I have found a lot of inspiration from this man. He was born under the name of Matthew Paul Miller. As a young man he found inspiration in Bob Marley and reggae music. His parents sent him to Jerusalem when he was young. He came back with a interest in Judaism, converting the the Orthodox sect and entered Yeshiva in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn. He took the Hebrew name of Matthew which is Matisyahu.With a few friends that he found there theyformed a band. They had humble beginnings playing for Rabbis. They toured for a year and put out a live album called "Live at Stubbs." Remarkably it climbed the charts. They continued to tour and discovered that their blend of rock and reggae resonated in the hearts of a cross culture fan base. Jewish kids as well as hippies and Rastas came to all the shows.
Even though we have come from complete opposite poles on the music spectrum I find a lot of myself in Matis's music. I too had a sorted past and have become religious. Although our religions, once again, find themselves on two spectrum's. Matisyahu has taught me that we, and all of us, have too many things in common to call ourselves "different." Matis doesn't preach because he feels that preachers often feel that they have a corner on the truth and they want everyone else to recognize it. I have learned through his lyrics that everything on Earth has a spiritual charge or spark. I will try to see the world and its people with that same outlook. I feel like the pasts that we came from may have been dark but now we see the light, it's the same light.
