AWAKE ZION

Ever wonder why Jews and Rastafarians both use the Star of David and make references to Zion? Director Monica Haim's exuberant documentary, Awake Zion, explores the surprising connections between reggae culture and Judaism.

All the way back to the alleged sultry affair between King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, a certain blend of Jewish flavor has crept into the spiritual history of Ethiopia, turning up subtly in Rastafarian lifestyle, and then inevitably in reggae. Consider that one of the first reggae songs ever broadcast on radio was called "Israelites", or that Rastas and Orthodox Jews share fundamental views towards faith, dietary and sexual ethics, and particularly the notion of repatriation.

In Awake Zion, Haim brings together Jewish and Jamaican artists, scholars, and historians in a celebration of music, roots and culture. She embarks on a journey that takes her from Crown Heights, Brooklyn, where she meets with Hasidic dancehall superstar Matisyahu, to Jamaica, birthplace of reggae, and ultimately to Israel, where a small, sizzling reggae scene thrives. Along the way, Awake Zion tells a fascinating story of unsuspecting cultural and historical convergence, a story about symbols, themes and traditions shared by people who might seem to be on opposite ends of the spiritual spectrum.

Religion & Spirituality  Jewish Studies  African-American Studies  Latin-American Studies  African Studies  New York City  Music  Cultural Studies  Directed by Women  2020