CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts — It had already been an emotional night for Talia Khan. A PhD student in mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the president of a pro-Israel campus organization, Khan had conceived an idea for a concert to uplift Jewish joy not long after the October 7 Hamas onslaught. Seven-plus months later, on May 16, the concert was finally happening.
Some of the top American and Israeli talent had been billed, including Matisyahu, Idan Raichel and John Ondrasik, also known by his stage name Five for Fighting, for an estimated audience of almost 1,500 on the MIT campus. In addition to being an organizer, Khan, who is also a jazz fellow at MIT, was one of the performers — including for collaborations on the Israeli and United States national anthems. Shortly after the “Star-Spangled Banner,” she was back on stage addressing the audience.
“We are celebrating the Jewish joy and unity of our people...
We are strong, we are resilient and we are one,” she said. “I see all you nerds, and I love you,” Ondrasik said during his act, noting that he is the son of an astrophysicist, and was an applied math major in college. Today, he is known for the hits “Superman” and “100 Years,” both of which he performed — doing a duet with Khan on the latter.
He also performed a more recent piece — “OK,” meant to show solidarity with Israel in the wake of October 7. “I am not Jewish,” he said. “One does not h.
