Eliraz Sade Opens Up About His Journey to Judaism: “Shabbat Is True Freedom”

Israeli television personality Eliraz Sade opened up about his growing connection to Judaism during the debut episode of Eyal Goldberg’s podcast, Derech HaMelech (The King’s Way), sharing how Torah study, Shabbat observance, and personal loss have deepened his faith.

“People ask me, ‘What are you? Religious?’” Sade said. “I’m a believer. I’m a Jew. I always believed in G-d, but I didn’t know what that was supposed to look like in practice.”

Sade explained that his spiritual journey began when friends repeatedly invited him to Torah classes. “I got to know G-d before life dealt me its blows,” he recalled. Describing Shabbat as a gift, he said, “Shabbat is true freedom,” sharing a parable he had learned from his rabbi: “A balloon released into the wind only appears to be free, but eventually it lands somewhere. True freedom exists within boundaries.”

For Sade, Shabbat morning at the synagogue, surrounded by Kiddush and words of Torah, provides a profound sense of peace. “That’s when I feel like I can breathe,” he said.

Finding Strength Through Faith and Jewish Tradition

His connection to Judaism grew even stronger following his mother’s passing. Sade began attending synagogue three times a day to recite Kaddish and regularly participated in Torah classes. “I felt like I was discovering the truth,” he said. “Judaism isn’t an opinion. It’s the truth of the world.”

Sade also spoke about his decision to wear a kippah and tzitzit. He recalled learning that the Jewish people merited redemption from Egypt in part because they maintained their distinctive clothing. “I thought to myself, I come to synagogue, but I don’t look like a Jew.”

Following the custom of his Chabad rabbi, Sade makes a point of wearing his tzitzit visibly. “That’s my mission—to publicize His name, not my own,” he explained.

Reflecting on the changes in his life, Sade revealed that two years ago he spent the entire month of Elul without internet access. He emphasized that the true measure of Torah observance is whether it makes a person gentler and more compassionate, both toward himself and toward others.

He also credited the spiritual strength he draws from putting on tefillin and observing Shabbat with helping him quit smoking. “When you know there’s a power above you,” Sade said, “you know there’s Someone you can turn to for help.”