Why do you want to become Jewish?

Which camera I'm looking at? I'm not looking at the camera. Do I look at the camera? >> Camera is this camera. Your camera is this camera. >> Okay. Three. >> That's his camera. >> Three, two, one. Hey guys, welcome to the sixth podcast of Clappy and Frank. Can't believe it's sixth already. >> Wow. >> Got tremendous, tremendous feedback. We're at almost 2,000 subscribers. Everybody watching, please like and subscribe. Just right there at the bottom of the screen. Like and subscribe. My Shiraashkin episode has over 10,000 views just on YouTube. All our episodes are doing really, really well and it's becoming dangerous to walk down the streets because everybody's making huge shorts stops screeching out the window. We need more content. We need more episodes. Was very busy over the high holidays, but me and Mishi are finally back in the studio with a top guest and we're so happy to be back. >> Devonte, why do you want to become Jewish? >> Oh, so we jumping straight in. >> Right. Straight in, bro. >> Let's do it. So, you guys know Torah, right? And I guess you guys, you know what they said that um Hashem made us a promise that before the Messiah reveal himself that um that he'll convert all the converts. So, you know, it's just >> So, you want to be part of that? >> Yeah. >> Wow. When was the first time you met a Jewish guy or a religious guy? >> Who did you meet first? >> So, as you know, I grew up religious. You understand what I'm saying? I grew up very Catholic. Um, I grew up going to private Catholic school in Trinidad and Tobago. Uh, my grandparents sent me there. Um, so, you know, just religion was just in me since I was a kid, you know. >> How How old are you? >> So, right now I'm 33. >> Oh, 33. >> Mhm. >> So, you grew up in Trinidad and Tobago. >> And you were born where? >> Uh, I was born here. >> Born here in Brooklyn, New York. >> Yeah. Brooklyn, New York. Yeah. And >> born early 90s. Interfaith Medical Center, Atlantic and Eastston Parkway. I was born there. >> Wow. >> October 20th. My birthday is tomorrow. >> Oh, wow. Happy >> 1986. Interfaith. I never met somebody in my life born in Interfaith Medical Center. >> There we go. >> Tiny little building on on Albany and Atlantic. Nobody ever heard of. >> We were both born in Interfaith. >> How appropriate. Interfaith. That's the >> topic of our of our pod. >> Interfaith Medical Center. 1992. >> 1992. >> Mhm. So you're born in Crown Heights, literally born in the Heights and then you said you were grew up in Trinidad and Tobago. >> So basically, you know, not just don't want to put too much information out there, but um you know, uh just say my grandparents took me and then raised me down in Trinidad, Tobago. >> You're born in Brooklyn and Crown Heights and then you grew up your grandparents raised you in Trinidad and Tobago. >> Catholic. >> Catholic. Tell us a little bit about your upbringing. What's it like in Trinid Trinidad? Trinidad and Tobago. >> H well, as you know, it's a Caribbean island. Very nice, you know. Uh going to school with the kids and stuff like that, you know. Yeah, it was fun. >> And you were there until what age? >> So I was there till I was like 13, 14 when my grandparents passed away. When my grandfather passed away and then shortly after that my grandmother passed away. >> So you moved back to the States. >> Yeah. >> So when did you meet the first Jew? Oh, so yes. So that began Mr. Milo Rutner. I God bless this man. He he basically he transformed my life, you know. Uh he gave me an opportunity. He was say he seen the sadik in me. He basically molded me, mentored me and yeah. >> Where is this? >> So B Williamsburg. >> So you came back, you were 14 years old. So we're talking about like 2005. >> You come back to Brooklyn. You where your mom lives. Mhm. >> And you met your first Jewish person? >> No. So, I didn't meet him till I was like 19, 20, right out I got out of uh college. >> So, yeah. >> How'd you meet him? >> So, basically, long story longer, uh just was taking my cousin to school one day and um I was like I was tired of working at McDonald's. Honestly speaking, I was tired of working at McDonald's, whatever the case may be. Wanted to make more money. saw walking down the block and I just seen him outside and sudden just told me just to ask this guy for a job like just ask him for a job. He like what's the worst that could happen? That's what I told myself. >> You're working in a McDonald's in Brooklyn in the city. >> Brooklyn. >> In Brooklyn and >> Ralph and Claran. Shout out to the McDonald's there. >> And you you see a guy outside the McDonald's? >> No, no, no, no. I'm walking my cousin to school cousin to school in Bushwick. >> In Bushwick? >> Yeah, cuz that's where my aunt live. That's where my aunt live in uh Canelia. So, I'm walking my cousin to school. I'll never forget this. And then I just asked him. I was like, "Hey, listen. Can I get a job?" >> You see a white guy? >> No, not a white guy. I just see a person. I just see a person. >> And I just I >> What was his makeup? What did he look like? >> Just like a regular guy, you know, red, black and white. >> Oh, he's a hidic guy. >> Oh, so you see a hidic guy. >> Yeah. And I just random. I'm like, "Hey, listen. Can I get a like Hashim just told me like ask this guy for the guy?" And you're like, "Hello, sir. Can I get a job?" I was walking by and he was standing outside the construction site and um yeah and um basically I just stopped stopped. I was like, "Hey, can I get a job?" And he told me straight up, he was like, "Listen, I try to hire a few of your friends around the corner. They didn't show up. If you want, you come. You got a job. I'll even pay you more than what I was going to pay them." >> And you were 19 years old. >> I was 19 years old. And it changed my life after that. He told me, "Go drop your cousin off to school. Come back. Put some boots on. Come back. And if you're serious, let's see what you made of >> a construction job. >> Mhm. Just sweeping up, just sweeping up the construction site, cleaning up. And then I just developed from that. Started. He always tell me like just pay attention. Pay attention to everything that goes around. >> Get this this godly intuition. You stop this guy. You ask him for a job. He says, "Drop off the kid in school. Come right back. Put on boots. You have a job. You have no idea who you are. Never met you before." You have a job on the spot. >> Yeah. Right there on the >> And you come back like a half an hour later. >> Like probably more probably longer than like 45 minutes later. >> Whatever. And you're working for the guy. >> Yeah. And I never looked back since. >> Never looked back since. >> Never looked back. >> He working construction like residential, commercial or? >> So basically he was a big developer in uh Williamsburg. Big developer. He um managed a lot of construction sites. I managed a lot of construction um uh basically property stuff like that. So he would hand me all of the um put it like this. All the work that he couldn't handle, he'll just give it to me like, "Hey, go over to this building. Make sure it's clean. Make sure it's make sure this that and third. Make sure the work is come. Make sure the delivery there. Stuff like that. So >> a project manager. >> Yeah. >> That you met 20 minutes earlier. Now you're the project manager. >> No, no, no. It took me years to get there. It took me Yeah. I'm being honest with you. It took me years. I mean, it took me about two years to get to that part of my life, you know. And after that, once he realized that I was persistent, like I was always I always wanted to work. I I would stay late, you know. I even bought me a van. like I was just, you know, eagerly willing to learn. And then when I told when he found out that my I grew up religious because I told him, he was like, "What are you? Are you Muslim? Are you Catholic? What are you?" I was like, "I grew up Catholic." But I always told them that basically when I when you go to Sunday school and you go to Saturday school in Trinidad and Tobago um for for religious studies, you'll learn a lot about Judaism because as a Orthodox Catholic, they teach you stuff about it that they always say like in order for the Messiah to reveal himself, all the Jews need to be in