From Stage Fright to Spotlight: The Inspiring Journey of Leah Ben Ze'ev

When actress Leah Ben Ze'ev takes the stage, her wheelchair takes center stage with her. It's the moment when the audience is captivated, all eyes on Leah – a petite yet powerful figure embodying a narrative of strength, courage, and faith.

Leah recounts her life story, living and breathing it, inviting the audience to join her on her incredible and moving journey.

Overcoming Struggles with Strength

In her late twenties, the third of nine children, Leah lives in Beit HaLiqya and has cerebral palsy, known as CP. "I was born with cerebral palsy; it's part of who I am," Leah shares. "I've never known life any other way. I always knew I was different, but this realization intensified in third grade when I switched to a new school. The kids focused on me, observing my every move while I felt embarrassed. I longed to walk, jump, and be like everyone else, but that dream felt increasingly distant. The internal pain was immense.

"Elementary school years were challenging," she adds. "I attended several schools, but nowhere did I truly find my place. I remember one day collapsing on the floor at home and bursting into tears. When people with cerebral palsy cry, it sounds louder, not by choice – that's just how we are. My parents were startled and tried to calm me, but only after a long while was I able to cry out, 'Why am I disabled? Why am I different from everyone else?'"

What helped you overcome these challenges?

"It didn't happen overnight, but as I grew older, I began accepting myself and even started to love my disability. I also drew strength from prayers and my direct conversations with Hashem. My parents and family have always been a tremendous source of support, encouraging me to strive forward without any barriers, while assisting me with what I need.

"Still, my life isn't always as rosy as it might seem on the outside, despite my smile that can be deceiving. Yes, I too experience dark days of hopelessness, failures, and moments of anger at the world. Luckily, I have faith in myself and the strength to face challenges. I believe in life and try to make the most of it, to fulfill my dreams and find joy in what I have."

A few years ago, Leah underwent an employment assessment from the National Insurance Institute, which she could not pass. This meant she wasn't eligible for education funding and her only option was to work at a rehabilitation employment factory.

"Naturally, this was a huge blow," she recounts. "After years of striving to do everything like everyone else and not letting my disability hold me back, suddenly, they told me outright that I wasn't capable. This was a major downfall for me. I left feeling devastated, but as soon as I got home, a shift occurred. I told myself: 'Why should the test result matter to you? It didn't change who you are. You're still the same person.'"

At that moment, Leah felt better and for the first time dared to think: "I will realize my dream, I will be an actress, and I will create a show."

She embarked on the journey of her life, determined to never give up. "I decided to do everything possible to become an actress," Leah explains. "I took acting, singing, and even professional dancing courses, discovering amazing things about myself, like when I sing, my voice sounds normal, unlike its usual tone. I love singing so much, and after lots of practice, I perform on stage as a singer and even get solo parts. Incidentally, I also join group performances and even choirs with accompanying movements. Sometimes, people later say they didn't even notice there was someone with a disability in the group, only the choir members know my movements are a bit different, because there is a difference between us."

Empowering Others

As Leah continued to receive acting roles and visited studios to record, her desire grew to create a personal performance about her life story. Two years ago, she premiered "The Chair Game" and began presenting it nationwide.

What does the show cover?

"The show was directed by Chaya Reiner, who turned my life story into a performance. To make it more interesting, she included another actress – the talented Gali Holtzberg, who acts alongside me. Chaya taught me many tips that promoted me to a more professional level."

Leah notes that preparing for the show wasn't easy, as she deals with dyslexia due to her disability, making it difficult to read lengthy texts. "But the many years of school, where I mainly learned through memory, accustomed me to it," she explains. "Thus, anything I want to learn, I memorize by heart, and thank Hashem my memory is good. Of course, the rehearsals were very long, much longer than usual, but I realized from the start that just as my show isn't ordinary, so the preparations for it couldn't be ordinary either."

Over the past two years, she has performed the show almost everywhere across the country. "Every single time, I am moved to see women in the audience shedding a tear, approaching me afterward to share how much I strengthened them and added insights to their lives," she mentions. "These are not necessarily women with disabilities or official challenges, as it turns out each of us has our own hardships and challenges. If I have given them the strength to face them with a smile, and to cope – I am happy and fulfilled."

And what are your future plans?

"I have more ideas for additional shows, with many accompanying messages. Overall, I hope to continue growing in the field of performing arts that I love so much. Above all, I hope to, with Hashem's help, marry and start a family. That's my true dream."