Yuval Shem Tov on Faith, Family, Purpose, and True Happiness

Yuval Shem Tov is married and a father of seven. He lives in Neve Yarak and is a children’s entertainer.

A Spark of Roots

“I was born in the French Hill neighborhood in Jerusalem, into a traditional Persian family. We used to make Kiddush on Friday nights, and sometimes I would go to the synagogue with my father. The foundation of my connection to Judaism came from home — but the deeper search came later, from an inner desire of my own.

From home I absorbed the what — but not the why. During my army service I began to explore and learn more. I took part in many dangerous operations, friends of mine were killed, and I began asking myself: What happens if I die? What is beyond this life? What is free choice and what is destiny? I knew that the best source to study these questions from is Judaism. There is an answer to everything — and even when there isn’t, that’s where faith comes in.

We weren’t a wealthy family, and as a child I didn’t understand why others had things that I didn’t — why I couldn’t go to after-school activities or wear certain clothes. That sense of lack accompanied me for many years. Today I see that everything was ultimately for the best — and I understand that precisely because I didn’t have much, a strong inner drive to move forward in life was born in me, and I developed a rich imagination. Today I don’t want to ‘fill the lack’ — I want to make peace with it.

When I began to succeed and money started coming in, I began buying lots of things to compensate myself for all the years when nobody bought things for me. The only problem is — that’s a bottomless pit. Sometimes you have to go through a long and difficult process in order to reach real insight.

I remember one day I bought a big plasma TV. I was excited about it for a day or two — and then I felt empty again. Like I needed something else — a bigger TV, a new computer, an expensive watch. And there’s no end to that chase.”

A Spark of Mitzvah

"I’ve become very connected to the blessings we say over food and drink. When I make a blessing, I feel that I’m sanctifying what I bring into my body. I feel that these words create good energy in what I consume — and that through them I connect to Divinity. Divinity is everything — including the food and the water. That’s the difference between doing things with holiness, and doing them without holiness.”

A Spark of Parenting

“Thank God we have seven children. I try to pass on my values to each one of them — according to who they are and in a way that fits them. I know that seven children isn’t common in non-religious families, but people always say about us that we’re ‘religious without being religious.’

The principles of bringing children into the world, creating life, building a large family — those are deeply Jewish values. In that way, a mortal human being can touch eternity.”

A Spark of Learning

“I learn a huge amount from my kids. Of course I sometimes use tricks from my work to get along with them at home — but what’s even more meaningful is that thanks to them I know what interests children, what makes them laugh and what moves them emotionally — and I bring that with me onto the stage and into the content I create.

Before I had kids, I created from an inner emotional truth and saw what worked mainly while performing at birthday parties. Speaking of birthdays — that’s something I actually really miss. I haven’t done birthday shows for many years.

Naturally, after I became famous, a birthday performance of mine cost quite a lot. One day, after a show, a little boy told me that he had wanted to invite me to perform at his birthday party, but his parents didn’t have enough money. That same day, I stopped doing birthdays. I was also a child whose parents didn’t always have money — and I didn’t want to cause that feeling to other kids.

Stage shows are more affordable — so that’s where I continue to perform.”

A Spark of Creativity

“My connection to tradition was always there — so it was important for me to express it in my work. ‘Yuval HaMebulbal’ (Yuval the Confused) has a star on his shirt — it symbolizes the Divine spark inside every one of us, our connection to the Creator.

At first the character’s shirt had stains — something that fit the ‘confused character’ — but then I thought about who I really am, and how I can bring my truth to the stage. That was one of the changes I made.

Beyond that, I try to make sure the messages in my shows are positive. Yes, I may be confused, but I’m also someone who eventually finds the right path. I sing a lot about believing, helping, loving, and staying joyful. ‘Love your fellow as yourself’ is a core value for me.

In my songs there is a lot of connection to Judaism. In daily life too, I am careful about many things, and I see myself as a very believing person. I put on tefillin every morning, and I almost never perform on Shabbat. When I do, it’s only because of prior contractual obligations, and with God’s help I will soon stop that completely.