Israel. So, but then when you go and you talk to the bishop and be like, "Hey, listen question. If they say only follow one god, why do I have to pray to three other gods? Why do I have to pray the rosemary? Why do I have to pray to Paul? Why after I pray to this guy, that guy? And they always be like, "Listen, listen. Go pray the rosary tent." >> So, as a as a child, all these questions bothered you. Yeah. Like Abraham. >> Mhm. >> Wow. Unbelievable. >> So, you called up McDonald's and said, "I'm not coming to my shift." I'm saying, "How did that work?" >> No. So basically I just uh went uh basically the next day and I told him like listen I'm done. You know what I mean? That's it. >> You were there 45 minutes later with Boots working and then you were supposed to probably go to your shift that night. >> No, no, that was my day off. >> Oh day off. So the next day you walked in and you just said I I resigned. >> Yeah, I resigned. >> Did it like a mench, you know, class? It sound like you just didn't show up. >> No, no, no, no, no. Of course not. The one thing about me, I I'm very businessoriented. Thanks to my mom and thanks to my family. They trained me very well. So, um, yeah, >> you're pretty reliable. >> Very reliable. >> It took four times to get you here, but you know, besides that, >> listen, you got to understand, I'm like, for first time I'm being the first time, what happened was we had a little issue with one of our properties upstate where we had to go check, you know, we had a breaking in, we had to go do police report, this, that, and the third, stuff like that. >> Right. Got you. So 19 to what a at what point at what age would you say you said you know this guy Rutner really inspired me helped me move forward in life at one point say you know maybe I'll join the club >> I won't call it a club you know that's that's a wrong way to put it I would call it an um an awakening because you don't cuz if you understand if you understand you only so basically converts are supposed to convert between 20 to 40 Because Hashem always said that listen there's the age that you should know that is a one and true only God. >> What do you tell people working McDonald's? You know based on your story how you work McDonald's but you knew there's something bigger in life you could grow farther. Not >> talking about people at McDonald's making money now. Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. And they get free food. What's the deal? You get free food when you work there or no? >> I don't know how it is now. Then when you work there? >> Well, but back then Yeah. whatever is left over then you know you could take over you know >> but would you how would you tell people working at McDonald's about finding opportunities like you did how do you find new opportunities >> how would I say it so basically working at McDonald's there's so many opportunities you could take because you could get free tuition to go to college you can um upgrade to a general manager you can upgrade to a district manager so many different opportunities in McDonald's >> within the order within the within If I understand correctly, McDonald's is a franchise. That means for a million or two million or three million, almost anybody could buy a McDonald's. >> So, >> but it's so it's two different is corporate McDonald's and franchise McDonald's. >> Oh, when you say growing, they can't tell a private franchise owner, Dante's been working with us for eight years, hire him. >> You get more benefits working for corporate. >> So, they own a lot of the McDonald's themselves. >> Uh, the corporate. >> Corporate. Yes. I didn't even know this. Interesting. >> You worked for corporate? No, I were franchise. >> And now you're you do lending, right? You're a lender. So that's how you became Jewish. You know the Jewish people with the lending money. You put right in. They put you right in. Say you're lending money. You bro, you're in. You don't got to do you don't got to talk to Rabbi. >> Wait, wait, let me let me stop you right there. I don't lend money. Oh, >> you don't lend money? >> No, I don't lend money. No, >> they give advances. >> Who? Me? >> Companies that lend money. They advance the money as a >> they advance their money um for either asset backing or they do it off of future receivables or they do it off of collateral. It's all dependent on what market and what's the what what the person is willing to put up. >> Well, a need. >> Mhm. >> But you mostly do unsecured loans, right? That's you currently do. >> So basically I'm an underwriter. >> Gotcha. Oh, you're the brains. Not necessarily the brains. I would just say I'm the one that puts together the loan, send out the offer, and >> Yeah. That's >> Got you. So, what do you prefer? Construction or underwriting? >> Me personally, I like it both cuz I still do construction now. >> Oh, you do? Nice? >> Yeah, of course. Cuz you know, sometimes we do like me and my buddies, we do buy and flips. What's the biggest difference that you've seen with Orthodox Jewish people and let's say people from Trinidad? What would you say the biggest top three that like like wow this is interesting. >> It's so it's the same thing because it's community and Trinidad is like it's all everybody knows each other is one way in one way out community. Same is same thing as um orth um Orthodox Jews community. Number two a sense of uh God. We we love God. >> So these are the similar things. Okay. >> And um another thing also too is a sense of family. We love our family. We love family gatherings. We like that's that's the time where we we sing and we laugh and we rejoice around family gatherings. >> I know. I've seen the Triny Pride and the West Indie Parade. I live around the corner. >> Of course. Of course. >> So, uh I asked actually one of my Instagram said, "What's the bestselling uh what's the bestselling flag?" He said, "The Triny flag in the whole West Indy Parade." So >> I guess what you're saying, >> but most kids most kids are most that you see in the West Indian parade is like third generation, fourth generation Trinidadia. I'm I am like literally a first generation American came from Trinidad. Like my mom and my dad are both from Trinidad. >> Do you know Do you know why the parade is in Crown Heights? >> No. >> Why are we so lucky to host a parade every year? >> I That's a very good question. >> I sold my BA drinks this year. I'm very happy. They're very >> So you're growing up in Trinidad until you're 14 years old. You heard about Jewish people in Trinidad or there's no Jewish people in Trinidad? >> They said in church in the >> So we we learn about Judaism, >> but you didn't meet a Jewish person in Trinidad. Now you've not one Jewish person. >> I never I'm being honest. I never met a Jewish person in Trinidad >> because >> but it was Jews in Trinidad though during back in um back in World War II era. >> I wasn't around though. >> Yeah. So basically a lot of um European Jews migrated to like the Caribbean countries you know to get away from the oppression stuff like that. Thank God you know they got away and they went to the Caribbean islands but after the war they some stayed some small communities stayed just to stay and some migrated to like Guyana uh migrated to South America like Argentina stuff like that. So what's the biggest difference in culture or you saying there's no difference in Jewish religious people and Trinidadenians? Are there differences or very similar? >> So it's depending on how remember Jewish is different types of Jewish people, >> right? Religious Jewish >> religious. So what you want to do you want to go on the safari side or you want to go on the Ashki side? >> Anything. What's the biggest difference? >> Okay. So safari. So it's no >> biggest difference. The differences. >> Yeah. Biggest between Trinidaden people and religious Jewish people. >> You told me three things that are similar. What are the biggest differences? >> Damn, you got me thinking now. I never never really thought about that. What's the biggest difference? >> I have a I have a a different question because everybody we ever had on the show was Jewish so far. Growing up in Trinidad and Tobago, even though you didn't know many Jewish people that live there, but you knew a little bit about Judaism, what is a person