Music and other arts are
flowering for the
"Music is the universal language which crosses
religious and ethnic barriers and brings people together," say
Musicians for Harmony -- http://www.musicians4harmony.org/ -- who give "concerts to promote peace among
nations."
And listen to others:
"Music is the vernacular
of the human soul."
"Music isn't just
learning notes and playing them, You learn notes to
play to the music of your soul."
"I think music in itself
is healing.
It's an explosive expression
of humanity.
It's something we are all
touched by.
No matter what culture we're
from, everyone loves music."
At Northwestern University
just last night -- Thursday, January 5, 2006 --
contemporary beatbox music exploded for a standing
room only audience attending "From Tel Aviv to
Adva Saldinger
( A-Saldinger@northwestern.edu ) co-founder of the
sponsor
Fatima Alloo, another of the groups co-founders, said there is a silent barrier and a
sense of intimidation that exists between Muslim and Jewish students.
We want people to realize there are more things
that bring us together than bring us apart, Alloo
said.
Saldinger added: "Our
goal is to get people to think differently, to be open to new perspectives
and different ideas and to recognize the similarities and the humanity of
people, regardless of what side of the conflict theyre
on, or their religion or nationality."
See today's school newspaper's front page article:
See how music matters and "clubbing
together has the power to break down barriers."
Where you live, make a new kind of music. . .always together.
Published in The Jewish Week (
On the Web at http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=11584
Coexistence, With A Groove
DJ summit in
Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian spinners for a night away from the conflict.
Joshua Mitnick - Israel Correspondent
Jerusalem It was a tripped-out electro-vision of
In the Holy Citys leading
disco last week, dove cutouts hovered above the dance floor, illuminated by
hazy green and yellow spotlights. Belly dancers clad in shiny bikini tops
swiveled their hips while Israeli clubbers hopped to the hard-thumping house
beats. Bartenders wrapped keffiyah scarves over their
shoulders.
The heady scene was in honor of a first-ever disc
jockey summit that brought together a triumvirate of Israeli, Palestinian and
Jordanian turntable luminaries. And although the pickup vibe at the club, Haoman 17, wouldnt exactly befit
buttoned-up diplomats, a sense of protocol was not forgotten: hanging over the
DJ booth was an Israeli flag flanked on either side by a Palestinian and a
Jordanian flag.
The lineup moved from the commercial rhythms of Ramallahs Khalil Kamal to the Arabic groove of Tel Avivs
Srulik Einhorn and
concluded with the progressive house beat from Jordans
Morad Kalice.
In a city shattered by regular terrorist bombings over
the five-year Palestinian uprising, the evening underscored how Israels capital has liberated itself at least for the time
being from the taboos of daily conflict.
Its putting the enemy in the
DJ spot, and anyway, hes not the enemy, hes just the guy spinning the records, said Arik, a 27-year-old journalist after leaving the club.
To be sure, the Israeli-Arab summit got a more positive
reception in a scene where a good party is a much more compelling draw than the
ideological blood feud that divides each respective society.
Its clubbers. Basically theyre either drunk or popping pills, added the journalist.
But over the last five years, there has been virtually
no place in
Even though Haoman has
sought to remain open despite tense periods, it too closed its doors for a
month in 2002, after several of its regulars were killed in a suicide bombing
at Jerusalems Moment Café.
We didnt think people should
come to dance when people and our friends are dying on the streets. We didnt feel like partying in those days, said Omri Heilvronner, head of
promotions for the club. The situation in
The summit was the brainchild of Einhorn,
a 26-year-old turntable DJ who helped spur the popularization of electronic
Arabic music in Tel Aviv bars and clubs. After years of playing the music, he
began trying to make contact with DJs in neighboring Arab countries. Einhorn visited
An attempt to bring the Jordanian DJ to
But instead of Tel Aviv, Einhorn
decided on a more provocative location for the party:
Its a nice event of
cooperation, and its never been done in the region, he said. Also, being in
Although many Arab artists have shunned visits to
With parents hailing from
Im into music, so politics doesnt interest me, he said. The message that I want to
bring to the people is that music should bring people together.
If the overwhelmingly Israeli crowd at the Haoman show was any indication, that ideal is still a ways
off in the
But Ramallahs Kamal said he was less concerned about the demographics of
the crowd than the Palestinian flag and the reception.
It was cool. It was the first time I was in such an
atmosphere with a Jewish crowd. I was afraid that they wouldnt
accept me because Im an Arab. But they accepted
everything I played, he said.
It wasnt
only music. It was the only night that we felt there was no difference
between Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian. We hope that they will feel that
way on the street.
Outside the club, Raja Kalebo,
a Palestinian friend of Kamals explained that Arabs
from
If you go out with someone, you change your opinion of
them. You see their good side, he said. Its a special
feeling, but between us, I wish it were real, meaning that it would be deep in
peoples hearts rather than just a passing party.