Actor Aviv Alush Connects with Judaism: "It's Amazing"

Aviv Alush is one of the most successful actors in the country, undoubtedly familiar to many from television, theater stages, or cinema screens. Moreover, not many know that Alush (33) is a family man, married and a father of three children, and together with them, he is currently in the midst of embracing Judaism, as he recently revealed in an interview with "Menta" magazine.

Alush shares that from his roots, he comes from a traditional home, always having a dialogue of sorts with the Creator. "I come from a traditional household, and since I can remember, I have had a connection to Hashem, and it's only growing stronger.

He then recounted his past struggles with quitting smoking and how he eventually transformed from a heavy smoker of three packs a day into someone who can't be near cigarettes. He describes his daily routine, which always had room for morning blessings and prayer alongside smoking. "I was the heaviest smoker you knew," Alush told Mali Zeidman, the interviewer. "My first cigarette was at age 13, and from then on, it only increased. Eight years ago, I was already at three packs a day... I had a morning ritual I did for years. It started with black coffee and two cigarettes, then morning blessings, and then more coffee with two more cigarettes and prayer...

Aviv Alush (Photo: Tom Zoili / PR)

However, in recent years, it seems Alush has moved beyond being just a 'bystander' maintaining a basic internal connection with the Creator, becoming an 'active player' in matters of Judaism. He attributes the initial trigger to his father's illness. "Three years ago, my father was diagnosed with a cancerous growth in his bladder. Thank God, he recovered, but we went through challenging times with him. It left a mark on me, particularly the desire to be less angry and stressed and to enhance my positive side. Of course, there's now a very, very large anxiety, and primarily I've developed resistance to conventional medicine. Today I believe and understand that through nutrition, a change in thinking, faith, and prayer, one can heal better. Many people have healed themselves this way. At home, I have a book of remedies from Rambam that cures thousands of ailments using herbs and flowers...

Subsequently, he shared his initial exposure to the writings of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, which transformed his life. "I was exposed to Rabbi Nachman a few years ago," he recalls. "It was a day when nothing was going my way. That morning, I lost a role and received an unpleasant call from the bank. I was on my way to my agent, frustrated, and at a stoplight, there were Breslov Chasidim. I gave them a few shekels, and they gave me a booklet and a disk. On the disk, it said, 'Stop complaining and say thank you.' I put on the disk, and a spirit of joy entered me. That's what Rabbi Nachman says: 'Feeling bad? Dance.' Bring positive energy. I started shouting 'thank you' in the car and felt happy. That same day, I got another role, and a check was deposited to the bank. My life changed by 180 degrees.

He further added that, in his view, "Rabbi Nachman is magnificent, writing wise things years ago that speak to our generation, things that can open anyone's heart and mind. He provides us with tools for self-improvement. It's not simple or easy; it's not like you start jumping and everything goes away. But I continue to learn.

Alush also expressed his excitement about observing the commandments, which he started doing alongside his family, bringing light into his life. "I don't view what I do as a religion but as a lifestyle meant to maintain this connection," he described. "I lay *tefillin* in the morning, meaning I'm connecting myself to the Creator. I go to the synagogue on Friday nights and Shabbat mornings, make *kiddush*, keep kosher, and a few months ago, we started keeping Shabbat, the whole family, and it's amazing. First of all, no phone on Shabbat because this device draws us away from our spouse and family. Right now, we're happy with it.

(Photo: PR)

He also shared that in honor of Shabbat, he usually makes spelt challahs ("so delicious they make you cry"), and also spoke about his personal experiences as a dedicated family man who believes children are entirely gifts from heaven. "Nofar and I have been married for four years during which we've brought three children into the world. Yes, these are small gaps, but anyone who thinks they plan this is dreaming. I didn't decide, it's Him above. For me, a child meant to come into the world will come. None of this was planned... To me, this is the greatest miracle that could be, and anyone who doesn't see it is missing out. Clearly, the routine also wears us down, but every morning I thank Hashem for these wonderful gifts. Thanks to them, my life has taken on a different meaning. I don't work for myself anymore, only for them, and it's amazing to me. I'm crazy about them and addicted to them.

In conclusion, Alush describes how his inner connection to Judaism and faith has transformed him into a much calmer person. "I am very aware of my ego and try not to work from it," he described. "My profession is very unstable, but ultimately you learn that what's yours is yours, and what's not yours is not, and if you internalize that, everything becomes much easier."