Through Gad's Eyes

I was about to cross the finish line… I saw my friend behind me, pushing me. I fell head first on the curb, losing consciousness right away. I blacked out.

My father saw all this from the kitchen window, running down the stairs, he came to me and felt my heart was not beating, paramedics trying to revive me with no response.

He picked me up, crying to Hashem. My father said, “take whatever you want from me but not my son Gad, I’m not Avraham Avinu.” My father promised that he will be worshiping G-d, and will dedicate his life and mine to heaven, to spread and honor His name.

I suddenly gained consciousness. “I saw things,” I told father.

I understood from this that we all have a purpose in life. My purpose is to be a shaliach for Hashem through my music.

I was lucky as a child to touch all walks of Jewish life, from Chabad, to a secular school, and then a Sephardi yeshiva. Davening in different Ashkenazi shuls, I was always jumping around from place to place. This gave me the opportunity to bridge the gap between all colors of Jewish life.

When I was a teenager, I had this burning question: do I believe in Hashem because of my father, or because of me? I started exploring, looking for reasons.

It took me 3 years to answer my questions. Let me tell you my journey.

It was the day before Yom Kippur. My worry was where to spend such an important day.

So I decided to spend it in 770 Chabad and then take my connection to Israel. But G-d has His own plans.

Nobody was willing to help me but the captain of the plane. “If you exist, show me you exist before Yom Kippur, send me a sign.” Helping the captain was my purpose.

It was a month before the biggest concert of my career. I received a call informing me that my main sponsor had backed out.

Here I am standing with no money, a month before the big day. There was no way I was going to cancel the concert. This would be the first time a religious artist performs in the Caesarea amphitheater. I can't give up.