Matsiyahu is an original. The former Chabadnik, who has become one of America’s leading hip hop and reggae singers, will be making his Winnipeg debut May 31 as the headliner for this year’s annual Jewish National Fund Negev Gala.
“We are thrilled to be able to present this world-class artist to Winnipeg audiences,” said JNF Winnipeg president Karla Berbrayer. “We know that his wide range of appeal will draw new fans and have many fans singing his positive message of peace long after the evening has concluded.”
Matsiyahu blends Orthodox Jewish themes with reggae, rock and hip hop sounds. Since 2004, he has released four studio albums, as well as two live albums, two remix albums and two DVDs featuring live concerts, and his 2005 single King Without a Crown was a Top 40 hit in the United States.
The Negev Gala, which this year is honouring Winnipeg businessman and philanthropist Peter Leipsic, is one the Jewish community’s two largest fundraising events. The gala regularly draws 1,500 supporters, and sometimes more, depending on the honouree and entertainment.
The kickoff for this year’s event was held April 7 at the Winnipeg Convention Centre. About 100 canvassers and supporters were on hand as the honouree was officially introduced, along with a special guest from Israel.
Ruth Rasnic is the founder of No 2 Violence Against Women, the first organization in Israel to reach out to provide shelter and support for victims of domestic abuse. Rasnic’s organization operates shelters in Rishon Lezion, Hadera and Herlziya (where Rasnic lives), as well as a 24-hour hotline staffed largely by volunteers. The funds raised at the 2016 Winnipeg Negev Gala will go toward a major rebuild of the Rishon shelter.
“This is a project that spoke to Peter in a meaningful way,” said Jessica Kogan, JNF Winnipeg’s vice-president. “He was deeply touched.”
The new shelter, which replaces a smaller one, will have room for 12 families. It will also have a kindergarten for younger children and a playroom for older kids. “We will have social workers on staff and provide clothing and furniture to help our residents and their children to start a new life,” she said.
When it comes to shelters for victims of domestic abuse, Rasnic noted, Israel still has a long way to go. She said that in all of Israel, there are 14 only shelters – for a population of more than eight million –compared to 14 in Manitoba and 600 across Canada.
READ: MATISYAHU OPENS UP ABOUT HIS PERSONAL AND RELIGIOUS JOURNEY
Israeli shelters also have to cope with a wide variety of different cultures. Rasnic said there are two shelters strictly for haredi women and two just for Arab women.
“At present, up to 70 per cent of women and children fleeing abuse can’t get into shelters because there are not enough emergency shelter beds in Israel,” Rasnic said.
In recent years, the shelters have also had to deal with a number of Ukrainian and Russian women who were smuggled into Israel as sex slaves, as well as with illegal immigrants and newer immigrants from Ethiopia and Russia.
Rasnic, who in 2009 was awarded the Israel Prize – Israel’s equivalent of the Order of Canada – said she plans to work on behalf of victims of domestic abuse until her last breath.
Photo: Flickr