Ariella Zeitlin אריאלה צייטלין

This year I had half as many listeners as last year.

I thought about not sharing this because after all, we’re all about celebrating growth and numbers on here, and I’m watching my friends kill it, doubling and tripling their numbers from last year.

But actually, this means something totally different for me.

A year ago, I put on my first big show and I burned myself out doing everything alone.

I had a business coach who after it was over, immediately said “ok what’s next” and I looked at him and cried. I was so tired!!

It wasn’t sustainable. 50 Spotify releases last year. Expensive music videos, a big fundraising show, earning more than I ever earned before doing 15+ events a month, but totally killing my self to do it and spending just as much on ads as I was earning.

And what to show for it? Like running up a down escalator - fighting the algorhythm was exhausting and it didn’t seem like it was getting me anywhere. I felt like if I don’t put out a new piece every two weeks it would all plummet (and it did!)

Everything suffered - me most of all, but also my marriage, my kids, and my friendships.

So I took a step back.

I decided the most important thing for me is to go deep, instead of going wide.

(Also, that both breathing and sleep are good)

So I’ve spent my time creating and sharpening programs that are impactful, well rounded, and ultimately amazing and even life changing experiences (if you haven’t seen my roots show, you should)

Concerts and my online school are my main focuses when it’s not wartime, and beyond that only what I feel comes easily and naturally.

I’ve been working with one of the best managers in Israel Yonatan Gelfand who has helped me to sharpen my vision so it’s laser focused (more on this another time)

And so this year Spotify became a smaller piece of my puzzle. The lower number symbolizes to me that I’ve been prioritizing taking care of what’s important to me right now.

And I’m so grateful for the people who have stuck by me and continued to listen and enjoy what I’ve put into the universe. I really appreciate you all so much ❤️

Hope to see you at a concert soon

This year I had half as many listeners as last year.

I thought about not sharing this because after all, we’re all about celebrating growth and numbers on here, and I’m watching my friends kill it, doubling and tripling their numbers from last year.

But actually, this means something totally different for me.

A year ago, I put on my first big show and I burned myself out doing everything alone.

I had a business coach who after it was over, immediately said “ok what’s next” and I looked at him and cried. I was so tired!!

It wasn’t sustainable. 50 Spotify releases last year. Expensive music videos, a big fundraising show, earning more than I ever earned before doing 15+ events a month, but totally killing my self to do it and spending just as much on ads as I was earning.

And what to show for it? Like running up a down escalator - fighting the algorhythm was exhausting and it didn’t seem like it was getting me anywhere. I felt like if I don’t put out a new piece every two weeks it would all plummet (and it did!)

Everything suffered - me most of all, but also my marriage, my kids, and my friendships.

So I took a step back.

I decided the most important thing for me is to go deep, instead of going wide.

(Also, that both breathing and sleep are good)

So I’ve spent my time creating and sharpening programs that are impactful, well rounded, and ultimately amazing and even life changing experiences (if you haven’t seen my roots show, you should)

Concerts and my online school are my main focuses when it’s not wartime, and beyond that only what I feel comes easily and naturally.

I’ve been working with one of the best managers in Israel Yonatan Gelfand who has helped me to sharpen my vision so it’s laser focused (more on this another time)

And so this year Spotify became a smaller piece of my puzzle. The lower number symbolizes to me that I’ve been prioritizing taking care of what’s important to me right now.

And I’m so grateful for the people who have stuck by me and continued to listen and enjoy what I’ve put into the universe. I really appreciate you all so much ❤️

Hope to see you at a concert soon

I’ve been spending the past few months working really hard on creating programs that will uplift and inspire, and I had a few international dates that have been moved or pushed off - but I’m still so optimistic about the future and the healing power of music and community.

Now after several weeks of spending every waking moment volunteering and taking care of people around me, I’m looking at the future and seeing that here’s what we need more of: wisdom, healing, community, inspiration. With so much hope in my heart I’m looking forward to bringing my program to your community ❤️ booking international dates from February and forward

Sat down with Nechami Tenenbaum for a talk about all things motherhood, life, and finding your own voice amidst the chaos.
Hope you enjoy listening ❤️
(Link in first comment)

A few months ago, I started working on a course with Hanuka songs for beginner violinists and self taught learners.