growing up, let's say you're 14 years old, you're turning on the news, you hear about Jewish people, you hear about the Israel and the Palestinian conflict. What's an average person in Trinidad and Tobago, turning on the news, hearing about Jews. What do they think about Jewish people? >> Honestly speaking, they love them. >> They love them >> in Trinidad and Tobago. >> Yeah, they love them. >> They're pro-Israel. Yeah, 100%. >> Oh, you're saying so it depends which country a person would grow up in. Yeah. What a non-Jewish person would think about a Jewish person or the state of >> basically my I can faithfully say my country backs Israel. Trinidad and Tobago backs Israel 100%. >> I checked the voting record in the UN. That's what I'm going to see. >> Yeah. 100%. >> Oh yeah. Very cool. >> Very Yeah. Yeah. >> What's the biggest misconception um Jewish people have about Trinidadian people and black people? What would you say the biggest misconception? >> Can I be honest with you? A lot of Jewish uh families use Trinidadian nannies to raise their kids just because of the structure and the discipline that we have within our culture. If you you know I mean we can all agree to that. You understand? Just like we have a lot of structure, a lot of culture, a lot of respect, a lot of dignity, a lot of honor in us. So that's one of the reasons why I say it's no real >> how big is Trinidad? Uh, not that big. >> A few million people. >> It's probably the I would say I really don't know. That's a good question. I got Ask GPT right now. >> Devonte, how long how much longer to your your G conversion journey? What do they tell you? >> They don't. So, they don't give you a date. They just tell you like whenever they feel that you're ready, that you basically crossed off everything and they checklist to do. >> They don't give you a beeper, right? >> No, no, no, no, no. So they um so basically, you know, they basically they want you to stay in the Arab. They want you to learn Hebrew. They want you >> want you to stay in the Arav Araf Ara. Yeah. >> The non-existing Araf. >> Huh. Well, it is a Arav around my neighborhood. So I'm I thank >> Crit it's a Crown Heights joke. >> I would. So, so basically um they also they want to make sure that you know Hebrew, know your braas, know what all your prayers, what you're supposed to say, what you're not supposed to say on and holidays, make sure you know all the main hakas, make sure you know how to keep Shabbat, >> you know. >> So, you start so you started the process how long ago? So, I started the process um officially in um officially officially I would say in April, >> April 2025. >> April 25. >> Very new. >> May, June, July. >> But here's the thing. I've been on my Judaism path for over 10 years. >> Wow. >> Just learning, just learning, just learning, just learning, reading, learning, reading, learning. Like I always say, I always want to know what I'm doing and making sure that I'm serving God properly. So I just learn learn like read Torah, learn uh read Gomorrah, read uh the rashis from the Torah. >> Devant, do you think more black people should become Jewish? >> Listen, Hashem said before the Messiah comes, he will convert all the converts. >> So do you think more of them should sign up? What do you think >> that's that's between them and us? >> Are maybe a lot of people are signing up and they're all quitting cuz you don't get a timeline. You don't know how long it's going to take. You don't know if they're going to let you into the club. >> Me personally, it's just all about it's just all about you and your nishima. You understand what I'm saying? You got to want it for yourself. >> So, who you make call 1-800 become a who do you who do you call? >> You don't do that. Basically, you got to get first of all, you got to get endorsed by a community. Thank God that you know what I mean. Uh, I I can faithfully say that the the Bkarian community has been very very very genuine to me. >> Bkharian Queen in Queens. >> Mhm. >> How did you >> They welcome me. >> How did you find the Bkarians? >> Huh? >> How did you find the Bkarians? >> It's funny. They found me. >> Yeah, it's a long story, but >> So, you have a it's a basin, a rabbitical court that you're in touch with. >> Yeah. So, basically, you go to the re So, um I have a date with the rebal courts and Queens coming up very soon. Um then so I'mma go meet with them and um they're going to tell me everything that I need to get done >> over a process. But you don't know how long it's going to be. It could be another few months, another few years. >> Whatever. I like to take baby steps to make sure I learn everything correctly cuz I'm I'm being like I may not look like but I'm very religious. All my friends would tell you like uh David's >> Hey, I was a Kaz you came every every service. Listen, I'm I'm I keep Shabbat. I've been keeping Shabbat for well I like Although I'm supposed to break it, which I do because you know what I'm saying? That's one of her lockers of of a Um and in the conversion stage, you're supposed to break Shabas at least one time. But I keep Shabbat. I go to shul every day. Uh >> you go to every day of the week. >> Every day. >> A random Tuesday. >> No, I mean I go to shul every morning. >> Whoa. >> Every morning. >> More from you. Uh there's a lot to say about that. >> No, he knows. You know, right or wrong. >> All on. Every time I call him, I'm sure I'm going to share. I'm going to this. I'm going to that. >> Yeah. I'm I'm very I'm always learning. Always learning. >> I think a lot of a lot of religious Jews don't go every single day. So, I think you got >> Well, I Well, let me rephrase. The days that I the days that I do miss, I try to make it up the next day and go two times. >> Wow. >> Yeah. Devonte, why is it um historically that and do you think it could change that religious Jewish people the marriages, you know, the very low divorce rate versus in the black community, very high and many people don't grow up with their dad? How do you feel about that? >> You think the divorce rate in in the black community is high or they don't even get married to begin with? >> Either or. And do you think that's cultural? Do you think it's something that could change because obviously affects, you know, the upbringing of a child? What's your opinion about that? my so basically the I grew up in I'm I'm a Caribbean American so I can't stay I can't say for like the African-American culture but I can speak upon the Caribbean culture >> our divorce rate are low because a lot of Caribbean families they stick together >> they they rather they rather they rather fight it out at home than they rather get divorced if they married they married forever till death do us part >> so trinities you mean >> I'm saying all the Caribbean I'm saying Caribbean people in general, you know, because I don't want I don't want to I don't with all my Jamaicans and stuff like that. Jamaicans, Asian, you know, Barbadians, Grenada, I don't want no problem. So, I would say the Caribbean and the West Indies. I mean, the West Indian culture have a very a very very low divorce rate. I could faithfully say >> because Yeah, >> I meet a lot of black people and they don't grow up with their dads. It's I know it's a common thing. I don't know what the numbers are in the data. >> So, so listen, it's depending on how far back you want to go. If you want to talk that talk, we could talk that talk. So, because >> with your dad or No, >> listen. I didn't grow up with my dad, but my dad was always there. >> He like, you know what I mean? He was always there financially and he was always there when I need to pick up a phone and call him real quick. >> Did you know him? You knew him throughout your life? >> Yeah, I know. >> But he lives in the US. You lived in Trinity. >> Got you. So do you think that so you grew up with that debt? What was that like? >> Uh none. I had my grandparents that they took the place. >> Life life was beautiful in Trinidad. I'm being honest with you. It was >> So that I was I was sitting here and lied and saying like life wasn't beautiful in Trinidad. Like my grandfather was very wealthy. He owned a lot of businesses. He own a he owned a lot of investment properties and stuff like that. >> So he took place of your dad. Would you