By Michelle Martinelli|Originally Published: 05/19/11 4:45pm
Pastor David Shin was looking for a new method to reach out to the East Lansing community to inspire people and encourage hope.
That is when recording artist Rachel Hyman joined him at University Seventh-Day Adventist Church, and they saw an opportunity to bring people together.
The church, 504 Ann St., will hold a gospel concert at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, with Hyman — a Christian artist who records Jewish music — performing.
Hyman — an East Lansing resident who grew up in a Jewish home — converted to Christianity in 2000 and said she will use the concert to teach people about Jewish culture while sharing her story of converting. She said the themes of the concert will include unity, Jewish culture and the gospel, and her testimony through music describes how she found Jesus as a Jewish woman.
“I share my story on how Jesus saved me and how I became a Christian, and it became my life,” she said. “Even though I’m a Christian, I still like to share knowledge about Jewish culture.”
Reinforcing the idea of unity regardless of heritage or religious beliefs, the Arabic fusion band Wisaal also will perform with Hyman.
Wisaal — an Arabic word which means links, connections and unities — is a Michigan-based band that combines Arabic music with Klezmer, Indian, American and Brazilian sounds.
With both types of music having Middle Eastern origins, the sounds cohesively mesh together, and Shin said he hopes the combination of Hyman and Wisaal will reach to the community through the arts in a different way with music as a universal language.
“People know the history between Jews and Arabs hasn’t been the best, to say the least,” Shin said. “But I think it sends a message — by the fusion of these two working together for a common goal — of building a sense of community (and) coming together. Even with various differences, I think we can have a common bond that brings people together.”
Being so close to MSU, Shin understands the diversity around campus, and he hopes the combination of Jewish and Arabic music and gospel-oriented discussions will bring people together, regardless of their religious or political beliefs.
Serving as a metaphor to apply to worldwide conflicts, Hyman will sing in Hebrew with the Arabic fusion music, demonstrating how the differing religious beliefs can cohesively exist within music and in life.
“As a Jew singing with an Arabic fusion band, we’re trying to give a message of acceptance and love and unity,” Hyman said. “We’re just trying to invite people and let the community know about (us).”
Wisaal’s band leader, Igor Houwat, said the concert also will serve as an education for those who attend, introducing people to unfamiliar music and instruments.
Houwat — a Lansing resident and MSU alumnus — said he believes people in the East Lansing area probably haven’t heard Jewish and Arabic music performed simultaneously, and he’s looking to encourage curiosity about both cultures.
“I hope it’s a different experience,” Houwat said. “Some of the instruments that they are going to hear — even the way that they are played — I think will be a new experience for them.”
The concert is the first of its kind at the church, and Shin said if the community responds positively, the church will continue to organize similar events.
Tickets for the concert are available for $10 at musicforthesoultickets.com and at the door Sunday.
“Music is very emotional,” Shin said. “It’s a part of the arts. … After (Hyman) sings and Wisaal performs, it will provide an environment for people to be inspired.
“That’s the main thing we want — for people’s hearts to be touched through the medium of music and for, ultimately, people to be drawn closer to God.”
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