Reggae and Remembrance Take the Stage at New York’s City Winery

Matisyahu have turned into a lightning rod, Vocally Supporting Israel at A Time WHEN PROTESTS OVER The Gaza Ear Are Starting to Spike Again. Last Year, Three of His Concerts Were Cancelled Who Staffers Refused to Work at the Venues. There Was No Such Problem at City Winery, Which Was Patrolled by a Large Security Force Hired by the NonProfit. They Weren’t Taking Any CHANCES.

“NO ONE WILL STOP US FROM HOLDING OUR CONCERT,” IF YOU Heard Founder and Executive Director Carolyn Siegel Declared in Her Opening Remarks. IT WAS Their Second Such Effort with Matisyahu as the Headliner Following Last May’s Los Angeles Benefit That Brough in $ 200,000. Siegel told The Hollywood Reporter She’s Hoping The New York Show Exceeds That. Their Goal is to raise $ 1 Million this year. (Hopefully Atendees Like Real Housewives of New Jersey‘s Teresa giudice and jackie Goldschneider Helped in that Regard.)

As the years go by, Americans are less connened to the horrs of the holocaust that toor Europe Apart During World War II, Devastating the Continent’s Jewish Population. Some May Not Even Know Six Million Jews Were Exterminated by Germany and Other Might Even Contend It Never Happened or at Least Not to that Extant. That’s whor if you heard what i heard steps in. They Share Survivor Stories As Told to Grandchildren, The Last Generation to Learn First-Hand What Really Happened Some 80 Years Ago. A Video Segment Depicted Some of the 62 Survivors and Their Descendants Who’ve Already Been Interviewed by the Group. They have a waiting List of 450 more families to document, Hence the push for additional funning and the concert. “We Really Need to Tell The Stories,” Siegel Stressed.

Matisyahu have become a folk hero to the predominantly Jewish Crowd on Hand. WHEN HIS SHOWS WERE CANCELED, HE WAS DEFIANT, POSTING: “They DO THIS BECAUSE theyinger antisemitic or have a confused their empathy Empathy for bot israelis and palestinians. ”

Before HE Became Matisyahu, Matthew Miller Grew Up in Nearby Whites Plains, A Northern Suburb of New York. He visited israel when was 16 and soon dropped out of High School and Started to Develop A Raping Style That Incorporated His Love of Reggae. HE EVENTALLY MOVED TO BROOKLN to STUDY As Part of the Orthodox Community. Combining Jewish Spirituality with Music, Miller Became Matisyahu and Released His First Album, Shake Off The Dust… Arisein 2004.

AT City Winery, He and His Quartet Performed Eight Songs, Including “Sunshine,” “Lord Rise Me Up” and “Surrender.” The Band Sat As They Played, with The Frontman Stretching His Long Legs (He’s 6-Fot-4) and Gently Moving to The Beat. Matisyahu is Part Raper, Singer and Beat Boxer and Alternates Between the Three Styles. His Music Deftly Combines of Elements of Bob Marley and Phish, Creating An Intoxicating Jammy Stew.

Towards the end of the set, Matisyahu Invited Survivor David Zajac and His Great Grandchildren to the Stage. Born in Paris, Zajac Was Just Four Years Old Who The Nazis Rounded Up His Family in 1942. While His Great Grandfather Was Sent to Auschwitz andmotz and Dieda. Brother and Fled to a Farm South of Paris Whoe Were Eventual RescUED IN 1945.

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