Sapir Saban’s Journey: From Childhood Dreams to Winning The Voice

Nice to meet you

Sapir Saban is a singer and songwriter.

A spark of nostalgia

“I clearly remember myself, as if it were yesterday, a little girl singing endlessly in front of a large mirror in her small room, dreaming that one day it would come true on big stages. From a very young age, I would stand for hours in front of the mirror and sing. A few years ago, my parents told me that I started singing even before I knew how to speak, and without going off key. Thank God, in the end it did happen, but at certain moments it really was not clear that the dream would come true.

“Although I sang for many years in bands, for example in my high school band and in a military band, after I was discharged from the army most of my friends began releasing songs, and it did not happen for me. I enrolled in structural engineering studies in Ariel and left the whole music scene.

“After a few months like that, there was a moment when I told myself there is no way I am giving up on the dream. From a young age I knew deep inside that this is what I want, and even if I would have to work very hard to achieve it, it would be. I truly wanted to perform, to sing, and to move and bring joy to people. Because of the strong desire that burned inside me, that period after the army was very difficult. Even though I had started studying, I decided I was fighting for the dream of music. It was a hard period, and I will never forget it.

“A short time later, I received a call from the production of a well known program offering me to join the show. I refused their offer because I was afraid of the competition and of what my friends would say. I consulted with several people I respect and love, and I realized I had nothing to lose. In terms of my career, I was at such a low point that I had nothing to lose. I went to the audition, that famous audition with Shlomi Shabat, and the rest is history. Even in the hardest moments, I did not lose hope. I knew that God would open things up when it was most precise for me.”

A spark of roots

“One of my earliest memories is me, around the age of four, sitting next to my grandfather while he listened, completely absorbed, to Turkish music. My grandfather immigrated to Israel from Turkey, which is why he loved these songs so much. When we visited my grandparents, all the children would play, and I would sit next to my grandfather and listen to music with him. In addition, I often traveled with my father, who works in wholesale, to his job. We would load and unload goods, and the whole way we would listen to and sing Turkish music.”

A spark of Judaism

“Thank God, I feel very connected to God and to many commandments. In a certain way, I cannot really explain it. Most of what I observe did not come from my home, it came from within me. A few years ago, one evening my father knocked on my bedroom door and I did not answer, and he did not understand why. After a few seconds he came in and saw me in the middle of the Amidah prayer and did not understand what was happening.

“I remember that already at a young age I felt a connection and a relationship with God. I always knew there is a God, and I always had many conversations with Him about the good and the difficult, about big things and small things like finding parking. Over time, I took on more and more practices.

“I keep kosher and wait six hours between meat and milk. I feel very connected to Psalms and read a lot. Regarding my connection to Judaism, it is also important for me to say that the Hidabroot website helped me a lot with this. I go onto it quite often, both to read articles and to pray. I pray the morning prayer every day and recite Shema before going to sleep.

“Beyond that, I strongly follow the idea of not worrying because there is Someone who is watching over you. I also believe that if a person worries, it is as if they will have to handle things on their own, but when you trust in God, you more easily see how He intervenes and arranges things. And truly, I have seen in my life that everything happens at its time, at the time God thinks is most right for you.

“For example, a few years ago I participated in a well known competition show and was eliminated right at the beginning. What lifted me up was the understanding that this was probably God’s way of telling me it was not my time. And when the time came, it happened in a big way. I know that my singing is a gift from God, and I thank Him for it. My father is not a singer, neither is my mother, it is simply a gift. Before every time I go on stage, I say Shema Yisrael and remind myself of that.”

A spark of inspiration

“I receive a lot of inspiration from Rabbi Zamir Cohen. It is unbelievable how much inner calm he has. I try to attend his lectures, and I am amazed by the way he speaks and his words of wisdom. He strengthens me a lot. From him I learned that everything happens from God at the most appropriate time for us.”

A spark of a mitzvah

“I am in love with lighting Chanukah candles. The light of the candles makes me feel good. In those moments there is a feeling of purification, of miracles, of everything is possible. I believe that what you ask for next to the menorah will come true.”

A spark of action

“My family and their traditions are very important and precious to me, both in general and in my career. Not long ago, I finished a two hour performance in which all the songs were in Turkish. My grandfather had never seen me perform. Before one of the shows, they told me he would be coming. I was very emotional, and I asked them not to tell me where he was sitting so that I would not see him and cry.

“At the end of the performance they told me my grandfather was very emotional and cried during long parts of the show. I sang songs he had taught me, and suddenly he saw me singing them in front of so many people. When I came down from the stage at the end of the show and approached him, I asked him how it was. He did not answer, he was simply choked with emotion. That is why I am crying now when I remember it.”

A spark of Shabbat

“One of the things I feel most connected to is lighting candles. I remember from a young age my mother lighting candles, and it deeply affected me. Speaking of candle lighting, I am happy to say that I observe Shabbat according to Jewish law, and of course there is no question of performing on Shabbat. For a long time I wanted to start keeping Shabbat, but it did not happen. The moment it finally happened came after my friends, who keep Shabbat, invited me to spend Shabbat with them, and I simply fell in love with it. I saw that not only is it possible, it is also the most enjoyable thing in the world. I felt as if before Shabbat I was like a scribbled and crumpled page, and after Shabbat I became a clean page. It gave me a lot of stability. There are many things my family does on Shabbat, and it pains me that many times I do not join them.”

A spark of change

“Winning the music show The Voice completely changed my life. I was in the middle of my engineering studies, but I stopped them and took the gift I received from God with both hands. From the moment I won, everything has revolved around music. Training, arrangements, and nonstop work. Soon I will also participate in a new play at the Cameri Theater. From a student who goes to sleep at ten, I became a singer who goes out to perform at ten. And I am very happy about that, thank God. I receive a lot of love, and that is the most enjoyable thing there is.

“In addition, the lack of confidence I suffered from has improved greatly. Before the show, I was not sure that I sang especially well. It is not that I have completely overcome my lack of self confidence, but there is also something good in it, because the remaining insecurity helps me, to some extent, continue to improve and try to become better and better. In everything you can find the good, because everything God does is for the good. Sometimes it is just more complicated to see it, but it is always there.”