By Menachem Levy for COLlive
If you are anything like me, you aren’t your sharpest at ten o’clock at night, especially after performing for a few hours to blaring music before an energetic crowd. So when I was told I would be talking to Akiva Turgeman over zoom on his way home from a concert, I thought I would probably be getting a somewhat subdued version of the charismatic Akiva I was used to seeing on stage.
But as the screen blinked and Akiva’s face appeared on the screen, I quickly realized that I had nothing to worry about. He seemed present, friendly, and, as it turned out after switching to his native Hebrew, an easy conversationalist.
After exchanging some pleasantries, I launch into my first question: Who is Akiva? For many American Jews who have come to love the impassioned voice of this Israeli-born singer, Akiva is relatively new to the scene and I was curious to hear more about his journey.
“I grew up in Dimona,” he begins, referring to the city situated in southern Israel. “My father has been a chazan for many years and every one of my ten siblings is musical, including my sister Ruchama ben Yosef, who sings professionally.”
Akiva’s father is Morrocan and his mother is Canadian. Both of them being musically gifted, they each brought a different style of music to the family, a factor that Akiva credits a lot of his success to. “It enabled me to fuse different types of music together, from the energy of American rock n’ roll to Middle Eastern style, and I see this as my contribution to the Jewish music scene. I perform with singers from across the religious spectrum, from Shulem Lemmer to Amir Dadon, and my ability to straddle these different styles all comes back to my background and growing up in such a colorful environment.”
It took some time but after writing some of his own music, he began building a following to the point he now performs almost every night of the week in different parts of Israel and around the world.
After finishing high school, Akiva attended a hesder yeshiva where he was introduced to the world of Chassidus and Chassidic music, a discovery that he treasures greatly. “We had a seder niggunim twice a week where I learned tens of Chabad niggunim. Till today, when I sing at a kumzitz or even when I go out to the forest with my guitar to sing to myself, I don’t sing my own songs; I sing those niggunim that I learned. They uplift me to a world of kedusha and purity that gives me chizuk whenever I need it.”
As he says this, I smile to myself picturing in my mind the sight of Akiva sitting in the forest with his eyes closed, strumming a guitar to the tune of a niggun. I actually wish I could come along.
Does he have a favorite Chabad niggun?
He laughs. “That’s a tough question. Ach Laelokim, Niggun Hishtatchus, Kol Dodi, there are so many that I love.”
His love of Chabad niggunim also led him to participate in the popular “Project Tzamah,” an initiative that was created to bring the beauty of Chabad niggunim to the world.
Akiva is an artist. When he talks about music, his soul comes alive and his face brightens. When he discusses a song that he created or a niggun that he loves, it seems that he is transported from the dark, winding Israeli streets to a different, transcendent place. My question is about the rest of us. Is music also an integral part of our Avodat Hashem and if so, why?
Not surprisingly, his response comes quickly. “Yes”, he assures me, “music brings something to the table that nothing else can. It reaches deeper than the mind and directly to the soul; it uncovers an unbreakable connection to Hashem, one that is innate and needs only to be ignited.”
He points to the types of crowds that his concerts attract as proof of this. “My audience is often a big mix of people, from the completely irreligious to streimel toting charedim. It’s the music that brings them together.”
It was early on in his career that he encountered someone who changed his perspective on music forever. After performing for a small crowd at a university in Israel, a young woman approached him with tears in her eyes. She told him that she had recently experienced a tragedy that had upended her life completely; After a full term of pregnancy, she had miscarried and lost the baby she had been so eagerly waiting for.
Nothing could console her grief and she fell into a deep depression. She enlisted the help of doctors who prescribed all kinds of medication but nothing changed; she was rapidly losing weight and no longer felt the desire to live. Feeling helpless, her husband suggested that she go with a friend to the concert to help lift her spirits. “I don’t know exactly what it was,” she said emotionally, “but I heard something in one of your songs that stirred me inside and made me feel that there is what to continue living for.”
“It was at that moment,” concluded Akiva, “that I came to realize that being a singer is not all fun and games. It’s a shlichut, a calling, and a tool to be used to help other people.”
America and Israel are very different places, both culturally and ideologically. Take a walk through the shuk on a Friday afternoon or try having a conversation with an Israeli cab driver and you’ll quickly realize that people in Israel function at a different speed. I wonder what it’s like for someone like Akiva to come from Israel and perform for an American crowd. I ask the question carefully, but he just smiles. “I love performing in America. I recently had the privilege to sing at HASC and I was blown away by the incredible energy in the crowd. Even when I perform in Israel, there are usually Americans in the audience and they add something that enhances the whole experience.”
Akiva is referring to his rousing performance at HASC 36 singing “Kolot” with hit singer Yaakov Shwekey. The two come from very different backgrounds but they seem to get along well together, as evidenced by a concert that they held together a few months ago in Israel for Shwekey’s wife’s organization. I’m curious to know more about their relationship and when I mention Shwekey, he perks up.
“I remember hearing Shwekey sing “Rachem” as a kid and since then he’s been a role model for me. Over the years, we’ve also developed a close personal relationship. He invited me to his home in Deal, NJ where we spent an incredible Shabbos infused with singing and divrei Torah.”
“He’s an amazing singer who is always game to try something different and exciting. Take our upcoming concert in Florida as an example. I will be coming with my exclusive band of Israeli musicians who will obviously play in their unique style and he’s been totally on board to change things up and try something new. We’ve been rehearsing constantly hoping to deliver a truly memorable performance. I treasure every time I can perform with him and getting to know him has been a dream.”
Akiva puts me on hold for a minute and I see him rummaging around before handing some cash to a person through the open window. I assume it’s just a toll booth until I see the pained expression on his face. “It’s always sad to see someone homeless but when they are your brothers, your fellow Jews, it’s just tragic.”
This is a guy with a big heart.
As the conversation winds down, I ask him what’s on his mind with Pesach approaching and his trip to the U.S just around the corner.
“Pesach is a special chag for us as Jews. It’s when we became a nation, united as one whole. From my past trips to America, I’ve noticed that there is a strong sense of unity amongst American Jews and that is something I hope to bring back with me to Israel. Achdut – togetherness, looking past our differences and focusing on our common goal. This is what I try to achieve with my music and what I hope to experience with all of you in Florida.”
As we say our goodbyes and I step away from the screen, I think I now understand what has made Akiva so popular: A unique style and a beautiful voice but most of all a soul that exudes energy, warmth, and a love for his fellow Jew. It’s a winning combination.
Click here to purchase tickets to Shewekey and Akiva Concerts in Florida