Dudu Fisher. Photo: Dudu Fisher's Kickstarter page for "Jerusalem."

Acclaimed Israeli cantor and stage performer Dudu Fisher is ready to follow up his highly successful PBS special “Dudu Fisher: In Concert from Israel” with another live DVD, “Jerusalem,” and he’s asking his fans for a little help. Fisher has taken to the crowd funding site Kickstarter to raise the $500,000 he needs to produce the show.

“It’s the best way to go public without having to give a share to other people’s opinions about what you’re going to do,” Fisher told The Algemeiner.

The show is a paean to Jerusalem, a city Fisher speaks enthusiastically about, though he knows that’s not the case with many people around the world.

“I think it’s a wonderful show,” he said, “Too many people around the world know the word “Jerusalem,” too many people see Jerusalem on the news all the time, unfortunately in the wrong aspects. They see only when there are stones, and stabbings and wars. I want to show them the beautiful side of Jerusalem— the Jerusalem of peace, the Jerusalem of holiness, and that’s why I’m doing this show.”

Fisher has already raised money from private investors, but says he much prefers the online platform. “I feel uncomfortable when I have to go to people to ask for money,” he says. Instead Fisher preferred to follow Kickstarter’s model of soliciting donations in return for gifts.

“People are getting something back. It’s not like you’re asking for a donation, or a favor,” Fisher said.

Among the gifts on offer are a special edition audio CD of the show at the $20 tier, and further on, if you feel like donating a sum of say, $1,000 or more, four tickets to any Dudu Fisher concert in the world.

Thus far the campaign has moved slowly, but with more than a month and a half to go Fisher has remained optimistic.

“I spoke to people at Kickstarter and they said it will be slow at first, and then it picks up. And I hope it’s going to work,” he said.

“I figured worst comes to worst, and it’s not working, I’ll continue to ask people. I’ll feel uncomfortable ,” Fisher said, laughing.

Watch a video of Fisher’s ‘Jerusalem’ pitch below:

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