עברית
Magazine
Lee Biran: How Omer Adam Helped Him Stop Performing on Shabbat
Lee Biran says he prayed for help after deciding to stop performing on Shabbat, and then an unexpected development involving Omer Adam changed everything.
- Yitzchak Eitan
- | Updated
Actor Lee Biran has spoken openly in recent years about becoming more connected to faith and Judaism. In a recent appearance on the ALL IN podcast with Rabbi Shai Piron, Biran shared the emotional story behind his decision to stop performing on Shabbat.
“Let’s just say that a few years ago, as someone who made a large part of his living from performances on Shabbat, I decided I wanted to stop,” Biran said.
“I Prayed That It Wouldn’t Hurt My Family”
Biran explained that at the exact time he made the decision, he received an offer to participate in the popular Israeli production Festigal.
“For those who know the industry,” he said, “Festigal salaries are divided into different levels, and they offered me a very high level salary.”
The offer arrived precisely while he was struggling with the question of whether he could truly stop working on Shabbat without harming his ability to support his family financially.
“At the time, Festigal had four performances on Shabbat,” he recalled. “I remember really praying about it. I prayed that something in this world would help me take that step, and that it would not hurt my family materially.”
According to Biran, he was initially told there was no way around it.
“They told me, ‘Listen, it’s Festigal. They work on Shabbat.’”
“Suddenly Everything Changed”
Then, unexpectedly, something happened that Biran describes as clear divine providence.
“Suddenly they told me that Omer Adam was joining Festigal with me,” Biran shared. “And Omer Adam does not work on Shabbat.”
As a result, the production ultimately did not hold performances on Shabbat that year.
For Biran, the experience carried a much deeper message.
“That was not the power of one person,” he said. “Omer, who is a friend, was just the messenger. The Creator gave him the influence at that moment to help many people.”
Biran’s story touched many listeners, especially those navigating their own spiritual growth while balancing career pressures, financial concerns, and personal faith.
