What's Happening in Amiran's Living Room? Amiran Dvir Gives a Captivating Interview about His New Show

"I have been performing for over 25 years in Israel and around the world," says Amiran Dvir. "I released songs, *b'ezrat Hashem* my band has brought joy to thousands of couples at their weddings, and a year ago I set three new goals for myself. I want to continue with my current activities, of course, but at the same time, I want to innovate. I wanted to write a column related to the Torah portion of the week and current events - and I've been doing that for over a year at 'Kikar HaShabbat.' I wanted to host a radio show, and with *b'ezrat Hashem*, I received a show that's broadcast every Friday between 12-14 on the new station 'Kol Play.'

"The third goal I set for myself is to host a talk show that bridges between hearts, and I'm excited for the launch of the show, 'In Amiran's Living Room,' tomorrow on the Hidabroot channel. The show will air every Friday at four in the afternoon. We have filmed five episodes so far, and soon we'll film five more. The show is filmed in my home, around the piano. In each episode, we incorporate one or two songs with the interviewees, and it adds a lot."

Amiran Dvir, 46, married and a father of four living in Givat Shmuel, is a singer and musician who has performed in many places worldwide, but his principal activity is in the joy of bride and groom. "I was born to a non-religious family," he recounts, "and when I was at the end of first grade, my parents decided to become religious. I was born in Tel Aviv, we lived near 'Habima,' and then we moved to Ramat Gan. I remember enjoying this change very much, and the transition to a religious school felt very right and good to me. Later on, I moved to Talmud Torah, then to Slobodka Yeshiva, and thereafter to Ponevezh, where I was privileged to sit for about a year next to Rabbi Steinman. After Ponevezh, I moved to Ateret Israel, then to Itari, and finally returned to Slobodka, where I studied until I got married.

Amiran Dvir (Photo credit: Ariel Rabinsky)

"My connection to music began at a very young age. When I was 4, I started learning piano, and by age 6, I was already performing on various occasions. From the first moment I played, I knew for certain that this was what I was going to do in life. It was very clear to me that music would be a very significant part of my life. My piano teacher destined me to be a classical music conductor, but fortunately, my parents' return to religiosity changed everything. The teacher was disappointed, but *baruch Hashem*, I found my place in Hasidic music. Over the years, my precise mission was sharpened, and it is to bring joy to bride and groom, and additionally - to create connections between the extremes of the Jewish people. There are many things that divide us, and music has tremendous power to unite."

Before the Fall of the Iron Curtain

"From my life experience," says Dvir, "I learned that in every Jew, no matter their spiritual state, you can find the Jewish spark. The connection to the Torah of Israel. We must not give up on any Jew. In each person, we need to find the connecting point and through it connect them. Once we find the spark, we can develop and ignite it. And this is actually the purpose of our new show. Moreover, the show is the answer to the division we experience these days in the protests."

"Additionally, I interview in the program very connected people and talk with them about interesting things that happened to them related to Judaism. If thanks to this program even one person is more connected to Hashem, I will know it was all worthwhile, and I did my part."

Amiran Dvir (Photo credit: Tamar Harel)

Sounds intriguing, give a glimpse into some episodes.

"In the first five episodes, I interviewed Dudu Fisher, Lior Ashkenazi, Yisrael Gottsdinor (from the duo Reim, a"sh), Nancy Brandes, and Arik Sinai. Dudu Fisher, for example, spoke about very interesting things that happened to him abroad, including the fact that he refused to perform on *Shabbat*, and therefore it was the first time on Broadway that a regular understudy was appointed for a lead actor. Arik Sinai talked about the tefillin the Lubavitcher Rebbe gave him and about his son who became religious and turned Chabadnik. In this regard, Nancy also had something to say and warmly described his grandchildren, adorned with sidelocks."

"Yisrael spoke, among other things, about their performances in Russia before the fall of the Iron Curtain, and about the great French producer who told them that if they wouldn't perform on *Shabbat*, they won't succeed, and in the end, they succeeded much more than him. In addition to that, in every program, I bring a piece of Gemara related to the interviewee and study it with them. With Nancy, for instance, I studied the Gamara passage that says one who makes another laugh is greater than one who gives others food. With Arik, on the other hand, I studied the passage that deals with the question: what is better - to be a 'Sinaic' or an 'uprooter of mountains.'"

Waiting for You for Too Many Years

"With some of the interviewees, I have a previous connection," says Dvir, "and it greatly helped in the interest there is in the show. Lior and I are friends, and I can say he has an amazing and special depth. With Arik, I have a joint duet, whose lyrics are actually the well-known verse from Psalms: 'I will lift up my eyes to the hills.' The guitarist who has been playing with me for 25 years already works with Arik, he played the tune for him, Arik liked it but said: 'Why would I sing that, I’m secular, it doesn't belong.' We talked, I told him that the Psalms belong to every Jew, and he accepted my words. Since then, we've collaborated in other frameworks, and it turns out he has many warm Jewish points. When we finished the interview, he really felt a sort of elevation."

Amiran Dvir (Photo credit: Ariel Rabinsky)

"Regarding my collaboration with Hidabroot, first I want to say that almost every day I listen to a lesson by Rabbi Zamir Cohen. Sometimes I fall asleep with his lectures at night or just listen during the day. When I want to know what Judaism's opinion on a certain matter is, I write into Google 'Rabbi Zamir Cohen' and the topic that interests me, and search for a lecture by the rabbi on that topic. I also play him a lot for my children. Personally, regarding the program, I especially want to thank Yisrael Cohen, who believed in me, stood behind me, and helped me immensely."

In the end," Dvir concludes, "our aim is to bring the redemption with mercy. I'm a Levi, and I'm eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and the Holy Temple to be built. I yearn to sing and play there. I almost haven't told this to anyone until today, but I have new clothes in my closet that I'm keeping especially for the arrival of the Messiah. This is how I show *Hashem* how much I'm waiting for him. I have a suit, a shirt, and even new socks. I just remembered that I don't have new shoes yet. It's good we talked about it, I'll soon go shopping."