Shalom, Master of the Universe – Gad Elbaz

Just as this song was written as a personal address to the Creator of the World, so too I decided to write to you what I am experiencing and feeling. 

We have all had a difficult year. I want to share with you the challenges I had to go through this year. 

I lived alone in the United States this year due to a divorce, in which my family moved to Eretz Yisrael while I continued my work in the Jewish communities. 

This is a feeling of true exile – countless times I asked myself for whom and for what am I fighting?! Moments of intense feelings of brokenness made me wonder about the nature of my role in the world. It was a year in which I found myself drinking a bitter drop to forget the reality in which my home fell apart before my eyes. 

Sometimes we understand only too late what our priorities in life are. I tried with my last strength to return the crown to its former glory, but the years did their thing and we grew apart. Years of exile and flights around the world for show appearances that would make Jews happy cost me the very heavy price of the break–up of my family. 

So, in this song I simply and innocently turn to the Master of the Universe… “ Shalom, Master of the Universe, lately fear has come into me. And it’s so comfortable for the fear“. 

Indeed, Hashem saved me and prepared tools for me for the next journey of my life, which includes new things – a new album in Hebrew, after many years in which I did not release songs in Hebrew. Looking into myself clarified my role in the world. My light came back, as well as the passion and the urge for success. 

Lyrics 

Shalom, Master of the Universe, lately fear has come into me.  

And it‘s so comfortable for the fear – he and I go everywhere together.  

It’s the yetzer hara (evil inclination) again, killing (my) free choice.  

Fortunately, there’s prayer. 

Come to me and give me a hand, come and direct me.  

It’s hard to be alone even for one day, so come and heal me, and enough! 

Come and embrace me because I don’t have a true moment 

That passes and nothing helps anymore.  

Tell me when the light will return. 

Tell me, Master of the Universe, how does everything here look from up there? 

Send some angel to fix everything here 

Because it’s already hard. 

The end of the tunnel, everyone singing, Moshiach has not yet come  

But he’s nearby.