Aviv Geffen: "I Envy Those Who Believe"

It seems there is no other artist in Israel as associated with secularism as Aviv Geffen. But the veteran creator, who broke into the Israeli music scene in the early '90s, more than 20 years ago, said this week on The Voice, aired on Channel 2 (where he serves as a mentor) that he envies those who believe in Hashem. He said this in a particularly interesting place—a synagogue in the Nir Galim settlement, home to one of the contestants on the show.

During the visit, Geffen donned a kippah, at his request, and then confessed to the contestant: "You should know I envy you, and now without humor and also without cynicism, I envy those who believe." He further added, "It's beautiful to me. I'm waiting for the moment when I'll have some enlightenment. It hasn't happened to me yet, and without cynicism, it's frustrating. When that moment happens to me, something very sad will also occur, that I will realize I am not God."

In a segment that was ultimately not aired, Geffen said: "You see something I don't see. I am Jewish, I have a mother who studied in a religious school, I am close to it, I talk about it. I know the Tanakh and the Torah, waiting for some enlightenment." He further confessed and revealed that he had previously tried to learn about Judaism. "I tried, I went, I read, and I studied." The contestant, Ofir Ben Shitrit, replied that sometimes "you don't need to read and research a lot. Sometimes, the small feeling inside is enough."

During the interesting dialogue, Aviv asked Ofir why it doesn't happen to him, and why he hasn't come to true understanding and belief. "I think those who don't come from the religious world have a moment in life when they feel there's something behind this world. Maybe that moment hasn't happened for you yet," she replied and concluded, "You will have it, you have an attraction to it, and that's what matters."

In the past year, Geffen recorded the song "There Are Skies Above Me" with Evyatar Banai, and the two went on a joint tour. The song raises interesting questions about faith and includes lines such as "To wander does not mean to be free, there are skies above me, there are skies within me, I'm ready for everything, not afraid until I feel."