say that? >> Yes, he did. Yeah. So would you say that in the black community when there's no dad, the grandparents come in, they kick in, and there's other family members that raise >> Yeah. Well, like they say, it takes a it takes a village to raise a child. >> No, because in the Jewish community, most family, it appears a lot more intact. You know, the divorce rate is is very low, especially with Orthodox, 5%, 10%. >> Right. It's pretty low. >> Super low. >> What would you tell someone or how do we say this? So, do you think, am I wrong? I'm going to say this. I'm trying to >> say spit it out. >> They say that the crime rate is lower, much lower once people grow up with a dad. Does that make sense to you? >> And that's why they try to that's why they try to basically dis discombobulate the black community because it's big business in the prison. We all know that. So you might as well who's who is the biggest uh the highest crime rate in the neighborhood unfortunately us. So what they do is discombobulate the community, get these kids in jail, we get more funding from the state and everybody makes money. >> So you think the government is pushing to have uh complicated families within the black community? >> It's statistically proven. They put crack cocaine just to fund a war within the black community to destroy it. >> Do you think it's the Chinese or it's the American government? >> Well, the Chinese >> I mean the the Chinese are into the putting in the shipping and the fentinel and all that stuff. No, >> but we talking when I say cra I'm talking about the 70s and the 80s. Oh >> because you got to understand this back in the 60s and the 50s the black community was booming. >> You know if you really want to talk that talk the black community was booming back after the war. It was booming. Everybody was making money. You had the You had the automobile industry. You had the steel You had the steel farm. You had this farm, that farm building this, that, this, that. We You know what I mean? It was beautiful, but it was no money within the government. So what they said and do, they needed money to fund their little war and the little secret operations going on. So we the rest is history, you know. So you think you think it was done intentionally to make money to to fragment the black community? That's how you feel. >> Listen, it's not the way how I feel. It's just statistically proof. I don't want to talk about >> Are you Are you referring to I read many books on this in this documentaries that like rich white people are doing drugs that gets like small jail time and then black people are involved in drugs that get like life sentences. Like heroin versus cocaine and crack. It's like that's the there's like a whole theory on this that in certain communities like they do similar drugs and they get like little slap on the wrist, you know, community service and other the black community they get like 20 years. I'm like, "Oh, that's a type of drug that's like really dangerous." >> Yeah. Because you got to understand this, the u the black man that got caught with a couple of nickel bags of crack or cocaine or whatever he got caught with, he who is his lawyer, a legal aid. What they trying to do? They just trying to move on to the next case. move on to the next case. And who's the legal aid having lunch with? The prosecutor and the judge. They all hand in hand together. Kumba saying kumbaya. >> They all have the same boss. >> Yeah. >> So the criminal justice >> also let me finish though. But you know what I mean? Let's just be honest. The even the black rich the black rich guy too. It's the same thing with the rich white guy. They can afford a lawyer that's going to run up in that court and be like, "Yeah, yeah, listen, listen. It ain't going down like that. Just give my man a ticket, throw this away, and um I'll buy you lunch later. >> Lunch is more than a lunch. No, I'm just kidding. So, we're talking or I'll make a or or make a donation to one of your campaign or whoever, whatever charity. >> We're talking about the general criminal justice system is very, very corrupted and doesn't do well for the African-American black community. I would say it doesn't do well for anybody that's living in an urban community because you got to understand this these legal aid does don't they don't get paid much. So what they they trying to move on to the next case or the next case and the next case some of them are overworked. Devonte, what do you think the cure? You said they targeted. What do What do you think the cure? How do you think we could uh bring more education to the community and to, you know, have their dad stick around longer or try to or is it just culturally? That's not the way it works. >> Government doesn't stop locking them up. >> Put it like this. >> And do you think cops are racist? >> Me? I love the cops. I I I love police, man. You know what I mean? Listen, I love like I told you, I love them until they start harassing me, but um but yeah, I I have no no beef with the cops. I I'm I'm happy that they're that they're around because they bring some type of uh some type of uh uh law and order. >> Yeah, exactly. Law and order. Why do black guys end up in gangs and Latinos do, but you know in the upper class communities, middle, they don't end up, how does that evolve? How does someone end up >> different? See, see, listen, if you Let's be honest. See, the rich people call it a cult. The poor people call it a gang. >> A cult or a club, >> whatever. Whichever one you want to describe it as. >> So, you think everyone everyone's part of a gang? >> Everybody's part of something. Everybody's part of something. >> Talking about in poor communities, everybody's part of something. >> Even in the rich community, I just said the rich community call it a cult or a club. The poor community. >> So, what am I in? For example, >> you What do you mean? >> What am I in? Like, >> which club is he? >> Which club am I? I'm just trying to It's the first time I'm hearing about this. I >> I I don't know. Which club do you >> think? If I go to a synagogue every week with the same group of people, I'm in a club. >> No, you're not in a club. You're just serving Hashem. >> So, you're saying you're in the God you're in the Kamad club, right, Devonte? No, I won't say he's in that. He's just serving Hashem and fulfilling and fulfilling Hashem commandments of going to shul every day doving in with 10 guys and Yeah. >> So, somebody growing up in the projects and they're part of gangs and clubs and whatever you want to call it. How do we break that streak that they get out of the projects and they like get part of the middle upper class community? What do you think the the trick is? >> What? Repeat that. Sorry. a kid growing up in the project going to a very underperforming public school. Mother is a single mom, the father's away, whatever. Non-existent. You know how much people made it out of that situation that you're talking about right now? So, it's all you have to you got to think about it. It's all about the kid's mind frame. It's all about what he's willing to accept. It's all about what his destin have planned for him. So what's the typical path of someone who does get in trouble in the Trin or the black community? What's usually usually the parent the dads? I mean what would you what do you see the is the way things fall apart? >> What do I see thing? So listen so the way how I see see it that it falls apart is it's not mostly that it falls apart is it's about it's all about timing. It's all about timing. You can the father could be away for some time. Yeah. A kid may go through difficult challenges and stuff like that where he's looking for a male figure to to so he can understand the way of life but yeah he turns to the streets whatever but once the father come back around you know it's all about the kid do he want to accept his father a love and stuff like so yeah >> what do you what did you see like what are the percentages like a lot of them they reunite with their fathers and they have a good relationship and it's a good mentoring program So, so basically when I was growing up all all my cousins had great relationships with their fathers. I just want to put like so I didn't really see that in my house. So because like F says