Yaakov Shwekey Like You've Never Heard Him Before
Meaningful People
Meaningful Minute
4.8 • 1.9K Ratings
🗓️ 13 December 2025
⏱️ 90 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this powerful and emotional conversation, Jewish music icon Yaakov Shwekey opens up about the evolution of Jewish music, the responsibility of an artist, and the deeply personal moments that shaped his life and career. From unforgettable camp memories and behind-the-scenes studio stories to the creation of his upcoming massive Shabbos project, Shwekey reflects on legacy, inspiration, and the transformative power of music.
He shares raw stories about loss, fatherhood, kindness, and how music can lift broken hearts—from hospital rooms in Israel to Shabbos tables around the world. Music producer Donny Gross joins to give a rare inside look at the creative process behind their most ambitious project yet: a multi-hour Shabbos experience meant to reconnect families to song, tradition, and joy.
If you love Jewish music, appreciate authenticity, or just need a dose of inspiration—this episode is for you.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The appreciation for songs and music when it comes out so fast and so free. |
| 0:05.2 | Different world today. |
| 0:06.2 | Really, really different world. |
| 0:07.6 | It's not the fault of anybody. |
| 0:09.1 | It's just the rapidness, the quickness. |
| 0:11.4 | Top five songs, claw you strong. |
| 0:14.2 | I love how the podcast guys, they just want numbers. |
| 0:17.5 | We want just top. |
| 0:19.3 | You want to get a little controversial? |
| 0:20.7 | I know you would do that because you want to get a little controversial? |
| 0:24.6 | I know you would do that because you got to get more likes today. You know, you got to get more... |
| 0:26.2 | Whoa, I know you would. |
| 0:28.0 | Not you. |
| 0:28.5 | You're a type. |
| 0:29.5 | I know every interviewer has to press certain buttons to try to heat up the... |
| 0:34.2 | But no problem. |
| 0:35.1 | Yaakov Shwecki, one of the most influential voices in jewish music for over two |
| 0:39.6 | decades his songs and filled homes shules weddings and hearts across clausral but behind the stages |
| 0:45.0 | the albums and the anthems is a man navigating a fast-changing music world personal loss and the weight |
| 0:50.6 | of responsibility that comes along with being a voice that people grew up on there was a piece piece I read in Meshachal, not too long ago. It was about the songs coming from Israeli artists that maybe they're not so from, and our young from kids are singing it and dancing to it. Maybe we shouldn't be singing songs that are coming from people who are not Benet-Tara. I'm not judging anybody behind the song. Don't ever think I am, but we shouldn't be listening to this. The words are not for us. After my parents passed away, I'll never forget the emotion of it. I'm singing all the messages that I felt, you know, we were writing for Kalalysville. It was really pointing the message at me. I'm reinvigorating myself to say, hey, that's my mission. Of course, nobody knew what I was going through. December 1st, 2001, a bombing took place in Ben Yuda. That's not what this episode is about, but we just put out a brand new documentary on Meaningfina Plus that you can go watch right now. If you're going to become a Plus number, you can. If you don't want to become a plus nerd, there is an option to watch it one time. Go ahead to mmplus.org. Watch this incredible documentary. We put our heart and soul into it. We really believe that you will love it. This episode with Yaakov Shwaki and Donny Gross. You know, Yakkwkwaki, Donny Gross, better just worked on this Shabbas project, a book, safer really, and music about Shabbas. And we discussed that in this episode and a lot more. This episode is made possible by friends at Kolel Khabad. Yes, the Pushka app. Down to Pushka app right now, pushka. Pushka.com. Give a little sdaka today tomorrow anytime when the push |
| 2:18.8 | app is in your pocket down the app today pushka.com forward slash cc thank you aqua f shrekki thank you |
| 2:24.3 | donnie gross i hope you guys enjoy this episode what would you say is like the the state of the jewish |
... |
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