. I, I saw they were proud and they felt good that one of their kind came and offered and shared something with everyone. And I think it made a big impression on everyone there. And that's why I actually, I make it a point to perform for the whole prison when I go. I, I do research and I only go where there are Jewish prisoners, but once I'm there, I perform for the whole prison. And in the non-denominational rooms. And I, I do find that it's, it's made a very big difference. I also find that there are Jewish prisoners that don't come out for Jewish events necessarily. Maybe they feel ashamed, or there's— they feel antisemitism. They don't want people to know they're Jewish. So I find when I do my event I'm getting a lot, maybe a few Jewish people that would not normally come out also for other events. And I'm, I'm planning a few more concerts coming up. I've been to a few in Pennsylvania, some New York. I have Otisville coming up, and also in Connecticut, in Danbury, Connecticut. And I'd like to travel more and get out to more facilities. And I'm actively always, uh, you know, looking for opportunities to be able to share the songs with people and give chizuk wherever I can. If anyone feel— please feel free to reach out to me. I visit also sometimes rehabs and nursing homes. Or if you have someone that you think maybe would appreciate a visit and would like my music, please reach out, let me know. And if I'm in that area, I'm very happy to go and to play a few songs. Okay, anyway, this, uh, wasn't such a long podcast, but, uh, let's see what happens from here. I wish everyone only good things. Thanks for tuning in, and hopefully we'll— I'll speak to you again soon. All the best.
