Established bands will join yeshiva students for the Complete Unity Concert, which will benefit two locals charities and showcase new talent. Scheduled for Saturday night May 8th at Heichel Shlomo in Jerusalem, the concert is the latest in a series organized by local educator Rabbi Eli Goldsmith, dubbed by his students as "the midnight rabbi."
The young teacher grew up in London, England and for the past several years has become the person students on 1 year yeshiva programs in Israel who feel alone can go to at any hour of the night for questions.
Rabbi Goldsmith spoke to Israel National Radio about the Complete Unity Concert. "The idea is to bring together different Jewish people and connect them through music," Rabbi Goldsmith stated. "The guys really show their spirit."
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Rabbi Goldsmith wants the raw talent of the young men to be noticed by a wide audience. Two established bands will be performing for the cause as well. Aharit Hayamim Hai has been a local favorite for years. It's popularity comes from the annual music festival it puts on near Bat Ayin and for the band's uniquie mix of multi-ethnic world music, reggae and Carlebach style. The other band Shtar, have just released their debut CD. Made up of yeshiva students from Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh, the band mixes hip-hop and rap with live instruments and lyrics based on Jewish concepts.
The younger bands will include pop-rock band JudaBlue, trance-electronica group Sam Fisher & Pychologix, hasidic singer Mendy Portnoy, British Jewish rapper Danny Raphael, The Steeze, Ezra Leyton, Hachi Hashta, and more.
Proceeds from the show will go to benefit two different organziations that help disadvantaged youth, The Jaffa Institute and the Beit Shemesh Educational Center.
"We need more unity," Rabbi Goldsmith stated, "music talks to the souls of all different types of Jews. Hopefully the concerts will reach out futher and the whole world will have inspirational music and role models and help make the world a better place."
The concert begins at 9:00 p.m. Saturday night May 8th at Heichel Shlomo, 58 King George Street in downtown Jerusalem. For ticket information call 052-441-7859 or visit: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=311457695747&ref=ts