Nissim Black Performs in His First London Concert

By COLlive reporter
Pictures by Yossi Abrams – Cherish Shots

Chabad Essex in England hosted the famous American-Israeli rapper Nissim Black for his very first concert in London at the Chanukah Concert held at The City Pavilion Essex as part of the “Bright Lights Tour 2021.”

While Black has visited and performed in London before, he has been singing at small and private events. This was his first full stage production performance in London and Chabad was honored to have had this special opportunity, organizers said.

It was organized by Chabad Buckhurst Hill, with Shluchim Rabbi Odom and Henny Brandman with a dedicated production team of Adrian Silas, Adrian Lee, Esther Joseph and their Shluchos Sonia Beame and Morrisa Schuler.

Over 600 people from across Essex and London were blown away with Nissim Black’s energy-filled and inspiring performance.

“Nissim has an amazing story, he is a unique and special character and was both a total pleasure and professional to work with and was inspirational and uplifting to everyone at the concert,” said Rabbi Brandman.

Chabad across Essex has 9 public Menorahs and holds events every evening of Chanukah. Last year, as the UK was in partial lock-down over Chanukah, they thought out of the box and put on a phenomenal Drive-In Concert attended by nearly 1,000 people.

This year, in the spirit of Chanukah of always growing and doing bigger and better, they decided they needed an international celebrity to star at this year’s Chanukah central event.

Finding the right venue and securing everything needed to pull such a huge event proved extremely challenging, but the spiritual investment into the community was the driving force that made it all worth it.

Nissim Black has been a gangsta rapper, a gang member, and a faith seeker. But it is his current incarnation that is here to stay: an African American Chassidic Jew who brings sharp beats and hooked-filled rhymes to the masses.

His single of 2020, “Mothaland Bounce” is a confluence of everything he’s ever done, and everywhere he’s ever been. The vibe is old school, but the song is thoroughly fresh, pairing big beats with an African hook and a catchy chorus for a video that has already garnered over 4.5 million views on YouTube.

The venue was transformed by the amazing talent of CVS International complete with a star cloth backdrop, lights, huge screens and spark effects.

Over 600 people of all ages and backgrounds gathered together in the plush Millennium Suite for the Musical Rollercoaster of 90 non-stop minutes of incredible songs and tracks by Nissim that made for a totally memorable evening and event for one and all.

During a quick costume change for Nissim, Rabbi Brandman and Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin MBE of Chabad Gants Hill and Head Shliach to North East London & Essex, took to the stage to light a huge Menorah and share some words of inspiration with the crowd.

Rabbi Sufrin spoke amount the amazing growth of Chabad across Essex now with 9 public Menorahs and Rabbi Brandman spoke about the tremendous effects our positive displays of Jewish Pride can have on our communities.

The night was an amazing experience from start to finish for everyone and without a doubt the big highlight of Chanukah in Essex 2021.

A teacher from a London Jewish School who brought a group of 23 teenagers said “the positive Jewish effect of such a concert, is more than 6 months of Jewish studies lessons in the classroom”. Rabbi Brandman commented, “when you hear things like this, makes it all worth it!”

One not to be forgotten and one to make Chabad Essex once again stand out as a leading force here in the UK when it comes to Community. After the concert, Nissim came back to Chabad Buckhurst Hill where Rabbi Brandman presented him with an inscribed Tanya printed in the Chabad House and one of the last remaining bottles of Chabad Buckhurst Hill’s famous Menorah Whisky from 2009.

As for next year and how to go “Higher” and have more “Change” as two of Nissim’s song titles are named it is a question that can only be answered when you remember that Chabad Essex is always saying ”Expect The Unexpected.”