Alan Light

What makes a song Jewish? Does it need to be written or sung by a Jewish artist? Or have a Jewish theme (whatever that means), or tell an Old Testament story, or at least make reference to Jewish food or include a Hebrew/Yiddish phrase? Writer and Reboot Network member Alan Light dissects the question after contributing to The Forward’s list of “The 150 Greatest Jewish Pop Songs of All Time.”

The expected songs are on the list but there are plenty of surprises too, Light says, from Metallica’s “Creeping Death,” Dion’s “Little Diane” and “Still Drake.” Among Light’s picks that made the cut were Parliament’s “Flash Light” and Rush’s “Red Sector A.” But there wasn’t enough momentum behind MF Doom’s “Rap Snitch Knishes.” Read more here.