my uncle raised all his kids. Um all my uncles uh my uncle bro Joe and the rest of them they all all raised their kids. They was always there for their kids. So I didn't really see it within my household. But did I see it outside my household? Yeah. But you know, everybody has their own they >> something I noticed is that in the Jewish comm in the Jewish neighborhoods, the Jewish people run the stores in their neighborhoods. In the Chinese, they run those. Somehow in the black neighborhoods, the Latinos are running their stores in their neighborhoods. The Yemenites are running the bed. How come the black people don't run their own businesses besides the beauty salons maybe in their community? Why don't they have that entrepreneurial spirit like you see the other communities? How do what do you feel about that? So, it's all about depending on the neighborhood that you live in. It's all about the neighborhood. If you're living in a city life, then you know everything is monopolized. But if you live in a county, then it is black businesses. I'm not going to sit here and say it's not black stores. It's really good, very good developing black towns within America, which is blackowned stores, blackowned. It's black everything is blackowned. >> So, I'm not going to sit here and say that it's no is no blackowned deli stores or anything like that. And there's a few within New York City too, >> right? I just it just I'm just something I noticed. >> 125th Street in the Harlem, there's always a big thing. I remember Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, they were all talking about it that on 125th Street at the main through fair in Harlem, very thoroughare, most of the stores were not blackowned. There was always a um >> it was a controversial thing. >> Oh, it was a big thing. Growing up, you would always hear them talking about it >> because as a Tik Tocker, I interview a lot of black entrepreneurs. I have people doing scrapping metal doing van a lot of entrepreneurs. So I'm very much >> universe >> and uh and uh bro English I like that. So, uh, I I think what I don't know what I'm saying. I said I think we could do another we could do a push or training or teach or you know, we need more a lot more stronger >> mentor mentorships. >> Mentorship. Do you think he's >> a lot of mentorships? >> Can I be it need it needs a lot of strong mentorship too in the Jewish community too? Now, now you know what I mean? Like let's let's let's talk, you know, I mean, if you want to talk about that too, >> let's talk about that. Go for it. You know, so basically >> I think also too that it needs that because you know I seen kids fall I seen kids fall off the dirt. They don't keep Shabbat. They don't do this. They don't do that. I'm like yo what happened? They was like yo like I just lost I just lost love for the religion. And I'm like why? You know what I mean? It's like look look Hashem is blessing you. Look you're you're like you know what I mean? You you know I mean you're supposed to be happy. You're supposed to have sima. You know what I mean? Supposed to have joy. So it also needs that too within especially with the younger generation now growing up because it's not like how it was back in the days when we was growing up where we we had love for the religion because we understand the power of prayers. You understand these kids now they don't understand the power of prayers. They don't understand that if you serve Hashem the rewards that you will reap from it. >> So you got to mentor them. You're going to be a big mentor one day in the Jewish community. I >> I do. I do. Do it already. >> Yeah, I do. >> You have a lot of energy. You're very motivational. You're very positive. You have good force. Where did you get this from? >> I would say the people around me. Everybody around me, you know, everybody around me is just have the same type of energy that I have. >> But you said that the the figure the male figure in your life growing up till you're 14 was your grandfather. >> Could you tell us? >> And then after and then after that it was my mom and my uncles and my cousins. You know what I mean? They they filled the void in for my father when he wasn't there. >> Would you share us a little bit about your grandfather? >> So my grandfather, God rest his soul, he was a sadik. Um his name is Leonard Appleite, you know. Um yeah, he taught me everything. He taught me taught me the way of life. Like he taught me he taught me how to farm. He taught me how to plum, how to be a plumber at a young age. He taught me how to cook, clean, everything. It's like e every tools you need to be a man. He taught me very young at a young age. He always used to say I ain't going to lay out here be no king jackass. >> And then he he he passed away when you were 14. >> Mhm. >> How how was that very hard on you? I mean I would imagine. >> Yeah. Yeah man. Fell in a real bad depression when I wasn't a kid, man. >> It was sudden or he was not well? uh he fell sick and um we flew him back up from basically we flew him from Trinidad up here and he was in the hospital and yeah passed away. >> How did your mother and father feel you about your geish conversion journey? >> They love it. My my parents are still religious till this day. You know my mom still wraps her hair when she goes to church and stuff like that >> just like us. >> Mhm. I'll like I remember back in the days I always used to when I was a kid ask my mom I'm like ma are we Jewish and they be like you're my little Israelite what's Jewish people's mis biggest misconception about black people would you say >> like what are they thinking >> but you but you have to understand this when you talk about black people what are you talking about sudden blacks are you talking about >> like what do Jew people think about like oh you're not like I'm You got to understand this. I I'm pretty sure none of you guys probably known, but you know when they was hanging blacks, they was hanging Jewish people, too. You ever heard something called a sundown town? >> A sundown town. >> Sundown town. >> Look it up. And it still goes on till this day. And I think everyone of us should know when we traveling because, you know, Jewish people and black people, we travel a lot. You know, we like going cross country. And you should know when you're passing down a sundown town. A sundown town is a town when the sun go down, you're black or you're Jewish, you better get your behind inside or they Yeah. They will come. Yeah. They will come after you and stuff like that. >> In the south. >> Yeah. And no. And they have sundown towns in the north too. We actually drove So last year we were going to um I think is I think we drove past or drove past one when we was going through New Hampshire. >> I'm not too sure. >> Doesn't say sun downtown. >> No, you could Google it. You can literally just go ask chache. How come I find it's very interesting. I I talk to all different types of people. You can see my >> you see told you >> Yeah. >> learn new things every day. >> Yeah. I tell you it's the things that you got to know being black and Jewish. >> No, 100% 100%. The um the Jewish community is persecuted a lot and the black community is persecuted a lot. So, we should have a stronger alliance. >> We do have a very strong >> but a lot a lot of stuff going on today. I don't feel like the relations are supposed where they're supposed to be. >> Honestly speaking, it's a very strong alliance. A very very strong. It's not something that you that is spoken about. It's just something that's just locked in. It's there. >> Eric Adams had all the Jewish. >> Eric Adams is great. I we we support we were talking about he how we shouldn't drop out in the first episode. How he would be the best mayor in New York City and he got really >> Listen, I rather him than anybody else because I know he's evil. >> They they did a real job on him. That was not nice. So, >> they do the same thing to that they did to him as what they did to Como. They pushed them out because they want their puppet controlling the city. >> Devonte, why do you think people go after Durk? >> Why do I think, can I be honest? I think it's mostly because because they were forced to go pray. They were forced to go to Shu. Like me, when I raised my Jewish kids, I'm not going