"Continuing the Generational Chain of the Jewish People is a Very Important Matter"

Pleasure to Meet

"Shashi Keshet, 76, married and father of two, is an actor, singer, and the artistic director of the Yiddishpiel Theater. He resides in Jaffa."

Unforgettable Childhood Memory

"I was born in Kibbutz Galil Yam, and like all children living in the kibbutz at the time, I stayed in the children's house. It was our home in every way, and I only saw my parents briefly in the afternoon. Some of my friends remember the shared sleeping arrangements in the children's house as a nightmare, while others remember childhood as a paradise, and I am among them. We had a happy and rich life in nature, and perhaps I remember those years fondly due to my nature. I always try to see the glass half full. I guess there were also challenging times, but I prefer to see and remember the good.

"My unforgettable childhood memories include moments with my dear friend Reuven Piq, whom we called Ruble. We used to perform puppet theaters as children for other children. We loved doing it, dreaming together of appearing on big stages as adults. After high school, as I prepared for military band auditions, I invited Ruble to join, but he wanted to serve in combat and enlisted in the armor unit. During the Six-Day War, just minutes before I started performing at an outpost, I was informed that Ruble had died, and I simply shattered into pieces. I carry this grief with me, never forgetting."

An Important Principle in My Life

"To this day, my kibbutz ideals are ingrained within me, such as principles like mutual aid and giving to others. Of course, today I know that long before they became kibbutz values, they appeared in Jewish tradition at a much higher level, in commandments like 'Love your neighbor as yourself' and the mitzvot of charity. Additionally, I have carried with me the principles of theater learned from my teachers in the Nahal band, including Yossi Banai and Shaike Ophir. From them, I learned the dos and don'ts of performing, how seriously to take the words you say and your partners on stage. By the way, all these things are very much relevant to cantorial work, which I have done many times. These things have accompanied me for many years, and I also pass them on to the younger generation and people who work with and under me."

Meeting I Will Never Forget

"If someone had told the young kibbutz boy I was that one day he would meet world leaders and important, famous people, some of whom would become his friends, I simply wouldn't have believed it. These were people I never dreamed I would even get to say hello to. Over the years, through various performances, I met presidents, prime ministers, poets, writers, and great composers in Israel and abroad, people who were huge symbols to me.

"But maybe more than all these meetings, there is one special meeting etched in my memory. I was a young soldier in the Nahal band when the Six-Day War broke out, and we went on a tour of performances at outposts in Sinai and other places. Naomi Shemer joined us on that tour, and during a ceasefire in Sinai, we listened to the radio together, deeply moved by the live broadcast of the liberation of Jerusalem. As is known, shortly before, Naomi had written 'Jerusalem of Gold,' and in these historical moments, she sat by us and wrote the additional verses: 'A shofar calls on the Temple Mount, in the Old City.' The Western Wall is the heart of the Jewish people, and the return to it was very moving."

(Photo: Yossi Gamzu for Good)

A Moment of Happiness I Will Never Forget

"Blessed be Hashem, I've experienced many happy moments in life, and there still are. During performances in front of an audience, I'm happy, and also when I sit by the sea, it brings me great joy. But perhaps above all these, the greatest moments of happiness in my life were when I got married and when my children were born. Continuing the generational chain of the Jewish people is a very significant matter. Moreover, I would say that despite the ups and downs in life, it is precisely due to these challenges that I've learned to appreciate successes and moments of happiness more. Thanks to these difficulties, I know how to enjoy the joy surrounding me much more."

A Connection to Tradition I Will Never Forget

"Although I was born in a kibbutz, where the connection to Judaism was not particularly strong, I still absorbed quite a bit of Jewish life, and later, continued to strengthen my personal connection to Judaism. Furthermore, my parents came from Eastern Europe and brought with them a record player with old records, many of which were cantorial records. In my childhood, this was about all I listened to. Out of all these, the record I loved most was by the Mlebsky family singing cantorial songs, and these songs have accompanied me throughout my life.

"In addition, my mother lit candles on Friday night, and since we married, my wife Yona has also lit candles in our home. In terms of commandments, the most important one for me to uphold is 'Love your neighbor as yourself,' encompassing all mitzvot between individuals. I sanctify this mitzvah in every situation. Moreover, throughout my life, I have been connected to tradition in many ways, even in the Yiddishpiel Theater I run, where I've brought in Jewish tradition.

"By the way, regarding the songs, in the past, I recorded several albums of cantorial pieces and piyutim, and beyond that, I had a show called 'Open the Gates for Us' in which I sang sacred songs, and even during this period, I have a joint performance with Chief Cantor of the IDF Shay Abramsom, and with Kobi Arieli, and this show is entirely connected to tradition. My connection to cantorial and piyutim began at a very young age. My grandfather was a gabbai in a synagogue in central Tel Aviv, and he often took me with him to prayers. I vividly remember how I looked at the cantor in wonder and admiration. Incidentally, right next to my home in Jaffa, there's a synagogue, and I greatly enjoy hearing the hymns I love right through the window."

Prayer I Will Never Forget

"A prayer that deeply touches my heart appears in the Shemoneh Esrei prayer, in the blessing about the rebuilding of the Temple: 'And to Jerusalem, Your city, return with mercy and dwell within it as You have spoken.'"

Longing I Will Never Forget

"I long for many people who are no longer with us, but I especially miss my parents. For a long time, I used to call them every Friday night, and even after my mother passed away, I continued to do so. Now that my father is also not with us, it's a tough moment for me every week. Suddenly you understand that in this context, you no longer have anyone to call."

(Photo: Yossi Gamzu for Good)

A Painful Lesson I Will Never Forget

"A lesson I learned the hard way is that always, no matter what happens, it's very important to remember that everything is from Shamayim (Heaven) and to remain balanced emotionally. I was young and I've grown older, and I know everyone goes through many ups and downs and must prepare for it. When you're down, don't lose your composure, and when you're up, don't lose your head. Remember you're only human. I've learned this well, and I try to convey this message to professionals I work with and to people in general."

A Dream I Haven't Fulfilled and Won't Forget Until I Do

"Thank God, I've fulfilled many dreams and reached many peaks, even those I didn’t dare to dream of, but now my dream is to see my grandchildren marry, to see my family and friends happy, and the entire Jewish people thriving and flourishing, in a truly wonderful unity."