One-on-One with Singer and Musician Ari Goldwag

In the last several years a rising star from Israel has been inspiring millions. His latest hit, “Am Echad (One Nation)” has brought numerous people to tears of encouragement and motivation in making Jewish unity a reality. Without question, Ari Goldwag is here to stay as one of our generations leaders of musical talent. I met Ari at his house in Beit Shemesh for an evening chat of songs and emuna.

As you listen to Ari’s tunes you get the feeling that he is an artist who is bringing essential Jewish messages through happy, catchy and danceable beats.  You might find yourself playing some of his work over and over. Many of his songs can truly touch a person and help them serve Hashem with more joy.

The journey hasn’t been easy. I asked Ari what the path was like to making it to the big leagues of stardom. He said, “Hashem has always put me in a position where I felt that I could never succeed without His help, nothing has ever been easy. Since being a teenager, I’ve always been recording albums, I’ve always had a project that I was in the middle of. But there was a point where for about six years I was very unsure of myself, and of whether I was doing the right thing. Yet I remember very clearly one Rosh HaShana where I had this feeling of disappointment in myself. I said ‘Hey it’s not right what you are doing, not composing, you have a talent that Hashem gave you, now you need to use it.” Shortly thereafter Ari was back in the studio creating songs.

Songs like “Rak Hu,” “Ani Avdecha,” “Ka Ribon,” and “The Artist” are fantastic and heartening hits for any home. When I probed further about that uncertain period in Ari’s life I discovered the main reason for the uncertainty, namely that of self-doubt. Ari even made it very clear to me that some of his best work emerged when he was in the darker moments of his life. 

Ari explained further, “Since then, I’ve learned that Hashem really wants to give us the success we want… but we have to pay, there is always a price!! Just like a woman has to go through 9 months of pain and discomfort to have a child.”

(Author’s note: This falls right into line with what Rabbi Lazer Brody teaches about the spiritual laws of physics, namely that for any increase in success there are loads of initial backfire. Similar to a slingshot, it needs to be pulled way back for it to be thrust forward.  In addition Rabbi Shalom Arush has commented, “How do you think I got to where I am today – by eating ice cream?”

Ari has had many various Torah influences on his life including the works of Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, and Rabbi Akiva Tatz.  The book Inner Space: Introduction to Kabbalah, Meditation and Prophecy was among the most significant catalysts to his spiritual growth. He said, “I remember that it was the first book that I read where I had to just stop and meditate on every lesson. It was a life changing experience for me.” There were also an amazing two to three years during which Ari was very connected to Breslev, delving into the works and writings of Rabbi Nachman and his prime student Rabbi Natan.

Later during our interview I had the huge honor to hear some of Ari’s unreleased work which might be on his next album. One question that I was really excited to ask Ari was where he gets the inspiration to compose his work. Rabbi Nachman would be very happy with the answer Ari gave: “The Field!” That’s right, his latest tracks came about through hitbodedut (personal prayer).  “I just went to the field and asked ‘What do You want?’… with a recorder in hand. And it came to me.

I really connect with the principle that Rav Shalom Arush teaches in the Garden of Peace that Hashem talks through your wife. So I went to my wife to tell her that I wanted to go out to pray, and she said “If you need it, go for it!” And that was that. I knew Hashem was giving me the green light I was looking for to make some time for hitbodedut. Hitbodedut is something I wish I did more of.”

One of Ari’s unreleased songs is directly connected to Rabbi Nachman’s teachings about not giving up, and with G-d’s help it will be available for all of our listeners in the near future. Whether you are looking for songs to make stir your emotions, pray, laugh or dance Ari Goldwag is humbly changing the face of Jewish music. Get tuned in! Ari’s work can be purchased at arigoldwag.com enjoy!