I have a lot of talented people worldwide who find my videos online and have done amazing things without a teacher, and it’s fun as a supplement for lessons.

I made pdfs, super in depth lessons and a million plans. I was actually super excited about it because I hate that I don’t have enough time for all the people asking me about lessons and thought this would be such a great way to help the larger community.

After the war hit, I have felt like all the things I’m working on I need to cancel. It’s wartime and we’re all mourning losses and who wants to hear about violin courses or shows or really anything that I might be able to do. I can’t leave my family and just go waltzing around the country performing for free while my son is having panic attacks when I’m out of sight.

And then a few days ago I got this letter from one of the people evacuated from their home in Sderot:

“Dear ariella,

One of the only things getting me through this time is that I brought my violin with me to the hotel and have been teaching myself to play with your video lessons. Could you maybe post some Hanuka songs?”

So I decided maybe now isn’t such a bad time to put it out on there, and of course I sent her access for free, and will give free access to anyone who needs it right now ❤️ (just pm me)

I have a version in Hebrew and a version in English, and a portion of the proceeds will be going towards the victims of this war.

learning Hanuka songs is also a great way to support your Jewish friends in this time, and sharing this would be a great way to support your favorite violinist ❤️🇮🇱

And how cool would it be if we had a global orchestra of people who between now and Hanuka start playing violin??

Link in my bio, thank you so much for your support ❤️🙏 hope we know better days soon

2 weeks in. Update from central Israel.

The rockets keep coming. Friday night I sat on my porch and watched as hundreds of rockets were exploded above Ashkelon and on their way to Jerusalem.

In our area the rockets from Gaza feel sporadic but intentional.

Last week while grocery shopping, I sent my 12 year old with her friends to pick up a few things to make cookies for soldiers while I waited in the car. When the siren went off, I ended up next to a woman who was having a panic attack and couldn’t breathe. She said she hasn’t left her home in over a week and only because of the few days of quiet did she leave. This is relatable because my 9 year old doesn’t want to cross the street for fear of rockets.

Today at 1 pm right when everyone is picking up their kids from school.

There are army patrols in all the Jewish neighborhoods.

I speak to the soldiers, they are regular citizens who have left their families to protect us everywhere.

Everyone is applying for gun permits.

There is great concern about an uprising from the Arab Israeli population, who stand and film the Jews as they shop and panic over the rockets and some firmly support Hamas.

I have been bingeing books and podcasts about Islams bloody history and can’t grasp the concept of Jihad. All we’ve ever wanted was this tiny sliver of land. And to ideally be safe from genocide. So much for that.

American Jews who were here for the holidays are all gone. My travel agent friend said the calls and the panic from them was one of the most traumatizing things about this war. I still feel safest here, amongst my people, although the offers of moving into your homes are so generous and special.

I am ok. Fatigued. I have been working tirelessly for months on a show about heroism and my struggles with addiction and purpose, and now that I see heroism everywhere, and real true villains, how can I talk about the inner battles I’ve suffered through when Rachel has become a national icon with her cookies as her sword.

For me, right now, being a hero is not allowing my addictions to take over my life. Not allowing myself to over eat, over watch or over scroll can seem like the hardest villain I’ve ever had to face. Not allowing myself to cancel lessons and recordings and meetings and plans despite wanting nothing better than to find ways to sink into oblivion.

My faith is carrying me through this. I am praying for the safety of people everywhere. I meditate whenever possible, I send love and healing energy into the universe.

I am not allowing the hatred coming at us from all directions to scare me.

It might feel scary, but it’s not new. Not for us. We’ve been through this over and over through history. And today we have a country full of family who are so united it makes me cry.

Which is why we need our country so much, and why we will continue to fight for it, in every way we can.

And if the only thing that you can do right now is breathe, give grace. Breathing is actually an amazing thing.

