Yuval Dayan on Faith, Music, and the Power of Simplicity

Yuval Dayan lives in Ramat HaSharon and is a musician and songwriter.

My Home Is My Fortress

“Privacy is very precious to me, but many times I choose to give some of it up. I believe that the more I protect my privacy, the better off I’ll be — but when you write songs, there’s a certain level of exposure you simply can’t avoid. People may not know exactly where I live or what my home looks like, but they know what’s happening inside my heart. I write about very personal things, and I think that’s the main kind of relationship that should exist between an artist and their audience.

“In general, I’m already quite used to living in a reality where many people know me. I’ve learned how to navigate it. For example, if I want to schedule a meeting that needs to be more personal, I know that doing it in a public place probably won’t work, so there’s a good chance I’ll do it at home. At the same time, of course, I go out, I move around, I live my life. My connection with the audience is very important to me me. I write songs to do good for people, and when people tell me where my songs meet them and what they give them — there’s nothing more fulfilling than that.”

The Secret of Simple Things

“On a personal level I felt that I needed rest, and in that sense, the corona period came at exactly the right time for me. I’ve been on stage since I was 17, and I never stopped for a second, even though sometimes I felt that stopping was really necessary. I didn’t have the courage to take a break, to pause for a moment, because I saw that my colleagues weren’t stopping either.

“I may not look like this kind of person, but I think a lot about where I stand relative to others — about achievements, output, and I often feel a lack of satisfaction. What happened thanks to corona is that I finally stopped to breathe. I looked back and saw that, thank God, I actually have a lot.

“Looking back at what I’ve accomplished so far was very uplifting, and it motivated me to keep creating. In recent months I worked a lot — writing, composing, playing, learning. For me, it was a very growth-filled period. There’s a parable I love: at first glance, trees in winter look dead — weak, their leaves fallen, no fruit in sight — but in truth, they’re developing. Amazing things are happening inside them.

“We, as artists, also need from time to time to think about what we want to say, what story we want to tell, how to reinvent ourselves. Beyond that, I invested a lot of thought into the sequence of events and I really grew during this time. Above all, my sense that you don’t need much in order for things to be good became much stronger. That even ‘a little’ is great.

“Before corona, I felt that I needed to upgrade my studio equipment. I believed it would help me write better songs. Then the lockdown started, income stopped, and I didn’t buy new equipment. During that time I realized that the quality of my songs doesn’t depend on any piece of gear. That’s not what helps me create better music.

“In one of the songs I wrote, there’s a line that says: ‘That’s all I ask for — a small home, a garden for the kids, believe me, I’m happy.’ I’m so grateful for that lesson. It’s a pleasure to learn the secret of simple things.”

A Gift from Heaven

“The process of writing songs is fascinating — and there’s no formula for it. You can sit for hours and nothing comes out, and sometimes a song simply arrives without effort. Still, you have to work hard, to practice and push yourself as a songwriter.

“But whether it comes through effort or with ease, I know that every song that comes to me is a gift from Heaven. Anyone who’s written a song they’re truly happy with knows how emotional that moment is. It’s impossible to explain — any explanation just flattens the experience. You listen to the song over and over all day long.

“When that happens, I feel like a conduit through which that song was decided to come down into the world, and I try to live with that awareness.”

Virtual Reality

“Sometimes young singers ask me for advice about music reality shows — whether they should go for it, and so on. In the past, you had to travel the length and breadth of the country. Today, reality TV is an amazing platform that can catapult you forward — but this genre also has its drawbacks.

“And still, anyone who thinks it will save them from hard work is very mistaken. Being an artist isn’t just knowing which angle works best on Instagram. Standing on a stage isn’t a hobby — it’s a responsibility. A big one. There are little girls at home screaming out the lyrics I create.

“If I hear, for example, about a girl who’s being bullied, my heart goes out to her, and I feel that as an artist I have the ability to influence her. The same goes for songwriting. There’s room for spontaneous inspiration, of course — but before releasing a song, every word has to be in its place.

