Organizers insist there’s no significance to the date popular Jewish reggae singer and rap artist Matisyahu will return to the area to perform at Temple Har Zion in Penn Valley months after three of his concerts were canceled due to pro-Palestinian obstruction.
Sept. 11 just happened to be what was available.
But should anyone have an issue with the date or the man himself, United Hatzalah of Israel, the first responder and rescue organization that has put the event together, is more than ready to handle it.
“We have extensive security at all events,” said Jeremy Cole, director of public relations and marketing for Friends of United Hatzalah. “For us, safety is our number one priority wherever we go.
“We’ve worked with him in the past and knew we wanted to throw a benefit concert together with him to bring him onstage to his adoring fans after a year of antisemitism.
Bring him back to the people who love him and support him to tell his stories through songs and represent Jews in Israel.
“It’s also a benefit concert to raise money and awareness for United Hatzalah’s lifesaving work.”
Hatzalah means rescue in Hebrew, which has become more critical than ever since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.
“We are the world’s largest volunteer EMS and we’re located only in Israel,” Cole explained of the organization founded 18 years ago by Eli Beer. “We have 7,000 volunteer EMTs, medics, paramedics and doctors and we provide 100% free medical care to everybody regardless of faith, gender or nationality.
“Our volunteers are men and women who are Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Druze and secular, and I always say we’re the least political. All we want to do is save lives.”
That’s part of the message they’ll convey when Matisyahu performs at Har Zion. The man born Matthew Paul Miller in nearby West Chester, who grew up in White Plains, New York, has performed here before. But never under circumstances like these.
His staunch Israeli views led to cancellations of concerts in Tucson, Santa Fe and Chicago during the winter over safety concerns and pro-Palestinian actions.
But Matisyahu, whose name means “gift of God” in Hebrew, is undeterred. Following Har Zion, he’ll be at Englewood, New Jersey, and Detroit, Michigan, on Sept. 16-17.
“In terms of the walkouts … it’s a new reality for American Jews,” he told Aish.com in July. “It’s something that Israelis have been dealing with for 10, 20 years or more.”
“In some way it unifies us; brings the Israeli and Jewish American community and the world Jewish community together. And when the Jews come together, the light that we produce, I believe is stronger than any of the darkness that this world can create through its confusion and antisemitism.
“I feel that after Oct. 7, for myself and for the world at large, there’s been somewhat of a paradigm shift. After Oct. 7, it’s really less relevant whether you’re religious or not.
“There’s obviously lots of Jews with different ideas about what it means to be Jewish. It’s a unique thing that it’s a religion, but it’s also a people.
“Every Jew has been forced to take an accounting, look inside themselves, and make a decision whether or not they feel Jewish or not. Do they feel connected to Israel or not and connected or not to the attacks and the horrors that happened to the people in Israel?”
The event will get underway at 8 p.m., leading off with an address by Beer, United Hatzalah’s founder, before the 45-year-old Matisyahu takes center stage.
Tickets must be purchased online prior to the event.
“We’re not taking walk-ins,” said Beth Schonberger, Philadelphia regional director for the Friends of United Hatzalah. “You need to RSVP in advance and purchase tickets online until 7:00 the night of the performance.”
“United Hatzalah is having this event to bring awareness of what we do and bring the community together at this precarious time,” she added. “The Jewish community needs to show unity and support for Israel.”
As for Har Zion, it’s happy to serve in a familiar role. “Part of what Har Zion is here to do is gather together and be a place for the community to mark appropriate Jewish occasions and events,” said Executive Director Gavi Miller. “This is not a Har Zion event. We’re just the host. I’m sure lots of Har Zion members are going. But not because Har Zion has been pushing the event, because it’s not our event to push.”
Knowing the current climate, though, he assures they’ll be prepared. “We make sure we have appropriate security in place whenever we have events at the synagogue,” said Miller. “What that means changes over time, given where we are in the world today.”
“I am very interested in making sure the Jewish community is protected in our building and knows we’re taking the precautions we think are appropriate in consultation with law enforcement and other security professionals.”
At the same time, he says this is their mission. “Har Zion’s coming up on its hundredth anniversary,” he revealed. “We’re celebrating 100 years of service to the community, being a leader and hosting events.
“The world is different now and we’ve changed and evolved with it. We’re the appropriate community organization to help support the Jewish community for the needs of not only the last century but hopefully the next century. And those needs are very, very different.”
No matter what date they select.
Jon Marks is a Philadelphia-area freelance writer.
