As the sun began to set over the historic Greek Theater in the picturesque tree-enclosed setting of Griffith Park , California , a hush came over the nearly 6000 eagerly standing fans. The lights on the stage and crowd dimmed. A calm sound of a strummed bass filled the seats. An orange glow from a series of stage lights slowly lit skyward. White smoke began to fill the front of the stage where one single spotlight created the silhouette of the performer we all came to see. Tonight was not going to be solely a night of entertainment. It was not going to be just a great concert. It was going to be a soul stirring experience filled with Jewish pride, a deeper understating of personal purpose and a greater connection between our maker and his creations. The silhouette slowly coming to life revealed so much more than a musical act. It revealed MATISYAHU.

For those of you who have recently returned from a year long rattlesnake safari in the Sahara desert, here is a brief recap. Matisyahu, born a Reconstructionist Jew in 1979 turned Orthodox Jew in 2001, first became known to the Jewish world with his 2004 “Shake Off the Dust..Arise”, an album filled with great Reggae music as well as Hebrew songs. He followed this album up in 2005 with an excellent live album “live at Stubbs.” However, it was until shortly after, when Matisyahu performed on the Jimmy Kimmel Show that he was known to the world, Jews and non-Jews alike, as the Chasidic Reggae master. This led to a huge signing deal with Sony records, a number one hit Album “Youth”, radio play on mainstream alternative and hip-hop stations, MTV videos and a sold out world tour. Yet, Matisyahu is so much more that a great reggae musician.

What makes Matisyahu so special? To put it simply, he keeps it real. In an industry that is difficult to break into, Matisyahu did not compromise who he is as an Orthodox Jew to get where he is. At the concert that night, as the silhouette faded to reveal our star, Matisyahu began the show singing a Chassidic niggun or hymn while wearing standard issue Lubavitch garb. He had his large velvet Kippah with puffy painted rim design, black Borsalino hat with rim down, black jacket, white button down shirt, black pants and his not so standard issue black and white puma sneakers. There was no mistaking him for what he truly is; one of the chosen people. This would not have impacted me as much if let’s say Matisyahu was playing on the Chabad telethon, but he was playing for a relatively representative cross-segment of the Los Angeles population. A population as diverse as the world itself. And at the heart of this gathering, where all eyes, ears and hearts were fixed, was a Jew. A fact that filled me with pride.

As I looked around the theater, I saw a rare crowd of hope and peace. Standing together singing about G-d and Moshiach along with our host were Jews, religious and secular, and non-Jews of every ethnicity. When Matisyahu appeared on the stage a young African American lady behind me shouted “Yea, that’s my boy.” The couple sitting next to me wearing the matching “I love Jesus” T-shirts swayed back and forth as Matisyahu sang about Israel . The two young men with dreadlocks, peace signs around their neck and distant gazes mouthed every word of every song. I am not sure there has ever been a forum where such a diverse crowd came together to enjoy Jewish teachings and ideas which is what Matisyahus' music preaches.  As a Jew who believes one of our purposes as a people is to be “a light unto the nations” there was a bright light shining that evening.

Of course, the skeptic might respond saying the crowd was there to enjoy the reggae beats and probably do not understand the words spun out in a rapid reggae fashion. To the skeptics, I can only relay the fact that when Matisyahu publicly recited the “Shema”, the glorification of the one single G-d, there was complete respectful silence and applause when he was done. When Matisyahu explained the importance of blessing G-d even for the little things like drinking a sip of water, the entire crowd answered “Amen” after he recited the blessing on liquids “Shehakol” on his powerade. They were not surprised by the fact that Matisyahu is a devout Jew. They embraced it.

A little over 60 years ago the Jews faced annihilation by the hate of others and anti-Semitism is quickly escalating throughout the world. This is the exile in which we find ourselves. Our sages tell us that our forefathers survived the Egyptian exile for three reasons: they did not change their language, their names, or their style of dress. They maintained a distinct identity that helped them to prevent assimilating into Egyptian society and culture. Matisyahu certainly exemplifies these traits of our forefather’s survival. In fact, one of his hit songs proudly exclaims how he would not change his name even at the urge of others. As the night of music and inspiration continued I began to wonder that if we will all proudly kept our Jewish names, wore our Jewish garb, and spoke our native tongue could the tranquil experience of tonight’s concert be experienced throughout the world.

We are taught that  "...in the time (of Moshiach) there shall be no famine or war, no jealousy or competition - 'For the earth will be as filled with the knowledge of God as water covering the sea bed.' (Isaiah 11:9)" (Kings 12,5). This is how it felt in the Greek Theater (the irony of the name did not escape me) that night.  There was knowledge of G-d, an appreciation of all the people G-d created and a respect for Jewish values. I am not suggesting that Matisyahu is Moshiach, although I did notice some websites making that claim. However, I am suggesting that if more Jews walked on the stage of life in the theater of the world filled with all the nations and proudly wore their Kippah (head covering), gripped their Siddur or embraced their heritage, maybe we would all be singing the same song of praise to G-d for taking us out of exile. This will happen. I am sure of that. However, I am just as sure that it will only happen if, like Matisyahu, we keep it real.