“And beyond the inner work, there’s also a lot of external work. That’s part of it too. The key is knowing that the inner work is what really matters — being aware of where you place the emphasis, what you consider most important.”

The Honor of a King’s Daughter

“Modesty is first and foremost an inner quality — but outward modesty is also very important to me, so I try to dress modestly. There are a few reasons for this. One is that I already feel exposed through my songs, which are very personal, so I don’t feel the need to expose more.

“Beyond that, I think modest clothing shows respect for a person. Rachel Hochman, my vocal coach, once told me that she would never appear in revealing clothing because she respects herself — and that was a huge lesson for me.

“I also strongly connect to the saying, ‘Blessing rests only in what is hidden from the eye.’ Yes — my strengthening in mitzvah observance is connected to this as well. I believe that God guides us to dress modestly, and it’s important to me to do so.”

How Good Is Shabbat

“Although I’ve strengthened my observance in recent years, tradition was never foreign to me. My parents come from religious families, I have many religious relatives, and I come from a traditional Moroccan family. We always had kiddush, holidays, and a deep respect for Judaism.

“I remember going many times to the grave of the Baba Sali, having barbecues there and so on. Not long ago — I’m smiling as I remember this — a friend from first grade told me that I always used to write ‘B’Siyata D’Shmaya’ (with God’s help) at the top of my pages.

“At 17, when I started becoming known, I felt a desire to strengthen myself, and among other things I began keeping Shabbat. It did me a lot of good. Suddenly, quiet entered my life. That pause is such a blessing.

“I never worked on Shabbat, but when you fully keep Shabbat, there’s so much more room for calm and reflection. At first it was hard for me to stop playing music on Shabbat, but then I realized that this too is part of the work — that I don’t want to do things related to my career on Shabbat.

“My career is important to me, but it’s not the only thing that matters. It has its place — and there’s room for other things too. For example, I want to give a very significant place to the home I hope to build, God willing. I want to be a mother who’s involved in her children’s lives, who puts the home first.”

The Torah's Guidance

“Beyond Shabbat, observing mitzvot helped me in many other ways. We’re constantly taught what to do when we fall — that we can and should rise from crises, that descent is for the sake of ascent. But no one really tells you what happens when you succeed.

“My parents have regular jobs; before I started performing I didn’t know anyone in this world. At first, I didn’t know how to deal with what was happening to me. A career like this brings many challenges, and I see how Torah offers wonderful advice and guidance for what I go through.

“You learn how not to envy, why envy is harmful. You learn that everything happens with precise Divine providence, how important it is to put family at the center, how to deal properly with abundance — and generally, how to be a better person. Judaism is a fascinating world, full of wisdom and beauty.

“I once watched an interview with Evyatar Banai, whom I deeply respect as an artist, and something he said really resonated with me. He said it’s not embarrassing to believe that the world needs order, to believe in a Creator. That faith in God and observing mitzvot do me good — and since the Torah offers so many tools to help me deal with life, I wanted to receive more and more from it.

“The fact that I didn’t make an abrupt transition, that Judaism was always there for me, really helped this whole process unfold.”

Spirituality and Growth

“Prayer and learning are very important to me. I really try to do inner spiritual work. I’m very sensitive, and you could say I’m in daily contact with God.

“In that sense, these days are very special. It amazes me that there’s a reality where repair is possible. In the physical world, we say ‘you broke it, you pay.’ In the spiritual world, the Torah says that you don’t always have to pay — there’s a concept of repentance, of forgiveness, of erasure.

“When it comes to prayer, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the peak. When we sing ‘Lecha E-li Teshukati’ (‘To You, my God, is my desire’), I feel something that’s very hard to explain.

“As for Torah study, Chassidic teachings open my heart the most. I feel especially connected to Rav Kook and Rabbi Nachman. I live with the awareness that there is a spiritual reality in the world — and that it’s very important, and very worthwhile, to invest in it.”