"And Then It Hit Me. Oh My God, I'm Becoming Religious": Yiftach Dekel's Emotional Monologue

The young and talented artist Yiftach Dekel, who burst into public awareness last year with his debut album 'Shemesh', shares a particularly moving post in honor of his 33rd birthday, where the first thought that crosses his mind, and even gives the post its subject title is: "I wonder what Darwin would say about this".

"Nine years ago, on my 24th birthday," writes Dekel. "My wife threw me a party and invited a few friends as a surprise. One from here, two from there... it was a very moving evening. I felt very loved and fortunate. That evening, she bought me a gift, a sophisticated and large brown book that I really wanted... its name is 'Likutei Moharan'. My First Kodesh Book.

"I remember how I was gripped with a desire to consume it entirely, but I held back.

Yiftach Dekel before and after (Photo: Yiftach Dekel's Facebook page)

"Another friend entered, holding another book. Although blue, it looked ordinary, it was 'Orot HaTeshuva'. Fifteen minutes later, a friend arrived unexpectedly from Haifa, with a brown book. It was the thickest in the group, looked really old-school – and on it was written in gold "Writings of Baal HaSulam".

And then it hit me: Oh my God - - I'm becoming religious! What a fright. Until that moment I hadn't truly grasped itreally.Inside I was shaking all overalmost choked by the "truth" laden with prejudices, fears, and the unknownthat suddenly reflected from reality.

"I went to a few classes, recently wore tefillin a few times, but... is it really happening?! to me?! Spinning. I felt as though I was going to die, but somehow I got through it. In any case, Mother. I became religious. Relatively cute, but religious. Meanwhile, she and I got married. And a daughter - and a beard and side-locks and yeshiva... and a son – and moved to Pardes Hanna. Another daughter – and an album, a dream, a livelihood, and life.

"And life takes me on a path full of surprises. Every time I think I'm on the right track, I get such a message, a feeling and understanding that I'm very loved, but 180 degrees in the opposite direction. And suddenly, last night, just before the 33rd birthday, I found myself saying to myself in the shower: Oh my God - - I have a connection .

"Hashem, blessed is the man who trusts in you.
Happy birthday to me. Thirty-three years in this world, in this body, and still surprised each time anew by the infinity within me.
Thanks to all the friends, family, and those around me, because ultimately I am made up of all of you.
And especially to that girlfriend, the one, mother of my children and wife of my youth. The friend, forever hers and for her".