I have a list of mental health resources I’ve been collecting, I’ll post the link in the comments, or dm me if you can’t find it. I’m not a mental health professional, but I have learned to heal and live in my own mind, and maybe that can help you

Stay safe my friends ❤️ Am yisrael Chai

The trolls on Instagram have found me.

Do you have this question? Would you like to know more about the Jewish faith and it’s connection with Israel? Or about the history of Israel and this war?

I will be going live tonight on Instagram from 9-11 Israel time to answer questions you might have about what’s going on to the best of my ability, to give some perspective, to play some music, and invite my friends of all faiths to join me.

I have several surprise guests coming on as well.

If you are interested in joining me to speak and share with your community (however small- we all have impact!) let me know asap and I’ll schedule you a slot today or tomorrow ❤️🙏🇮🇱

I had organized a children’s music project this morning which is now cancelled because I’ll be spending my morning at several funerals of dear wonderful people who didn’t deserve to die.

Our people, our hearts, our souls, our blood our bone. Dead.

The people of Israel are mobilizing in every way they can, organizing food, taking care of refugees from the border, driving people back and forth trying to keep them safe. There’s a unity that is beautiful and painful when we are reminded that we are all Jews. Antisemitic attacks have been happening across the world as Jews are literally being beaten in the streets in the US, murdered in Egypt, broken windows in London. It’s nice to know we are all united, I guess.

F hamas. F* terrorism. F* this insanity. This is unacceptable. Leave us alone, you paradigm of evil.

And believe me, in case you think I’m not aware - the displaced people of Gaza is unacceptable.

Where is the international community organizing to fly them to safety? The innocents don’t deserve this. The streets of Gaza are destroyed. Their homes are destroyed. Who can help them reestablish? There must be somewhere in Alabama or Kansas or Greenland or Saudi Arabia that can take 200,000 or 500,000 refugees. It’s not that much. The world is huge.

Not here because too many of them want to kill us, but why don’t people come save them?? They shouldn’t have to live through this. How could they not hate Hamas and terror and crave safety and freedom as much as we do, I’m sure they do. Someone organize a reestablishment project. Help the innocents of Gaza to leave.

Return the souls of our people to us. I wish this was over and this day wasn’t happening.

Shown: The apocalyptic view from my porch of rockets in Tel Aviv

Safe. For now.

My house is shaking over and over and multiple rockets were taken down over our house today in central Israel, and we spent the holy day of Simchat Torah in our synagogue, celebrating our Jewish pride and strength, cheering for the jets that flew overhead and praying over and over for the welfare of our beloved soldiers.

Safe. For now.

It seems like cognitive dissonance - this day is a celebration of a month of healing and prayer, where we celebrate beginning again and wiping our slates clean and total trust in a higher being who is guarding us. How can we have trust when we get horrific news that completely demolishes us? And yet, we also cannot choose to stay in our homes, quaking in our boots.

Safe. For now.

Several of our synagogue members were called up to protect our land, and in the short walk between my house and my synagogue I kept seeing cars rushing by with soldiers and police officers, bringing members of our community to the border to protect us.

Safe. For now.

As the news poured in, I felt myself shaking and disconnecting, I went deep into prayer, surrounded by people, my sweetest friends who are so good and pure and thoughtful - surrounded but totally alone. The prayers of women are so powerful, so real, so effective they tell us - ok.

Deep breath.

Safe. For now.

Let me go hang out with my God, let me remind myself a little about the great God of Israel, the one who has created miracles for my people over and over throughout time.

For me, for my family, for my ancestors.

The great nation of Israel who has proved again and again, in personal and public matters that we can manifest miracles, that we can create something from nothing, that against all odds, we can survive anything.

Fact: We can not stop anyone from hating us. We cannot control someone else’s feelings.

This has been a theme from the beginning of time, when one brother traded his birthright for a pot of lentils - over and over we have faced enemies, and yet we are still here.

So tired of fighting, but here.

Safe. For now.

We cannot choose to be different from our destiny. We cannot ignore or forget that we are living on a land that is the culmination of an odyssey that puts the most imaginative fiction to shame.