to force. I'm like, "Hey, listen. If you don't want to go to Shu, fine. But your friends is there. They having fun. I'm having fun. We doing big kiddish. Damonte. Which traditions are you going to bring to the Jewish community from your Trinidaden background? Are we going to see a Trinidadian restaurant? Like what can we expect? When do you sign up? >> I won't say. >> What traditions you going to bring in? >> Well, let's not say sign up. once he's accepted, >> you know. Let's just let's just say when when Hashim when I finally, you know, finish my conversion and um I'm a Yid and um I'm recognized in the state of Israel. Um so basically a lot of Trinidadian customs, a lot of Caribbean customs are more safari, although now I am I am officially going uh the Kabad route. >> Why is that? Because uh drink. So basic so basically I feel like the kabad is just more uh like I'm I'm the type of like I'm like a you know I mean because I'm loud I'm energetic. I want to laugh. I want to >> kiss or anti >> hist or anti >> yellow flag or no yellow flag >> yellow flag. Put it like this. I'm the type of guy listen I just want everybody to come to shul. I want everybody to do and I you know >> are you become a rabbi Dvonte? or are you going to stay as a businessman? >> Listen, whatever Hashim plans for me, that's what I'll do. >> Did you ever meet Nissan Black? >> N Black? No, but I want to though. >> Is he the most famous black Jewish person today in the world? >> No, Mr. Black's more famous. No, >> I don't know. >> Me? I I I >> I like House of Levy. >> House of Levy. >> House of Levy. Yeah. I I followed their conversion pattern since the beginning of their of their stages. I've been following them. And they made that a too. >> You want to become a rabbi? Do I want to become a rabbi? >> Rabbi Devonte. >> Listen, whatever Hashem have plans for me, that's what I'll do. >> If he wants if he wants me to be a Torah scholar, then I'll be a Torah scholar. Whatever he wants. You know, I think more people should have the love and perspective like Devonte has. I my my block where I live, I think, is 70% Caribbean, African, whatever you want to call it. And still there is always that, you know, misunderstanding and miscommunication in the community. I think it really could help a lot. Maybe Devonte, you'll be the ambassador for the Kaba community to the black community in Cranite. >> Bazat maybe. Let's see. >> There was a big there was a big was a lot of tension over Passover. >> Yeah, >> if he would have came he could have, you know, maybe tend the tensions with the guy with the wheelchair with the whole story over there. >> Um Devon, where do you get your such high belief in God? >> Like I said, I grew up religious. You got >> you always had it. >> So all right. So let me explain to you give you a daily day a dayto-day routine schedule. So when you go to school you when you go to school in Trinidad you know we wear uniform and everything. You stand online and every day every morning you pray. Every morning you're praying. >> No no separation of church or state and Trinidad. >> No no no. Every morning you're praying and you're saluting the flag. That's where I get my sense of pride from for my country, you know, because it's like it was installed into me. >> Why don't they do that in America? Salute the flag and pray a little, you know, >> you know, because they because you got to understand when they developed this country, they always wanted to keep church and state separate because that's how England was uh that's how they based their government upon basically the the the government was the church. M >> so basically when you when they was basically the American was developed they always try to keep church and state separate but in Trinidad and Tobago we keep them together. >> Well that's when I was growing. I don't know how it is now. >> So Dant you're not going to open up a trainy restaurant when you when uh >> a kosher triny restaurant. Maybe >> not the Maybe in >> bring some dishes in. >> Yeah. Maybe in the food. The food's good. >> Huh? >> Some jerk chicken. >> Kosher jerk chicken. Oh boy. >> There we go. Yeah. Oh, yeah. >> What's jerk chicken? Tell me about it. >> So, jerk chicken is basically um you take uh a bunch of spices, you blend it up, you season it, you make it very spicy, you put it in the refrigerator, you let it marinate. I would say freeze it and let it marinate for 2 days. Wow. >> Then you put it out and let it tore out. The seasoning is in. And then you just throw it on a grill and you just flip it side to side, side to side. And you make sure it look like me. Well, not like not like >> I don't like I don't like spicy food, but you could do it not spicy, I guess. Also, jerk chicken. Not so spicy. >> Spicy. It's spicy. >> It's supposed to be spicy. That's the only way. >> Like hot like hot. >> Yeah. >> I can't eat hot food. >> What about some bakery? What's some Triny bakery items that we got to try? >> So, you have to try cocoa bread. Um, that's another delight. You have to try crunch roll. That's another delight. >> Crunch roll like in the sushi? No, crunch roll is like basically um a bake. It was like a bake with raisins and and stuff like that in it. It's very good, very tasty. >> Um doubles is a good one. Um what else we got? What else we got? >> So reverse. Which Jewish foods did you fall in love with so far? >> My man, you know, >> just chef regal. That's it. I'm I'm Bkarian and hard in my only shout out to my Bkarians. >> So you're only doing kosher bkarian. >> Well me I I I fell in love with the Bkarian um cuisine. I'm being because it's the same type of cuisine as tr as the Caribbean. You know the open fire with the grill, the pl is like paleo. >> What about the gapilta fish? We into you like gila fish. >> Of course I like gila fish. Yeah, it's good. >> What about kgle? Huh? Kougl. >> No, not my thing. challenge. >> Make sure it's spicy and make sure you put lamb meat in it. Shout out to my bkari. >> Matza bowl. You into matzab. >> I'm into I'm into shropa. >> Chopa. >> Yeah, that's a Bkharian soup. >> Soup. Okay. So, you're all you're all in the Bkarians. >> Well, Kabad and Bkharians go back many many years, you know. >> I know. I know. So there's >> the Bkari one of the school >> but I but coming to find out is I could be a kabat and still practice safari practices >> right mix it up. Yeah, 100%. And that's and that's and that and like you know I think that's what Hashem have planned for me. >> But no rice on pes, >> huh? >> No, no rice on pesa. >> See, I'm safari so I can eat rice on pesabad. >> He's the best of everything. He's shopping around. >> You could be kabad and eat rice on pes. >> You could be if you're following a safari practice, I believe. >> I think he's just for pes he's going to come safari get the right and then >> no I because you got to understand this safari community is similar like the Caribbean community. there. You know, we're we're very we're very motivated. We're very driven. >> Hustle. >> We got a hustle in us. >> You know what's funny? I interviewed a nanny in Dumbo. >> Triny lady. >> Jewish nanny. Jewish lady now. A Jewish nanny. Jewish nanny. She Yeah. Oh, >> she became Jewish. >> But the the nanny I I interviewed gets paid a lot of money. Triny lady. >> One second. Hold on a second. Is she married? >> I don't. She's older. So >> note, are you going to marry? I'm not I'm not thinking about marriage now. Just >> Devonte, you going for aki white girl or you going to go a black comra? Who you going to go? What type of girl you going to do you think you're going to target >> when that day come? I'll I'll decide. >> So no preference. >> I think we're getting off track. I I still want to get the story. 