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Bar Mitzvah Videos Have Now Jumped the Shark

‘I’m just a young boy hoping for some money’

by
Adam Chandler
March 12, 2013
(YouTube)
(YouTube)

I’m not sure how extremely well-produced bar mitzvah videos became a trend, but a trend they are. From points unknown comes Jorel, whose bar mitzvah will be taking place in about six weeks.

At first, his video seems benign, featuring his family, declarations of personal pride in being half-Jewish and half-Asian, several awesome homages to the band Queen, and some innocuous dancing.

Suddenly, things get out of control and the video devolves into Gangnam style fury. There’s the unexpected appearance of a toilet and one cringe-worthy line: “I’m just a young boy hoping for some money.”

The first half was great, but I really don’t know about this one.

Adam Chandler was previously a staff writer at Tablet. His work has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Atlantic, Slate, Esquire, New York, and elsewhere. He tweets @allmychandler.