DESCRIPTION:
My wife and children were in Canada settling into our new house, but I was alone in our old apartment in Jerusalem selling most of our belongings. Each night during that intense week, my holy neighbours knocked on the door and brought me hot food, knowing that I was alone in the apartment without the means to prepare much. I sat in reflection on the cusp of a major life transition, picked up my guitar and this song poured forth. The words of the final verse came in a flash weeks later as I played the song in our new home in Canada. As I sang the words, "I must return to the world I've left behind", I burst into tears.

"Jerusalem" was recorded, mixed and mastered at Metalworks Studios Mississauga, ON. Co-produced, engineered and mixed by head engineer Kevin Dietz, the recording is a masterfully balanced audio production that emits warmth and flavour. We were blessed to have Juno nominee Rob Teehan score and perform the weaving violin that you hear during the second half of the song.

The video was filmed and produced by Martin Rad. It is a melding of the studio performance, a live concert at The Homegrown Hamilton and a collaboration of world class photography by artists literally from around the globe. My intention with this video is to invite the viewer into the city that is embedded in my soul forever and share the intensity of that connection. May this piece of collaborative art create feelings of unity and tolerance in the viewers and bring us all closer to creating peace within ourselves and in the world that surrounds us.

Benami is: Chanan Benami (Vocals and Guitar), Graham Tugetman (Percussion and Backing Vocals) and Trevor Friday (Bass Guitar).

"Jerusalem" Words and Music By Chanan Benami Gans Copyright 2014

Much Thanks and gratitude to:
The Creator of the universe, Aharona Gans for her support, dedication and creative input, Etan Butler and Oscar Seidel for funding the project, Graham Tugetman and family for their dedication, talent and part writing, Trevor Friday for his dedication, part writing and talent, Kevin Dietz, Martin Rad, Rob Teehan, J Enriquez, our families and all of our friends and fans without whom none of this would be possible!