We are inundated with illusions and delusions - let us return this land and we will have blessed peace. Let us not settle the land lest it anger the Arabs. Let us make partial and semi partial and total and semi total agreements that call for compromise and we shall have blessed peace.

I want to bless our brothers and leaders that this will end swiftly and will bring a lasting peace that will allow my children’s children to sleep through the night.

What is happening now is so horrifying and unbelievable. Hundreds dead, wounded, kidnapped, infiltration of small towns, non stop bombings and rockets - I beg for you to stand with us during this horrible time.

Bless us with your prayers and thoughts, send money when you see causes asking for your support - do not allow yourself to remain passive to this crisis.

I know we will prevail, and the most important thing is to not allow ourselves to lose hope!!

If you believe the people of Israel deserve to live in safety, reply to this post with an amen and share it so we can share strength with those that need it ❤️

OLAH

Why was I born?

I ask myself this question a lot, and I hear it constantly from my friends - why are we here? What is our purpose?

Most of us have a roof over our head and don’t know the pain of being constantly persecuted, most of us don’t know the pain of not having eaten in days because we couldn’t afford bread, and we aren’t busy just surviving - some of us are constantly *doing* in order to fill up but what happens when we stop?

There’s a hole inside.

And we try to fill it and distract ourselves with overing- overeating, watching, buying, working, alcohol, drugs, or fill in the blank.

But it doesn’t really work - we still have that hole.

And there’s only one way to fill it - by being in service to others.

By connection around a shared goal.

By working as a team towards something bigger than ourselves.

The only way we become the heroes of our story is by uniting others.

And that’s what the purpose of this conference is - to bring together Jewish women of all denominations around our shared history and our shared future.

I am so excited, humbled and honored to be able to take part by bringing my music and my story.

Tickets to this 3 day conference are on the Olah website, and my show is open for all members of the Budapest community. (Link in first comment)

So excited to see you there!

Premiering Tonight at 9:30 PM
Turn on Reminders:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiuvlDZZUj8

I'll also be going live and taking requests on Instagram, so tune in over there 🙂

Let’s talk about how to create an unforgettable atmosphere for your event!

Final Dates for Summer 2023 Events available, send me an email from the link in my bio!


📸

Excited to have some beautiful collaborations out in 2023 with wonderful artists!
Today, a calm original release by David Westin and I, Stilla
Out on all streaming platforms - link in comments 🙂
Enjoy!

‎Ariella Zeitlin אריאלה צייטלין‎ on Instagram: "Winter is when I have more time for fun projects and I love taking requests!! One of my most important goals for this year is to spend more time putting energy into my community online ‎Ariella Zeitlin אריאלה צייטלין‎ shared a post on Instagram: "Winter is when I have more time for fun projects and I love taking requests!! One of my most important goals for this year is to spend more time putting energy into my community online - and as a Jewish performer, I’m a...

One of the big velvet rope policies I have implemented is that I don’t play anymore as a backup player.

This was a huge leap of faith, because for a long time that was 90% of what I was doing.

But at a certain point, coming to even the biggest productions and being a backup player wasn’t matching what I felt like I could and wanted to give to the world.

In fact, I’d rather be at home, teaching, coaching, doing freelance session work, arrangements and video editing than playing backup in a band, 95% of the time (I have my exceptions, so when Mosh Ben Ari | מוש בן ארי calls don’t call me a hypocrite ;).

Straight facts.

So when Elisheva called me and asked if I was free, I said I need to know what this event is before I say anything about it.

She said “Save the date and we’ll discuss details later”

I said

No.

Let's talk first.

When we got on the phone and I said to her that my requirements are that I get two big numbers onstage on my own.

She said she had to run it by the production

I said great. If they agree, I’ll give it 110% and I will honor the privilege like it deserves, and if not, then I’m so sorry then this isn’t for me.

They didn’t like it, but Elisheva really fought for me, and I got the great honor of opening a huge show for 3000 women as a soloist last Sunday.

It was powerful.

It was emotional.

And in my opinion it was worth fighting for!