14. You flew your grandfather back. Bless his soul. You flew him back to America, >> passed away. >> Which start did you miss? He >> No, no. And then >> No, no, he wants to get So 14. >> You're 14. You go you joined the schools in America. You go to school here. >> So yeah. So I went to school in America. >> I'm sorry. The language in Trinity is English. >> Yeah, English. Yeah. Okay. >> So, I went to school in America. Um I went to Park Slope. Um I went to school in Park Slope. I went to uh John J Secondary School for research. Um it was very good, very educational there, you know. But you know what I realized about the education that education system everything that I learned already while I was in Trinidad is what they was teaching me now. So I'm like, "Wow, I'm already like advanced in this already." You know what I'm saying? So that was a good that was the >> education is better in Trinidad than America. Education here is very bad. >> Yeah, the education because we get uh the Trinidadians get their education from England. >> Did you watch the debate on Thursday nights? >> Um it was my first day back to work and try answering a 100 emails. So, no. One of the things all three candidates were talking about how it cost $41,000 to raise kids in New York City and they're like the not too bright. They come out not knowing much. In second grade, over 50% of them already can't read and write properly. >> Do you know that we spend we we spend the highest cost per kid to send to school but have the lowest graduation rate? >> So, what's that about? I what I think we what the education system need to do is just start doing a lot of I know it sounds it sounds you know like like they say that all the time but we need to start doing more career development start training the kids at young okay listen >> I'm with you >> yeah we need we need a bunch of you guys to be accountants we need a bunch of you guys to be mechanics >> but these kids at six seven years old can't read them right you can't tell a kid at six you need to be an accountant Why are they not learning how to read and write in school for 41 grand a year? I'm just curious. You know, >> that's a good question. I get when I when I have kids, I will f I will I will break I'll find out. >> But then they pick on the yeshiva education. Meanwhile, the the kids in public school are >> Oh, you want to hear something crazy? I'm planning to go to yeshiva. >> Really? When? >> Well, so um >> when and where? So once I finish my conversion, I'mma go to Jer. I'mma make the aliyah to um well not actually not make an aliyah, but I'mma go to Israel for like a year and just go to yeshiva and lock in. Cuz I tell all my friends that finish finish their conversion, don't basically like sit around in your house and think that you're going to that you're going to keep on with the practice and stuff. Go straight to yeshiva. Learn learn. So when you come out, you're you're basically you're already intact and there's no and there's no breakin or anything. >> Any good yeshivas for people that convert in America? You have to go to Israel. >> I think it's better for you to go to Israel. >> Have you been? >> Yeah, I've been to Israel. >> You've been already? >> Yeah, I've been there a few times. >> A few times. Wow. What do you think about it? >> I love it. It's my It's my second home. >> How's it different than New York? >> It's Israel basically. Tel Aviv is like LA, LA and New York had a baby. Then it was Miami and then Miami slept with Texas and had a baby. You got Tel Aviv. >> What about Jerusalem? >> Jer beauty. No shine. Beautiful. Beautiful. >> So right now you're not dating. You're in the freezer. No dating. >> No. No dating. Nothing. Um, Sha, >> there's a joke in Lakewood when guys are in the yeshiva and they're not dating, they're in the freezer. So, you're in the freezer right now. >> Yeah. I'm just learning. Just learn to >> just learning. >> Right. So, you went to John J and then you were and then and then what's what was the next thing? >> Next thing I went to college. Um, graduated college. Uh, then after college >> graduated with a bachelor's and what? >> N associate degree >> in in what? >> Oh, liberal arts. >> Liberal arts. Another thing you can't get a job with. Okay. Yeah, basically I I kid you not, if I ever known that I would have been so successful within construction, I would have just just went to trade school. >> But you know, you always had when you have these when you have a type of mom who push you go to college, go to college, learn, learn, learn, go to college, learn, you know. So >> So then, oh, that when the construction thing started. So you started the construction, you're 19 years old. >> No, McDonald's first. >> McDonald's construction. And then you were working for him and after a while you told him that you feel like you're connected and you want to convert. >> So basically I will always talk to him about religion. We will always have religious conversation. Yeah. Mr. Rutner. We will always have religious conversations. Of course. Yeah. Every once in a while I call and check up on him. >> Um so we'll always have conversations. So he always be like, "Hey, listen. If you if you want to learn, come to sh sit down, learn." And then I started learning Yedish. But once you start to learn, once you start to basically get into the Jewish faith, you start to realize that it's more than Judaism than than Yedish. You know what I mean? I want to learn Hebrew, you know what I mean? I want to read Torah, you know? I learn I want to learn Torah. >> You know the olive yet, >> huh? >> You know the olive yet? >> The elf? Not yet. >> So you don't know Hebrew yet? >> No. So I know how to have conversations. >> You like I see you have like few hundred words you know already. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Like I would say >> more like 300. >> 300 words. I can have a convers. >> But not you don't know what an olive bay is in zero yet. >> But like I don't know how to write Hebrew. >> You know how to the letters or not yet? >> No, I just know how to have a conversation. >> You know when you work when you Yeah. socialize. Yes. >> That's true. >> So what you were saying? >> So we go you go back to the life. >> Yeah. So then you continue. So you you said you wanted to get in and they were the Yiddish guys, the guys. >> Yeah. And they and they and I learned with them, right? I but then I would always say like I want to learn Hebrew and then be like listen we don't really you know whatever the case may be we're more we're more focused on this but if you want we can basically you know what I mean basically teach you about Hebrew and stuff like that but that's not our main thing right >> so what I did was I was like you know what maybe I need to go out and start searching for people that was want to teach me Hebrew okay >> and that's when I um met this authorities and the Bakarians, >> right? >> But right now you you dabbad. >> Yeah, I dive in. >> So, how did you bump into >> So, how so it's so crazy because I walk past that building all the time because I go to the laundry mat right across the street from the Kabad and I always will sense a presence every time I walk by this Habad all the time. All the time. All the time. All the time. So, basically, I go to I go learn Torah in Mill Basin. >> By who? By who? um basically the safotic sh um sophotic synagogue or mil basing. So basic and he was like listen you know you're beginning your conversion stage you need to find a rabbi that's willing to endorse you because that's one of the requirements. You need an endorsement rabbi. You need uh need a shul to endorse you. So they say we're going to so basically the shul is going to endorse you but you need a rabbi to endorse you. You need somebody close to your house where you could go spend Shabbat, where you could go. Yeah. Uh not even a mentor. More like where you could go ding every morning, where you could go learn Torah. You can't come to Mil. >> I want to see that you're committed. >> Yes. So um so we found Rabbi um Rabbi uh Mendi and he welcomed me in with open arms and I never looked back since. >> How many years ago was that? >> I I actually met him back in July. >> This year? >> Yeah. He only started April. Oh, right. Right. >> Anything else? Clap or we got >> No, no, no. Let's keep going. >> No, I'm I'm loving this. >> Yeah. So, so basically once I started meeting him like I guess I had to show him how serious I was you know and one thing he always say about me he was like Devonte one thing about you you are a sadic you know I mean you it's like just the way how you you pray just the way how you how you you know me ding for hashem is is like you can sense the presence of you in >> here's my million-dollar question that's been on my mind for the last few weeks since we knew we were we were going to be interviewing