Gili Vain: "Jewish Values are What Really Matter"

Getting to Know Gili

"Gili Vain, 26, married, living in Tel Aviv, musician."

A Spark of Nostalgia

"One of the most significant memories from my early years is my connection to music. I've always felt a strong bond with music throughout my life. At just eight, I told my parents and friends that I wanted to become a musician when I grew up. It might sound crazy, but by the age of ten, I recorded a CD at home with songs I wrote, composed, and produced. There was a very simple computer program back then that made this possible, and with its help, I produced the CD. In recent years, I've been frantically searching for it but haven't found it. Maybe it's for the best—who knows how embarrassing it might be."

A Spark of Roots

"I grew up in a secular household where we celebrated Rosh Hashanah and Passover, but that was about it. As I grew older, I became interested in tradition, started exploring it more deeply, understanding why certain things are done, and decided to observe more mitzvot, beyond what was done at home. For instance, I now fast every Yom Kippur, avoid eating chametz on Passover, and do kiddush with my wife's parents every Shabbat. My desire to go beyond what I knew growing up might also stem from the fact that I attended a religious kindergarten. I see how it influences me to this day and affects the music I create. The songs I learned in kindergarten influence me in many ways even now. It shows up in my writing, where there's a spiritual essence. It's hard to explain in words, but you can feel it. Additionally, I hear it even more strongly in my melodies. Some of my songs, both released and unreleased, feel like prayers, Shabbat, or a synagogue when I listen to them. Also, when I have children, I want them to know and preserve the basics of Judaism. After all, these are the most beautiful things we have as a people. It moves me to see how on Yom Kippur, for instance, most people don't drive—it's amazing to me. And I am talking about central Tel Aviv, around my home, not a Charedi city. In general, there's much more tradition in Tel Aviv than people realize. For example, on Shabbat, most shops on the busiest streets are closed. One year, I was at my apartment in central Tel Aviv during Rosh Hashanah, and I was shocked that almost everything was closed. Honestly, what will we have left in life if not the values of Judaism?"

A Spark of Jewish Music

"I feel a part of me is influenced by ancient Jewish music, by the piyyutim. As I mentioned, I grew up attending a religious kindergarten simply because it was really close to our home. When you're educated in a religious kindergarten and, of course, become familiar with and sing the songs and prayers from that environment, it sticks with you, and I feel it still impacts my music today."

A Spark of Creation

"In a certain way, I feel that God is tied to my creativity. The feeling is that I receive my songs rather than create them myself. Some songs have helped me greatly in life, and I want to give this gift, thanks to what I've received, to others. In this regard, the most touching thing is when people tell me, 'Your song healed me.' Also, my connection to Hashem is expressed by the fact that I've given up many valuable things so that good things can happen in the world."

A Spark of Shabbat

"For me, Shabbat is the time where I truly have time for myself. During the week, I dedicate time to Gili the musician, but on Shabbat, it's for Gili the person. I don't work in the studio or perform on Shabbat. Several years ago, something inside me insisted I stop working on Shabbat, and that's exactly what happened. Today I can say it's what keeps me sane. Without Shabbat, I'd be consumed by work 24/7."

A Spark of Prayer

"I talk to God daily. Beyond that, one of the songs on my latest album is called 'Scenes,' and to me, it's completely a prayer. An artist's journey is full of challenges and obstacles, so I often pray to God and simply ask for help, asking Him to show me what I need to do, to enlighten my path. My prayers can be about the smallest things in life, happening on a daily basis, and sometimes they are about the most important and significant things. Beyond the fact that praying about them certainly helps, prayer also helps me identify what’s truly important to me. You see how much you want things based on how and how often you pray about them. Prayer clarifies things for me, focuses me, and puts things in the right balance."

A Spark of Study

"Before the wedding, during meetings with the rabbi who married us, I really enjoyed discovering the deep spiritual aspect of Judaism, which I admit I didn't know to such a depth until then. It fascinated me, as for many years I’ve been very connected to faith and Judaism, learning a lot of things related to spirituality. I definitely want to continue with this and learn more and more about Judaism."

A Spark of Mitzvah

"I feel very connected to the mitzvah of honoring parents, specifically, and to 'Love your neighbor as yourself' in general. Regarding my parents, I try very hard to honor them, and today, since I live farther from them physically—I live in Tel Aviv and they in Carmiel—I even feel more of a need to show them respect, to call, to check in on them, and to help them however I can. Regarding respect for all people, I can say that I strive very much not to hurt others, and I always try to put myself in the shoes of the person I'm speaking with, including imagining how they might receive my words. Therefore, for example, I try to speak to people the way I would want people to speak to me, and to do or not do things to people based on how I would want them or wouldn't want them done to me. It’s a basic value to me, and I try hard to implement it in my life."

A Spark of Legacy

"What I'd like to leave behind in the world is a very big and difficult question. I'm someone who plans for five years ahead, at most ten, but never thought about what would remain of me once I'm gone. I hope that my songs will continue to have a positive impact on people, and I want to make a significant contribution to my field, the music industry. And, of course, I want to leave good children behind who will continue on the right path in this world."