Earlier this year, The Voice Project provided an operating grant to Heartbeat, an organization of young Israeli and Palestinian musicians working together for peace through music. Founded by Aaron Shneyer, Heartbeat originally started as a 12-person ensemble of high school students—half from the predominately Arab East Jerusalem and half from the mostly Jewish West Jerusalem. The group has grown and now creates safe spaces and opportunities for young Palestinian and Israeli musicians to come together through retreats, workshops, camps, overseas exchanges, and the development of ensembles. They currently have three operating ensembles, in Haifa, Jerusalem, and Jaffa, and a group touring the US.

Amplifying youth voices, working at real and positive social change through music, it’s obvious why we had to get behind them.

Check them out on their recent RT America performance, playing and speaking oh so eloquently and powerfully about what their doing and how they are using music as a catalyst for change. Inspirational:

Below is the official video for “Bukra Fi Mishmish,” Israeli and Palestinian youth jamming together, showing how it should be done.

Check out more information at www.heartbeat.fm