I'm born Jewish, so we can't eat almost anywhere. We can't drink almost anywhere. We can't go almost anywhere. Our life is full of a million restrictions. I love it because this is the life I know >> and I grew up with and I accepted it and I embraced it and I love it. >> But for me to understand how somebody that could live a perfect life and be accepted and loved by God, get the every afterlife, everything amazing, whatever, >> why would somebody want to put I understand you grew up in a spiritual. I for me I'm still shocked that somebody would choose to come into this religion and have a million limitations where they could live a perfect life. Well, you obviously feel differently, but I'm saying what is there something I'm still missing? >> We're the most hated nation and of all these restrictions, Devonte. What's what's the attraction here? >> It's not it's not it's no attraction. It's just basically it's just for my love for Hashem and I know that this is the one and true religion and I I don't want to I don't want Hashem think that I'm idol worshiping. >> Right. >> So you know this this is my calling. This is what I have to do. >> So you feel this is the ems. >> Mhm. >> Right. >> Amazing. >> Anything else? >> Amazing. I love it. Also, also I also want to add this too is that um >> I always felt that um that I was a Jew ever since I was a kid. >> I always felt it. >> His Israelite the mother was >> I I I always felt it since I was a kid. I always felt it. People even my family, they used to call me be like, "Oh, like you cuz like I was always good at math thanks to my mom." Devonte, would you say that if you come with the right energy and attitude, the Jewish community would accept you? >> If you what if >> you come with the right energy, you have amazing energy. So, not everyone has your energy, but would you say if you come with a positive attitude, the Jewish relationship? >> It's all about the person himself. Cuz you could come broken and be fixed within the Jew, like you could walk up to a um to a synagogue and be like, "Rabbi, I'm broken. I need to be fixed." And you know, and he he will help you. And that's how and that's some reasons why people convert too. But mostly most of the reasons why other people convert is because they feel the presence of Hashim within them. So and all of the and on top of that too if you known that um when the Torah was given out to many nations the the majority didn't want to accept it but the minority wanted to. M >> but you were one of the Trinidadians that wanted it then. >> Devonte, I think you need a new haircut for it to get to Yammer to stay on. >> No, no, no. We have a clip. Yeah, >> we have a clip. >> So, what's your message to the world, Devonte? What's your message? >> Wait, wait, wait. So, let me finish though. So um so basically Hashem made them a promise and said listen uh since your nation didn't want to accept it in your next life I will convert you and if you become a sadik within this life you will in the in your next life if the Messiah doesn't reveal himself by then I will make I will reert you with Jewish religious parents and you'll go to yeshiva. >> So our tens of thousands of viewers are from all areas of life. We have people from Kabad, yeshivish, modern Orthodox and some of the viewers are not Jewish at all. What's your message to the world? >> Simka, >> happiness. >> Happiness. That's it. That's it. Just basically if you if you do a mitzvah, it leads to another mitzvah like the Rebi would say, you know. And I think I think a lot of people have to realize is that it's not all about it's not all about um basically about how you feel about each other and stuff like that. It should be more about just show just show kindness, show respect. That's it. Just show respect. That's it. Because respect go a long way. And I think a a lot of people forget that. And yeah, >> love it. Love it. >> Thank you so much, >> Devante. Thanks so much for your time and your great energy. I think you're gonna become a rabbi one day. That's my >> Rabbi Devante. I think you're gonna be a big rabbi. >> I Why do I hear that so much, folk? Why do everybody always >> Is it going to be a kabad or or mix? >> Put it like this. It's going to be It's going to be a temple for everyone to come. >> The Devante Kabad Bkarian Center. >> And what's the chosen Hebrew name? What are you going with? Oh, I'm going with um Davididit Ben Aram. >> There we go. >> Love it. >> Bazatashim. >> Thank you so much. >> And with Hold on, Devont. You going to do a beard or no beard? >> Beard. >> You going to have a grow a beard? >> You need a beard? >> I don't need a beard. I'm going be different. >> Listen, as long as as long as I'm keeping Shabbat, following all the halas, and I'm doing them doing my mitzvah. Thank you so much. >> Amazing. Thank you so much. >> Thank you much to the Theorist guys podcast studio here in the city. >> Theorist I think is the name of a shirt. >> No, it's his company, right? >> The studios. Isn't there a company? Theory. >> Yeah. Theory. And your channel is what? >> Uh theorist podcast. >> Theorist podcast. Nice people. >> Beautiful place. Beautiful place. >> Feel very professional here. >> Yeah. >> And thank >> And uh also I want to thank you guys for having me. I know we had a few hiccups, but um I'm finally here. >> You're a true celebrity. Come, you know, you hiccups, you can't be a follow-up like in three years. A good followup. >> Oh, yeah. 100% 100%. So, let's talk about current times. What's going on? What do you think about the the Knessph in Israel as Jews? >> The Knesset in Israel. >> Yeah. What do you think about the politics in Israel? >> Uh I don't know. Do you know do you know it's like a big thing going on with the circular with the circle like the non-religious Jews going after the religious Jews within the Kness >> going it's been going on for the last 75 years. It's disgusting because you know you know that also trickles down to the military from what I heard that um where they will hold supplies from the military because this general have beef with this general because of a situation stuff like that. >> There's a rally going on two blocks away from here. There's a big rally going on. Protest the Israeli government for trying to draft Orthodox people into the army. That's that's a fight been going on for the last 75 years as well. I'm being honest with you. I think everybody should like, you know what I mean, defend their country. You know what I mean? It's like either >> don't I I feel like don't use try to use religion for a way out because you don't want to serve your country because you have to because at the end of the day, you you're you're reaping the benefits of other people. >> Torah study, they're serving God and the country by studying Torah. Even David who was a big conqueror of the Jewish people conquered you know Jerusalem and everything. He also agreed that a lot of people were exempt from the military because they were studying Torah. David Bengorian who was completely not religious. He gave tens of thousands of uh pur like like releases exemptions. >> Okay. >> That people should not serve in the army and they should study Torah. So this is already a gray area. I don't know all the I don't know all the ins and out of it but it's a very it's very tricky. Yeah, it really is. >> Devont, you going to go black and white acidic or you going to keep your colors uh when you convert? >> Uh, >> you going to keep your style? What's the deal? >> Me? Me? I'll just keep Listen, I'm I'm going be very relig. But I'll just keep this is me, you know. This is how I dress. >> No hunting clothes. The hunting clothes you going to stick keep with. >> Yeah. You know, this is this is this is the way how I like to dress. But u when I go to sh though, of course, you know, my mother I'll wear a suit. >> Very good. >> Oh, very nice. Very nice. All right, let's keep it real. >> Thanks, Devonte. >> Thank you, guys. >> Thank you. >> Thank everybody for tuning on to the Clappy and Frank show. >> Subscribe and like. >> Clap, comment, like. Any questions, comments, suggestions for guests. We love to hear you. We read the comments. I need to need to get better at responding to them, but thank you so much. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you.