Idan Raichel. (Photo credit: wikicommons/Uri Barkat)
On Oct. 11, legendary Israeli musician Idan Raichel will come to City Winery in Philadelphia for what is much more than just another American tour date.
Raichel will take to the piano 735 days after Oct. 7, 2023, with the goal of highlighting the struggle that the remaining hostages are undergoing, as well as those who have been released but still deal with the trauma of captivity.
Yael Hashavit, the Israeli consul for Cultural Affairs in North America, said that it is essential for people to engage with Israel in ways other than through the news and current events.
The event was organized by the Consulate of Israel and the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia to raise awareness of those who are still in captivity in Gaza.
“We all know that Israel is experiencing very challenging times. It’s important for us not to forget the beauty of the art and culture of the state of Israel, and Idan is just one of the best artists and musicians that we have,” she said. “This is why it’s important for us to emphasize that through the difficult times that we are experiencing, we still have a wonderful culture, and I think [that] is the best way to understand Israel.”
Raichel has toured the world, playing a variety of tunes influenced largely by the breadth of the Jewish diaspora. Raichel served in the Israel Defense Forces as musical director of the IDF’s band. He also worked at a boarding school for immigrants, where he met Ethiopian Jews who introduced him to Ethiopian music. He has received a number of awards, and even an honorary doctorate degree from Bar-Ilan University for his contributions to Israeli society and music.
Sharona Durry, an organizer of the event, said that Raichel is the perfect messenger for the idea of solidarity with Israel.
“He puts so much energy into going to and singing at all the funerals of the IDF right now and going to the families that are still waiting for the hostages. He’s like a spokesperson for us, because he’s so emotional and positive. He’s an amazing artist,” Durry said. “Through his songs, we’re going to connect to the feelings of our identity, [because] even though we’re outside of Israel, we always feel the connection.”
Raichel has played with many other legendary musicians from around the world, but the show at City Winery is a solo one. With just his voice and the piano, Raichel aims to honor those who have been affected by the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust.
His signature style is to fuse old and new Israeli and pop numbers. Hashavit said it makes for music that is recognizable but also unique.
“[He] combines the Israeli classical music from the ’60s and the ’70s, but gives it some modern touch, [and makes it] up to date,” she said. “He’s a very smart, wise musician. He combines all these influences, all the communities that live in Israel, with Israeli classical music. It makes it into something new.”
Durry said that the concert is particularly apt not just because of the anniversary of Oct. 7, but because of Sukkot. The holiday brings people together in a temporary hut, a reminder that what the Jewish people are going through right now requires unity and will not last forever.
“We’re always thinking about what it is that we can do and how to bring the community together,” she said.
For Durry, listening to Raichel play is a reminder to the Jews in the United States of the importance of Israel in the larger Jewish identity.
“He’s just amazing — the words, the emotion that he brings out,” Durry said. “We need to be strong, and through the music, it opens up our hearts. Something about the wording and music connects us to our identity.”
Hashavit just returned from a trip to Israel, where she was with about 250 legislators from the United States. It reminded her of the relationship between the two countries and how important it is to continue to support each other.
“I realized how many things we have in common between Israelis and Americans. It’s very easy to forget all those things that we have in common, like values and culture, and to forget it because of the war that’s going on,” she said. “Bringing [this event] to the United States can just remind us we are united.”