Jerusalem
August 29, 2013
By Anav Silverman
Tazpit News Agency
Sounds of Tibetan monks singing, an iranian playing the santoor, african western style music, rastafarian and reggae rhythms, as well as some Israeli rock, among other musical genres could be heard recently from the Tower of David in the old city of Jerusalem.
The international and local rhythms formed by the rhythms of the second part of the Annual Jerusalem Sacred Music Festival of the Jerusalem Culture Season, whose musical venues were located in different parts of the city, such as the YMCA, the Tzidkiyahu Cave, and the Hebrew University.
The three day festival (August 20-23) attracted at least 1.000 visitors every night to the Tower of David according to the director, Eilat Dear. “It was very important to me to bring this unique festival to the Tower of David,” Lieber told Tazpit News Agency.
“This has been a great opportunity to learn not only good music, but to experience the relationship that exists between different religions and cultures throughout this city and the world”.
“This kind of mutual respect is not entirely evident because of the division and conflict that are often the only themes portrayed in the Jerusalem media.”, added the spokesperson for the Tower of David, Caroline Shapiro.
One of the musical performers, Alan Kushan, an Iranian living in the US. They had positive comments about the capital of Israel.
“Jerusalem is a wonderful city” the santoor musician told Tazpit News Agency. “Not only is it an honor to play in the city of King David and his son Solomon. I think it is a duty. As an artist, “My message to other fellow Iranian musicians is not to be afraid to visit this city.”, Kushan said..
The order of exiled Tibetan Buddhists, known as the Lhumpo Tashi monks, They could also be seen walking along the ancient stones of the Tower of David, dressed in their traditional brown robes. The monks, exiled from Tibet and now living in southern India, They sang Tibetan prayers, accompanied by dishes, gongs, bells and ceremonial dance during their night performance.
It was the first visit of Tibetan monks to Jerusalem, having spent the year touring throughout Europe and raising funds to continue his way of life in the South Indian monastery. Monks cannot study freely in Tibet because the Chinese regime prohibits them from doing so., Jane Rasch explained., a spokesperson for the group. “There is a lot of understanding and solidarity between Israelis and exiled monks, already second generation, who live in India.”
At the Tower of David, The monks also created their signature “mandala”.” of peace (Mandela's birthday) made of colorful crushed marble, brought from south India, as Israeli spectators watched with fascination.
Kachen Lobzang Tuskhor, the leader of the visiting group of monks, told the Tazpit news agency, that Jerusalem was a special city, but more populated than he expected. Lobzang, who speaks tibetan, Hindu, and a little English, He explained with a smile what he learned two words in Hebrew during his visit: shalom y sababa.
