‘Hamas’ video goes viral

Nearly 90,000 views since Sept. 8 debut on YouTube

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Since Ari Lesser’s video “Hamas” was posted to YouTube on Sept. 8, almost 90,000 have viewed it.
Events that happened in Israel over the summer inspired a musical collaboration between Scot Jay, a Cedarhurst native who produces films and videos, and Lesser, a rap artist from Cleveland, Ohio.
When Lesser created another video, “Boycott Israel,” a year ago, also posted on YouTube, it caught Jay’s attention. Currently at about 290,000 views, that music video discusses that if someone were to boycott Israel, there are several other countries throughout the world that would also merit the same treatment.
“When I saw this video, I thought he was an amazing artist,” Jay said. “I really wanted to work with him. When we had the chance to film ‘Hamas,’ we decided to just shoot in New York City. I said, ‘Let’s get a camera and bang something out.’”
Lesser, 27, spent time in Israel as a student and has enjoyed his time growing as a rapper and entertainer. He happened to be near the Five Towns when Jay contacted him to do the video. They decided that shooting “Hamas” would be best if filmed at the pro-Israel rally held in Union Square in the city last month.

“I hope to accomplish a lot of things through my music,” Lesser said. “By writing, I learn a lot. My music is based on the Torah and Jewish teachings and traditions.”
Avi Posnick, a spokesman for Stand With Us, said his group discovered Lesser when he did the boycotting video. “We invited him to perform at our annual event, ‘Festival of Lights,’ last year,” Posnick said.  “We stayed in touch and together brainstormed on ‘Hamas’ because Ari and Stand With Us blame Hamas for provoking this summer’s violence in Gaza.” 
Posnick said that he believes the video’s message is that Hamas is an obstacle to peace with the people of Gaza. “It hurts both Palestinians and Israelis,” he said. “Hamas’s charter calls for the murder of Jews and the destruction of the state of Israel.”
Lesser said he always strives to be educational and truthful. “I hope to be teaching things that I’ve learned to other people,” he said. “My music is educational to me, with accurate information in it.”
Jay said that so far, the video has received mostly positive reaction from viewers. “I think this video shows the way the world is,” he said. “Ari, through music, is trying to teach the world.”