Zehava Ben Shines at Challah Baking Events for Women

It's human nature: when a person reaches success in a certain field, they tend to forget who helped them achieve it and credit their skills and intellect for their accomplishments. That's why the Creator saw it fit to warn us not to fall into the 'strength and might' trap.

However, in the case of singer Zehava Ben (46), the opposite is true: she never forgets where she came from and where she is headed. For those who might not know, Ben was educated in well-regarded Orthodox Jewish institutions, such as the 'Or HaChayim' school in Bnei Brak, and studied in a religious seminar in Sanhedria, Jerusalem.

"I grew up in a home that revered religious values, and to parents of blessed memory who worked hard to instill good traits in us," Ben says with a smile. "So words like Shabbat, kiddush, and kashrut are not foreign to me. Quite the opposite. To this day, there are practices I observe and that accompany me throughout, such as washing hands, morning blessings, Shabbat, and more. I deeply connect with this path, and I love it."

Some of this love is expressed through the acts of kindness Ben strives to perform in her busy schedule, filled with performances, recordings, and other duties of managing a household and parenting.

Just recently, for example, she agreed to perform for free at an event for battered women, where she recorded a special song to be released on International Women's Day. "Zehava is invited to many events on a volunteer basis in various settings, and she never says 'no.' Wherever she can earn another mitzvah and bring joy, that's where you'll find her. And all for the sake of heaven," says Eric Levy, Ben's manager for the past two years.

Interestingly, Ben has recently begun attending challah baking events across the country. She has participated in a challah baking event hosted by Anat Ben Ari, one of the stars of the challah department at the Hidabroot organization. Why? The reason is simple: "It's not just about making others happy, it also brings joy to my soul," she says.

Rabbanit Anat Ben Ari and Zehava Ben

How did you feel performing at Anat Ben Ari's challah baking event?

"In such a setting, with a hall full of excited women, all crying, making commitments, and praying for themselves and others—it's impossible not to be enveloped by the holiness that is felt. It just surrounds you.

"It's a very powerful experience, and I recommend every woman to experience it. Although I've attended several such events, Anat's challah baking was one of the most emotional. Anat is a very special woman, and she managed to conduct the evening in a truly captivating and amazing way."

And after 30 years in the profession, do you not feel a kind of mental fatigue?

"Definitely not. When you do something you love, you never tire of it. I love making people happy, and it's an integral part of me."

"I can attest to Zehava doing this with all her heart, with humility and no pretense," smiles and adds Anat Ben Ari, volunteering to complete the puzzle: "I actually met Zehava for the first time when I went backstage to greet her. I was amazed to discover that behind all the glamour and success she achieved, stands a very modest woman, retiring from the spotlight. Unlike perhaps many women in her status, Zehava does not walk around like a peacock flaunting its colorful plumage, and that's one of the things that captivated me from the first moment I met her.

"Zehava opened the evening with the song 'No Love in the World - Like a Mother's Love,' and no song can touch a mother's heart more than that one. We were all very moved. Beyond the fact that Zehava has been blessed by Hashem with a special gift—a singing voice that touches the deepest veins and connects with each of us—I think her natural humility and shyness are what made us all connect with her. First of all as a person, then as a singer."
Challah Baking and Home Events Department – For bookings: Phone 073-2221290, Email aviva@htv.co.il