(Zach & Nadine Epstein)
We sat down with
Zachary Epstein to find out about the inspiration for his new single and what he
took away from his first Yeshiva learning experience at the Mayanot Men's Learning Program.
How long
were you at Mayanot and what did you gain from the Program?
I went
to Mayanot the summer of 2013 for six amazing weeks. There were so many things
that I loved and took away from the program. The most memorable experience at Mayanot was a Shabbaton we did in
Tzfat. It was my first Shabbat without using a phone, and it was full of Torah,
hiking, exploration, and hitbodedut (meditation).
What is the most
important thing you took away from the Program?
At Mayanot I developed
the faith and strength to grow in observance even when there is adversity and
even when it contradicts Western values and culture. I also learned to have an
extremely healthy relationship with Jewish Law. I received excellent guidance
regarding the importance of slow but steady growth in mitzvah observance and
the great value of honoring one’s mother and father. Mayanot also instilled
within me a fiery desire to serve G-d and to love my fellow Jews.
Can you share your
favorite part of the Program?
It is so difficult to choose my favorite
part, it would either be the inspirational d'var
Torahs, the spiritual fabrengens, tours of the Old City, or discussions with
Mayanot’s incredible students, shulchim, and rabbis about life and Torah; and
of course, Chassidus has been a constant source of inspiration and
joy since I learnt about it at Mayanot.
Did Mayanot impact
your decision to get involved in this music project?
Music
has always been a love of mine, and as a youth I had the privilege of
performing around the Chicago area as a boy soprano. I'm no longer a soprano,
but I do still perform and record. Modern country music is my genre of choice. Mayanot was however, the motivating factor
that enabled me to make time for music as a physics PhD student again and to
overcome the resistance inherent in attempting to do that.
How did the idea for your new single
happen?
I had experienced
so much tremendous growth in my Jewish observance at Mayanot and in my
understanding of humanity and reality through Torah. I was feeling very proud
looking back at my decision to attend even though I am doing my PhD and had
little time to do so, realizing that Mayanot had been such a gift, feeling very
grateful, the idea for the song occurred to me. King David’s phrase, “One thing
I ask is to dwell b’veis Hashem for all the days of my life”. This music
project just took off from there. Within my music in general, my main goal has become to inspire connection and to bring Jews closer to their creator. This particular song has turned into a project meant to bring Jewish friends and family closer to their heritage and I hope when people listen to it they want to share it.
What else has inspired
you to get back into your music?
I once took an
undergraduate course on Negotiating Social Change through Music and learned
that music has an incredible power to affect one’s emotions and thereby
influence one’s perspective. There are many amazing and successful Orthodox
Jewish musicians – they give so much, and have so much to give, both to the
Orthodox Jewish world and to the world as a whole and I have been inspired by
so many of them within my own music.
How have you used what
you have learnt at Mayanot to help you in your music?
Two
years after writing the song,
I saw friends and family moving in the direction of intermarriage and
assimilation, and I felt very sad. I took the song, which was then focused on
my own Jewish journey and turned it outwards. I completely redid the melody and
chords, revamped the lyrics to expose people to a Torah perspective in a way
that would resonate with all kinds of Jews, and tried to subtly make a strong
case for living a Jewish life within the song, which is something I feel passionately
about.
Mayanot inspires people
to think beyond themselves. Not just to focus on their own journeys but on
others as well, and I definitely internalized that message.
What is your main goal
with this song, what do you hope people will get out of it?
Within my music in general, my main goal has become to inspire connection
and to bring Jews closer to their creator. This particular song has turned into
a project meant to bring Jewish friends and
family closer to their heritage and I hope when people listen to it they want
to share it.
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We want to Thank Zachary Epstein for sharing his thoughts and insights with us.
Take a listen and
enjoy this beautiful recording entitled ‘One Thing I Ask’.
For a free download, click here.
For a free download, click here.