Israeli Music

By Gabriela Geselowitz
Hunter College

When talking about international Israeli music, groups like the Idan Raichel Project always come to mind.  The Project has been incredibly successful, both at home and throughout the world.  Its fusion of different global music traditions is both fascinating and distinctly Israeli.  After all, Israel is located at a crossroads between continents, with citizens from all over the world.  It has often taken musical genres, such as hip-hop and rap, and made them its own.

Now, out of Ramat HaSharon (north of Tel Aviv) comes HaTikvah 6, a hip new Jewish Reggae/Dancehall group that is becoming extremely popular. They have performed in major Israeli music festivals and even at concerts in the United States.  The group has songs in Hebrew, English and French.  Its members are Omri Glikman (guitar and vocals), his younger sister Shelly Glikman (keyboard), Ido Lederman (bass), and Ron Linial (drums).  The band was originally named after the address of the Glikman siblings, but is also a symbol of hope and connectivity.

Like American reggae star Matisyahu, Judaism often (but not always) plays an important role in their music.  Their songs are also personal, emotional and political.  "Inna me country you are a child until the age of eighteen/A man one day- because of the uniform in green" writes Omri Glikman in "Tears," "Inna your hand dem place a gun- M16."

But the connection to spirituality is also important.  "I think the source where reggae came from, their whole [Rastafarian] culture, is based on believing in God," said Shelly Glikman in an interview with Israeli Art Blog Omanoot, "I think that is the first connection that we see.  And that is what makes us think about it and sing about it."
Israeli Reggae is still on its first legs.  Hatikvah 6 was only formed about five years ago, and is considered a forerunner in Reggae in Israel.  But if the band’s success is any indication of what’s to come, than perhaps Reggae will soon seem as Israeli as
falafel and shawarma.

Gabriela Geselowitz is a freshman at the Macaulay Honors College at
Hunter College.  She has loved her first year with KOACH so far!

[Posted 3/15/10]