Singer Amir Benayoun Reveals Why He Refuses to Perform on Shabbat

When two major Israeli artists and sensitive souls like David D’Or and Amir Benayoun sit down for an honest conversation, it is bound to go beyond music. Against the constant noise and demands of the music industry, the two spoke about Shabbat, the sacred anchor that allows them to stop, recharge, and reconnect with themselves.

“A person who performs on Shabbat, I don’t know how he lives,” Benayoun said. “When do you rest? When do you refuel?”

From Childhood Memories to the Music Industry

For Benayoun, his earliest memories of Shabbat are deeply rooted in his childhood in Be’er Sheva, around the table of his late grandfather Abraham. “It’s the synagogue, it’s the candies, it’s all the customs we know from childhood.”

Although life eventually brought him into the heart of Israel’s music and creative scene, holding on to his values was not always easy. Benayoun recalled the only time in his career that he gave in and performed on Shabbat.

“I paid for it with suffering. I said to myself, ‘Why did you do that?’ I was angry at myself, and it never happened again.”

D’Or also spoke about his own past struggles with production offices and expressed deep appreciation for how much the industry has changed over the years.

“Shabbat Is a Gift”

Benayoun’s spiritual journey has had its ups and downs, with periods of intense creative work alongside a desire to return to the simplicity and innocence of childhood. When the exhaustion of the workweek takes over, Shabbat becomes a precious once-a-week gift, even if, at times, that gift can feel almost overwhelming.

For Benayoun, some of the greatest moments of peace come from the simplest experiences: hearing his paytan nephews return from synagogue or sitting with his father for a pre-Shabbat l’chaim.

In closing, Benayoun shared a message for anyone who wants to keep Shabbat but finds it difficult.

“I would like everyone to know what I also remind myself all the time: You need to know how to use Shabbat the way you use a gift. Shabbat is a gift. And many times, if someone gives you a gift, it may overwhelm you because it is too big... The message is to take from it what you can, because it comes for you.”

For Benayoun, Shabbat is not simply a break from the demands of the week. It is an opportunity to return to family, faith, rest, and the parts of life that can easily become lost in the noise.