Two popular figures in the Jewish music world performed a benefit concert for the AKIM-Jerusalem organization last week in Jerusalem.
Aaron Razel and Shlomo Katz are known for their upbeat, catchy music. Each one has a new CD out, Katz's having been released this month, and Razel's earlier over the summer. Shlomo Katz, also a rabbi as well as musician, spoke to Yoni Kempinski of Arutz Sheva TV about the Sukkot benefit concert. The video can be viewed below.
"Every time when you bring a korban [offering], usually you would pour wine on the altar. But on Sukkot, the simcha was a million times more and what did they use to pour on the altar? Water," stated the young rabbi. He continued to explain that wind represented happiness but water was fairly commonplace and mundane.
"Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach always said that if someone comes to you and says: I have absolutely no reason to be really happy," continued Rabbi Katz. "But real happiness has nothing to do with reason. To be happy for no reason reaches out so much more."
Rabbi Katz also commented on the AKIM -Jerusalem organization. "Doing these kinds of events take the whole evening to the next level. As much as people read about [AKIM], it's not even close to what happens behind the scene," he said.
AKIM is the National Association for the Habilitation of Children and Adults with Intellectual Disabilities. AKIM runs social clubs, sheltered workshops, summer camps, group homes and 14 apartments in regular buildings for those with Down Syndrome or other developmental disabilities in Israel.
For more information on AKIM click here.
For more information on Shlomo Katz click here.
For more information on Aaron Razel click here.
Ben Bresky is a music journalist and host of the Israel Beat Jewish Music Podcast on Arutz Sheva - Israel National Radio. For show archives click here. Yoni Kempinski is a video journalist and producer at Arutz Sheva. For video archive click here.