Sarit Zarka: "Hashem Protected Me From Reaching an Irreversible Place"

Sarit Zarka had everything necessary to break through: charismatic stage presence, immense talent waiting to be discovered, a strong desire to succeed, and plenty of personal charm. During the interview, I was quickly captivated by her charm and gentleness. Yet, despite having all the attributes, success somehow eluded her.

"Before my return to faith, I was deeply involved in the music world," Sarit shares. "I studied under one of the best teachers in the country, who is also a leading jazz singer, and fell in love with jazz through her. I sang in various ensembles and styles: rock, pop, jazz, blues, world music, and more. I also worked as a singing waitress in several places, but I didn’t last long there. The work was only on Shabbat evenings, and I always came home with severe headaches. I felt the peak of emptiness wrapped in dazzling, shiny wrappers, and I didn't find fulfillment as a singer there at all."

Sarit shares that she performed with several bands. The feelings and feedback around her always made her think she was just about to break through and become famous, but for some reason—which she didn’t understand at the time—it never happened. "Today I understand that Hashem truly protected me from reaching a place that would have been difficult to leave," she says with a smile. However, back then, a decade ago, the frustration and sense of missed opportunities were immense.

(Photo: shutterstock)

"I went through a crisis period in my life, a time when I secluded myself, disconnected from friends and the world. Since childhood, I always wrote songs, and during this time, very profound and painful songs emerged from me. I met a producer through a relative with whom I started working on the songs—arranging and recording them. During that time, as a result of the seclusion and introspection, I truly began to speak with the Creator. I wasn’t aiming at Him, more asking myself 'Why?' and 'What for', and gradually I began to receive answers, messages, and I just knew they were from Him. When it happens to you, you just know. I was then 26, and suddenly the emptiness of this whole world, which from the outside seemed so shiny and tempting, struck me."

How did those around you react to this change?

"I won’t deny," Sarit says candidly. "There were many comments, both from those around me and from friends. But I was so happy and complete. I felt that Hashem was with me, waiting for me, and it was a feeling I decided I wouldn’t give up on, at any cost. My parents, it is important to note, were very pleased with my strengthening process."

The Wonderful Journey Towards Return

Gradually, Sarit began to observe Shabbat. During that period, she met her future husband. The connection between the two was instantaneous. Like Sarit, her husband is also a talented musician. Today he is a Torah scholar and a yeshiva Rosh Mesivta, but back then, he performed in pubs and clubs.

"We met during one of his performances. In the middle of the show, he asked, 'Does anyone want to come up and sing? Does anyone know the song...?' and mentioned a song from an old rock band. It didn’t take much for everyone to shout, 'Yes, here she’s a singer, she knows!' and push me to come up and sing. I went up to sing, and we sang together. After his performance, he approached me, and we started talking and exchanging musical thoughts. I told him I was a singer-songwriter looking for musicians, and that’s how our connection began and our wonderful journey toward return started."

A year into their relationship, her boyfriend approached Sarit and informed her that from that day on, he also wanted to observe Shabbat. Slowly, he began to keep Shabbat, even though it wasn’t easy for him at first. "Initially, he was really bored and found it hard," she recalls. "Gradually, he began to attend synagogue, and as they say—open for me an opening like the eye of a needle, and I will open for you an opening like the entrance to a hall. He started to put on tefillin regularly, listen to Hidabroot Torah lessons, and pray. When we got married, we both longed and yearned for the Creator."

After the wedding, Sarit decided to leave music for the time being. "We decided he would go to study, I would continue working, and Hashem would help. I decided to leave singing, my very essence, and set it aside. I wanted to come clean to the Creator. I wasn’t looking to renew or upgrade myself. I felt that by leaving everything, I was essentially like a newborn baby, opening a fresh and clean page."

The passing years brought only good. Sarit became a mother to sweet children, and one day, without planning, music returned to her life. "I felt it wasn’t my decision, but Hashem’s," she recalls.

"I Felt That Hashem Simply Opened a Dam That Had Been Sealed Until Then"

After the passing of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef zt"l, she decided to volunteer at the Tahara Center in Raanana, in his merit. One day, the center's manager asked if she knew anyone who could play and perform voluntarily at an event the center was holding. Sarit offered herself, and after many years away from the stage, she returned to perform. The center's event enjoyed significant success, largely thanks to Sarit. It was the beginning.

The first song Sarit composed during that time was called "Song of the Soul." Or, as she explains with a smile, "I felt my soul was simply singing to Hashem." After that, more songs followed.

"Slowly, new and exciting songs with amazing melodies began to emerge in me—one song after another, and every week or two, I have a new song. I felt my voice was coming from a place so clean, pure, and deep. Someone once told me, 'Now you sing without the shells.' I felt that Hashem simply opened a dam that had been closed until then. I felt as if He was telling me: The time has come, and you have everything. You seemingly gave up your whole essence, and now you win big time and more so—indescribably."

With her husband's help, a talented musician, Sarit decided to follow her heart and start singing and performing, exclusively for women and girls. "I approached the Rebbetzin and told her: 'Rebbetzin, I feel this is burning inside me!' and she blessed me to succeed. Today, I juggle between motherhood, home, and music, enjoying every moment. My husband produces and arranges my songs professionally but very involved, as he is very connected to the words and their intent."

And today you perform at strengthening events for women and girls.

"Today I perform with my friend, Chana Perry (Ben Hamo), an actress and dancer in styles like ballet, modern, Latin, hip-hop, and more, who is also a baalat teshuva. Our show is called 'The Light in Your Hands,' and it is essentially an empowerment performance for women and girls. The main message we want to convey is that the light of faith and providence lies in the hands of each and every one. The performance is a combination of singing, acting, and dazzling presentations, and it is very invested and moving."

What kind of feedback do you receive from the women and girls who hear your story?

"It’s amazing how many wonderful reactions we receive, simply unbelievable. After one of our performances, someone approached us and said that because of it, she decided to strengthen her faith and keep Shabbat. Another person once told me excitedly how beautiful it is to see modest women in their full glory, singing and performing and moving, but still adhering to all the boundaries of modesty."

"My husband and I thank Hashem every moment for returning music to our lives at a stage where we can decide where to take it. Not like in the past, when music took us to places we didn’t always want to be. I believe there is power in these songs to bring many Jews and Jewesses closer to our Father in Heaven, for the simple reason that they are created with pure-hearted intent."