I also set aside regular time for Torah study — and I especially love listening to Rabbi Zamir Cohen. He is truly something special. One of the things I love most about him is how he connects Torah and science — and shows how the two worlds work together beautifully.”

A Spark of Influence

“It’s very important to me to have a positive influence. The stronger my spiritual connection grows, the more I want to sanctify God’s name publicly — for example through Lag BaOmer shows I do with Chabad.

Some people criticize me and say I’m ‘using my character to promote religion’ — but I don’t understand that claim. This is who I am. Judaism is my root. I have the ability to influence children — so I try to do meaningful and good things with that power, in a pleasant way.

At one of the shows we handed out toy Torah scrolls to children, and some people got angry. I told them: ‘What did you expect me to hand out — a Koran?’ The Torah is the foundation of our people. So even if there is criticism from the sidelines, I feel very at peace with what I’m doing.

To influence people positively is a privilege and a gift, and at young ages the influence is even stronger. There’s a reason it’s called the formative years — children at that age are like clay — you can shape them far more easily than when they’re older.”

A Spark of Challenge

“I wanted to be an actor — a performer — so I tried to get into the IDF Nahal entertainment troupe. I actually was accepted, but because I had a combat profile, I was drafted to a combat unit instead, and I went through a very difficult service.

One of the hardest moments I experienced was in Hebron — during the Baruch Goldstein massacre in the Cave of the Patriarchs. I served in the Nahal recon unit. We were on patrol right near the cave when we suddenly heard gunfire. We didn’t understand what was happening, and then we saw many bodies being carried out.

Crowds of angry Palestinians began yelling and advancing toward us. We climbed to high ground and took defensive positions. We were ready for anything — even to shoot if necessary — but thank God, they didn’t attack us. That’s just one example of the things I went through during my service.

Because my army service was so intense, I often asked God why I had to experience such hardships, instead of serving in the entertainment troupe like I had hoped. Today I understand that God gives you what you need, not what you want.

The difficult service gave me emotional resilience, self-discipline, and life tools that later helped me build my career. I learned perseverance, goal-setting, teamwork, and helping others. If a friend needs help building his show, I’m there. People say that helping others hurts your own success, but I don’t believe that. What is meant for me will always reach me.”

A Spark of Awakening

“A few years ago I made a very big change in my life. I suddenly realized that because of the spotlight, I had been swept for years after illusions — and then the truth finally revealed itself to me.

From those realizations I built a lecture called ‘My Path’ — where I talk about my life journey.

At the most basic level — the truth I discovered is about what real happiness is. What true success is. In the past I measured success through fame and attention — through events, media exposure, and how many likes I got.

But that race has no end. After 100 likes you want 1,000 — and then 10,000. Someone who chases fame will never be satisfied. Eventually I realized I was in a place that wasn’t truly me.

That understanding brought me back to who I really am and to what I truly want: to do good for people — especially children, and bring them happiness.

When you look deeply, you see that much of the world is full of illusion. The Hebrew word for ‘world’ comes from ‘hidden’. The book of Kohelet says: ‘All is vanity’. Everything passes — everything disappears — and within that you have to find what is eternal and true.

True happiness is found in giving, in good deeds, in mitzvot — things that last forever. The coronavirus period helped me internalize this. Suddenly I was at home, the chase stopped. I realized that you don’t need very much — food, water, family — and the world keeps turning. The sun still rises.

Yes, you need to work and support your family, but everything should be in proportion. What really matters is family, health, and doing good. Happiness does not depend on which fancy watch or car you own.”

A Spark of Giving

“Recently I joined a volunteer center called ‘Beit HaMitnadev’ (The House of Volunteers) in Hod HaSharon. I mainly worked with a child with severe disabilities. We grew very close — he really loved me — and one day, while I was making him laugh, his mother burst into tears and said she had never seen him so happy. That moment alone, was worth everything.

I’ve also performed for senior citizens and vulnerable communities. The greatest joy in life is when you give to others from the gifts God has given you.”