Former Bad Boy Records rapper Shyne has resurfaced – in the Ukraine. Shyne, who converted to Orthodox Judaism while serving a lengthy prison sentence, appeared at the “Global Winds of Change” conference in Kiev last week. He was part of a delegation of leaders from the Muslim, Jewish, Christian and Buddhist faiths. According to Allhiphop.com Shyne addressed the role of religion in music and the media at the conference, telling the audience that he’s now using his music as a way to communicate a message of hope and determination.

In 2001, Shyne was sentenced to ten years in prison for his role in a 1999 nightclub shooting incident involving his former Bad Boy Records boss Sean “Diddy” Combs and Diddy’s then-girlfriend, singer and actress Jennifer Lopez.

The rapper was released from prison in 2009 and deported back to his native country of Belize.

It was reported last year that Shyne was seeking citizenship in Israel.

While in the Ukraine he hit the streets to speak to the youth and make a big impact. One of the places he visited was the Jaffa Institute & Midnightrabbi. Shyne was not trying to be on camera and was only coming to inspire, not for press… wow Preyer can really change things…

Moshe Levi, spoke to a group of underprivileged bar mitzvah students on Monday. A group of 15 students took part in agroup bar mitzvah celebration organized by the Bet Shemesh Educational Center and the Jaffa Institute. Shyne was a hardcore rap musician who spend almost ten years in an American prison until moving to Israel. He spoke to the students about his journey to becoming a Torah observant yeshiva student. Jaffa Institute & Midnightrabbi eli goldsmith likes Midnightrabbi inspires

The Jews are a nation in exile. They’re dispersed, and they have no central public authority to force them. How many frum Jews are giving maaser money (a tenth)? A tenth more than the government requires. A tenth of their income they give away for tzedaka, and this is going on everywhere. So you see the Jewish nation is upholding all these things without force of a government. (Tape #216, Not Good to be Alone)”

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