Putting their security concerns aside, thousands of Israelis attended a concert Saturday night by the Jewish reggae rapper Matisyahu, who played to a full house at the Sultan’s Pool, just outside the Old City of Jerusalem, The Times of Israel reported Sunday.

More than the music, the full-house turnout despite the attacks — including two stabbings earlier that day in Jerusalem — was the real highlight of the evening.

Following energetic opening performances by two local acts, rapper Nechi Nech (aka Ravid Plotnik) and Ethiopian-Israeli hip-hop band Cafe Shachor Chazak (Strong Black Coffee), Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat took the stage to thank the public for sticking to their routines and coming out to the concert as planned.

“I want to take the opportunity to thank the Israel Police and the security services, as well as the emergency response services, for the wonderful work they are doing in Jerusalem and in the country as a whole. I want to thank the public that came here today. Everyone who came here today and is maintaining their regular routine is a partner in fighting terror,” Barkat said.

In August, Matisyahu was disinvited to a music festival in Spain after he refused to say that he supported a Palestinian state. The controversy generated by the discrimination against him prompted the organizers to restore his invitation. At the music festival, the singer promised to perform in Jerusalem, and Saturday night he made good on his promise.

Popular Israeli singer Idan Raichel joined Matisyahu for one of Matisyahu’s early hits, “Jerusalem.” A clip of the performance is embedded below.

[Photo: Flash90 ]