Why Should Jewish Educators Watch K Pop Demon Hunters on Netflix?

Starting with what kids love opens the door for Jewish music and sacred connection.

Some of your students are walking into this school year as superfans of K-Pop Demon Hunters. The movie broke streaming records on Netflix. Its soundtrack hit number one across the globe. For many kids, this is the story and music living in their heads right now.

I’ll admit it…I initially resisted. Anime is not my thing, and the word “hunters” made me assume it was too dark. But after steady interest from my kids, and reading copious online reviews I gave in and watched. And I was…into it. The songs are catchy with elaborate harmonies and high quality production. The characters are in complex and relatable relationships.

I almost skipped the Zombies franchise for the same reason. Based on the name, I assumed it wasn’t for me. Then I discovered it was basically a modern High School Musical about prejudice and intergenerational trauma. (Sometimes, I’m too quick to judge, I’m workin’ on it).

Here’s the bigger point: when we take the time to notice and enter the worlds kids already love, they are more likely to join us in the songs, prayers, and rituals we want to share.

With Teachers: Shared Ownership

I had pre-posted signs on the walls, which were soon filled with their memories and preferences. Later, when those songs appear in sessions, teachers hear themselves reflected in the curriculum. The music becomes ours.

With Communities: Collaborative Playlists

Another way I honor what people bring is through music outside of formal sessions. I set up a collaborative Spotify playlist and share the link with teachers or community members. Anyone with access can add their favorite tracks by dragging and dropping songs.

Over time, the playlist becomes a shared soundtrack. We play it in hallways, classrooms, and during transitions. Teachers hear their own music in the mix, and kids notice the variety of voices shaping the sound.

This practice communicates: your music belongs here. It turns the playlist into something we all build together. That sense of contribution deepens ownership and strengthens community.

With Kids: Camp Songs

Camp music is one of the most powerful bridges we have between our music and theirs. If you are songleading for kids who attended the same camp, consider reaching out to their songleader online.

I always begin with appreciation: “Your music made such an impact on my students this summer. Thank you. Could you share which songs were the biggest hits at camp?”

Then I bring those songs into my own facilitation. Recently, I shared “It’s Up To Us (Aleinu)” by Spike Krauss at a congregational service. Kids from Camp Coleman lit up. They recognized their camp world in sacred space, and their families got to share it with them. That moment worked because it honored what they already carried.

With Kids: Everyday Characters

Trust also grows in smaller ways. When I can name “Rubble” from Paw Patrol or “Bingo” from Bluey on a tee shirt, kids see that I understand something about their world. That recognition builds safety and connection, making it easier for them to step into something new. Pay attention to what the kiddos are bringing with them, engage with them authentically, and you’ll be amazing what you learn (for example, I used a song from the kids show “Gabby’s Dollhouse” called “Whoopsies” in my Tom Kippur unit, I learned it from my 6 year old, and its an incredible addition.

The Takeaway

We are always asking children to learn new songs, try new prayers, and engage with rituals that are unfamiliar. That is a big ask.

Trust grows when we first show interest in what they bring, whether it is a camp hit, a collaborative playlist, a character on their shirt, or a Netflix movie at the top of the charts. This year, it might just be K-Pop Demon Hunters.

These small points of recognition communicate: I see you. I value what you love. That is how we start with what they bring. And that is how sacred learning begins.

Ready for More?

This is the kind of strategic, relationship-centered songleading support we dive into every month in the Songleading for Kiddos Support Squad. If you want fresh ideas, curricular resources, and a community of Jewish educators who care about both music and kids’ hearts, I’d love for you to join us.