A hip-hop plea for harmony
In an effort to find a “sane voice” among the sensationalized rhetoric of those who have radicalized religion and demonized others who hold different beliefs, Congregation Kol Am in Freehold will offer a musical message of hope. The synagogue will bring The Tug of War Tour — Muslim and Jewish artists in performance together — on Sunday, April 25, at Freehold Township High School.
The program will feature original hip-hop and spoken-word pieces from five artists: Iranian-Israeli rap duo Mazzi & Sneakas, Vanessa Hidary (aka The Hebrew Mamita), Tahani Salah, and deejay Dash Speaks.
The brainchild of Israeli-American M.C. Sneakas and M.C. Serch (of Third Bass fame and VH1’s The (White) Rapper Show), the Tug of War Tour is a multi-dimensional artistic creation that explores narratives of conflict and coexistence between Muslims and Jews.
The artists, avoiding clichés and addressing “hot button” issues without fear of giving offense, aim to challenge viewers to see that such subjects as religion, identity, racism, terrorism, and peace have many sides.
“The essence of the Tug of War Tour is four distinct voices coming together in an attempt to effect serious change,” said Michael Shernicoff, coordinator of publicity and outreach at Kol Am. “We are excited to bring their message to New Jersey. The artists’ sentiments resonate with Congregation Kol Am, which translates to ‘Voice of the People,’ because despite the absence of brick and mortar, our congregation stands dedicated to learning, worship, community, and social justice.”
Proceeds will benefit Kol Am’s interactive adult-child education curriculum and its social action community programs.
Providing support is The Village for Healthcare and Rehabilitation of the Workmen’s Circle.
The show will take place Sunday, April 25, at Freehold Township High School. Doors open 1:30 p.m.; the show starts at 2 and will be followed by a discussion with the performers.
Tickets cost $8 in advance, $10 at the door and can be purchased by contacting 732-841-8485 or tugofwar_at_kolam@yahoo.com. For more information, visit www.congregationkolam.org.
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