Yoel Waxberger Reveals: "For Years I Couldn't Read, and My Regular Grade Was 18%"

Profession: Painter, artist, innovator in various fields

Marital status: Married with 9 lovely children and now a young grandfather

Age: 43, although it feels like I was just born yesterday. I wish I could always remain a child

Place of residence: Bnei Brak

Pleased to meet you: "I'm Yoel Waxberger, an artist and painter, an idea person in various fields related to the world of design, particularly Jewish life. Creativity is in my soul, and I truly love to adorn and uplift the house of our God. There's a saying that's guided me since childhood: 'There are people who think inside the box, and there are people who think outside the box, but I don't have a box at all.' I think we can all embrace this sentiment, as no one can stop us from thinking differently—we just need to utilize the human brain".

Colorful childhood: "I grew up in the heart of Bnei Brak, in a private house with a yard. In my eyes, that's my great miracle, as it gave me the space to play, run, generate ideas, and even raise chickens. My dear parents gave me complete freedom: they allowed me to destroy and create, explore and conduct experiments, and also to create various 3D artworks. I would break toys, build machines and cars with engines, and create electrical works. I even got electrocuted a few times... I operated out of great curiosity, and I believe that the opportunity I was given to create and act is the foundation of everything I do today".

Compliments from Mom: "My mom is special, and this is the place to reveal a big secret: when I was a kid, my creations weren't anything special, but Mom would always compliment me, get excited, and tell everyone: 'Look what Yoel did!' She even hung my drawings in the room and made me feel very talented. I learned a lot from this for life, because when parents genuinely compliment their children and believe in their abilities, the children can go far".

Not afraid of failure: "From my dad, I learned the art of electronics. He is a creative person and explained things to me patiently, even when I struggled to understand. I learned from him not to give up and how to fight for success. His constant phrase was: 'A person only fails when they stop trying.' He was always proactive and very much loved the things he did".

Learning struggles: "Studies are a painful subject for me because, as a child, I was really 'hopeless' in exams, and I regularly scored 18%. Of course, I made fun of it, but deep down, I was really ashamed, and there was no one there to be with me and help me. To this day, I don't know if I had a weak mind or if it was a 'rhythm and dance issue,' as I call my attention difficulties. Mainly, I remember myself during study hours 'daydreaming' about what I would create when I got home and what I would have when I grew up".

A memorable teacher: "As a small child, I sought to connect with people who smiled and listened to me and found it very hard to find them. That's also why, of all my teachers, I only remember one, because he spoke to me not just about technical things like 'Did you succeed or not in the test,' but also showed interest in the things I did at home and outside of studying. I remember telling him that I was currently building Solomon's chair, and he was amazed. It affected me positively; I needed that appreciation".

In the family lap: "It's very important for me to create positive experiences from the school years for my own children, so at parent-teacher meetings, I always request from the educators: 'Ask my son not only about learning but also about additional fields,' and I also try to spend time with my children and hear in detail about their experiences and feelings. I'm very happy that they succeed in their studies, but along with that, I also push them to develop their skills in other fields, whether it's music, painting, or any other area".

Defining moment: "One day, while sitting in class and everything around me was boring, a nice thought crossed my mind: 'I have prayer books, Chumashim, and Tehillim before me, all filled with black text on white paper, why not try to make it colorful, lively, and vibrant?' This is how I began working on producing the Book of Psalms. With each psalm, I experienced the words and tried to depict nature, the wars King David experienced, and the marvel of creation. This led to the creation of the illustrated Tehillim 'Mizmor L'Todah,' which later became a bestseller, selling hundreds of thousands of copies worldwide".

One-on-One

What does your daily routine look like?

"For someone like me, a fixed daily routine is almost impossible, because I constantly jump from one matter to another, and every dream that arises in my mind, I want to execute 'here and now.' But I have trained myself not to give up on certain things, like studying ethics, prayers at a fixed time and place, and reviewing empowering statements to stabilize the soul and improve it. I also make sure to leave an hour free every day to be with the kids and give them their space".

A rabbinical figure you are close with?

"Occasionally, I receive the blessing of Rabbi David Abuhatzeira. Once, when I visited him, he gestured with his hands and head and told me: 'You are simply bringing your paintings down from heaven above to this world, keep doing and succeeding.' Additionally, I have another quiet, modest rabbi with whom I regularly sit to discuss various matters and delve into them deeply". 

A religious book you're attached to?

"In my childhood, I didn't like reading at all, but after several decades, I managed to teach myself to enjoy reading, much like Rabbi Akiva... I simply went to learn to read. Nowadays, I study and memorize, greatly enjoying ethics books like 'Mesilat Yesharim,' which I have studied dozens of times, and I even have an engaging commentary I've written on it. I believe the day will come when I will turn it into an illustrated commentary with Hashem's help".

A moment that particularly moved you?

"I was particularly moved a few years ago when I happened to visit a non-religious doctor before Purim and gave him a Megillat Esther. After Purim, he contacted me and said: 'This was the first time I had a Megillat Esther at home, and I went with my children to hear the Megilla reading'".

Looking back, is there something you regret?

"The truth is, I've had many failures in life... the biggest failure wasn't in my professional field but when I sold the villa I owned, which I had built with my own two hands, without any reason or thought, which later turned out to be absolutely not worth it. I don't regret any failure because I believe that only through failures do we become better, but it's important for me to share this so people can avoid doing foolish things in weak moments. Even though the Creator of the world orchestrates everything, the choice is ours to try to succeed despite everything".

If youweren'tworkinginyourcurrentfield,whatwouldyoubedoing?

"Simply sitting and studying Torah for its own sake; it's fascinating, engaging, and sweeter than honey".

A tip to end with?

‘For someone who has lost their money, nothing happened; for someone who loses their health, half is gone; but for someone who loses their mood, they have nothing in their life.’ So always maintain a good mood, and remember that the journey isn't over yet, and every day is the start of your next success".