A group of musicians with a message of love and tolerance that comes from a country of political and social unrest need not be a contradiction.
The Israel-based Idan Raichel Project, with about 70 musicians in total, singing in English, Hebrew, Arabic and Amharic (an Ethiopian language spoken by the Amhara), promote its message of peace and co-existence despite, or perhaps because of, the country’s violent climate.
Tonight, a smaller Idan Raichel Project plays at 7:30 p.m. in the EMU Ballroom as a stop on its largely national tour. The concert is co-sponsored by the Oregon Cultural Forum, Oregon Hillel, Jewish Student Union and the Oregon Humanities Center.
Eugene students and community members will benefit from this unique concert, as “it is important for campuses to be exposed to other parts of the world,” Oregon Hillel executive director Hal Applebaum said.

From the beginning, Raichel, a keyboardist, composer and producer, saw the project as a collaboration between artists who each bring their own musical culture and talents to the stage.
Raichel’s idea is that each musician’s voice and instrument is valued and heard.
“There would be no front man,” Raichel said in an interview with world-music Web site Cumbancha.com. “I would sit at the side and watch things and see what occurs. Every song would have a different singer, we would sit in a half circle and each musician would have a chance to demonstrate what they have to offer.”
Now this is the power of one.
The emphasis put on bringing together people from different backgrounds resonates with first-year human physiology major Shayna Yellon.
“He is not trying to break social boundaries,” said Yellon, who has seen him twice in Israel. “He is just out to make music with his friends.”
But even still, fans worldwide have accepted Raichel and his project as a bridge between other races and ethnicities.
“They are mega mega superstars in Israel,” Applebaum said.
As unintentional ambassadors of Israel and willing proponents of peace, the project has been very successful.
Often, when people envision Israel, they may not think of people from Africa or people who have dreadlocks, Applebaum said, noting the country’s rich diversity.
“The project was inspired by the idea of ‘one world many cultures,’” he said.
Youth especially have been quick to pick up on the project’s music not solely for the beautiful sounds, but because many young people, all over the world, are ready for a change. They want to work together.