Rapper Morgenshtern Completes Conversion to Judaism and Adopts New Name

Published June 8, 2026 12:35

Nigora Umarova

Nigora Umarova

International Department Journalist n.umarova@kursiv.media
Rapper Morgenshtern Completes Conversion to Judaism and Adopts New Name

Rapper Morgenshtern has completed the process of giyur to convert to Judaism. According to a report by the Voice of Israel Telegram channel, the artist has embraced a new religious identity and will now use the name Israel Yehuda Morgenshtern instead of his birth name Alisher Tagirovich Morgenshtern.

The religious milestone follows a period of profound personal transformation for the musician. Over the past few weeks Morgenshtern has been sharing a series of reflective videos on his Instagram account.

In these broadcasts he openly discusses his life, his newfound faith and the internal changes he has experienced since completing a recent rehabilitation programme. The artist has also been engaging his audience with deep thoughts on sacred religious scriptures.

Morgenshtern fled Russia in 2022 and has resided abroad ever since. He was able to secure Israeli citizenship shortly after his departure by proving his Jewish heritage through his grandfather’s lineage.

While he embraces his new spiritual path in Israel, the rapper continues to face significant legal hurdles in his home country. In the spring, Russian media outlets revealed that a court had fined the musician for breaching the nation’s strict foreign agent laws.

Additionally, there have been multiple reports suggesting that Russian authorities may be preparing to take legal action against the property he still owns in the country.

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