It fit into my velvet rope, which is impactful performances, and made me feel like I fought to give the event something really extra, and it was a smashing success.

On the straight truth side?

I’m totally panicking all the time about this decision.

I’m desperately grateful every time that it works out.

And there's a huge part of me that is totally fine with failing. If I'm not a performer, I have a million interests which I could pursue a career in and which my life has prepared me for.

But the thing is, if I'm going to do this?

I’d rather give 110% if I have the opportunity to.

And the countdown begins :) live in 4 hours:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B3iNvd-eIg&lc=UgymCkUTGeEOE6g1mm94AaABAg

Heart Shaped Box Wedding Instrumental Version - Ariella Zeitlin x Yosef Hutner Hey Everybody!!!!It's been a while since I've posted a new video over here, and if you haven't seen Emet, go check it out right now!!!! Link: https://www.you...

Growing Pains Part X (10/10)
Why.
This is a question my husband has been asking me since he met me.
Why should anyone listen to your music.
And the answer is, maybe you shouldn't. I'm not practicing 6 hours a day anymore.
If you're looking for perfection, I have colleagues and friends who in my mind have achieved as close as you get to that.
But perfection is boring.
When we lost our home and all of our belongings, we were devastated, but when you have nothing, you have space to grow.
Only one room was saved from the flames, a room where we were constantly hosting others and where we kept our instruments.
Miracles happen when you do good things.
When you focus on positive things, your mind imagines a positive future and it then creates a more positive future- even if you are doing exactly the same things.
Obviously when its the opposite, the future is absolutely bleak.
So i started noticing how I was blessed in a thousand ways, and simply hadn't focused on them.
How God sent angels along the way who believe in me, who have stuck with me, and how much my own mind gets in my way.
How our thoughts and our actions were the only things standing in our way, and when we start paying attention, there is very little that is absolutely impossible.
And when I realized that, I realized that that is so much of what I want to share with others.
How we are our own worst enemies, and how we have to manage our own thoughts and be our own biggest fans. All the time.
And I wrote all this out because I'm as flawed as they come. Nothings changing, i will continue to dj parties and play my violin, but I also want, whenever I have the opportunity, to spread a message that I needed someone to say to me for so long. That I wish someone had grabbed me by the shoulders and shaken me until I believed it myself.
I'm doing a concert in 2 days, and for me, this is a big, scary step forward. It will be a hybrid multimedia event, with interactive games and live whatsapp chat for at home audience members, as well as an in studio audience which currently only has (on looking right now) 3 seats still available.
I want to invite you to be there. Because the music will be great, but even more importantly because of what this event stands for, for me, for you and for everyone.
That you can decide at the age of 34 (or any age) that you want to take a big huge step, that you're allowed to keep dreaming, that the best years of your life weren’t ten years ago but are RIGHT NOW. As long as you can believe it, it can happen.
Lets celebrate together.
I hope you can make it.
📸 Levi

Ariella Zeitlin - Album Launch Concert to benefit Emunah Jerusalem Join us in a livestream concert featuring Ariella Zeitlin, a world renowned violinist, singer, and entertainer!

People keep asking me if "that's it" for my story

No, that's not it! I'm not dead yet ;)

But that's it for my very shortened life story that I squeezed into 10 chapters leading up to my concert tomorrow.

I thought it was important to share who I am and why I'm doing this concert and what it means to me and the journey I've been on, and Facebook is so amazing because it's a collection of people I've met at every stage of my life - it's been so cool seeing what bits people remember!

I'm not writing a book, but if you'd like to hear me in person, I'd love to see you tomorrow on the livestream.

Music is going to be a collection of music from the album, some show tunes, and arrangements of Jewish songs. It's going to be a LOT of fun and my band is amazing, and literally every person who has been a part of making this is a total angel and friend.

Posting the event details in the comments

Growing Pains Part IX
I finished a Masters Degree in Violin Performance from the Jerusalem Academy of Music.
This meant I did a recital in front of a panel of judges who decided if I was good enough to pass.
In the weeks leading up to this, I couldn't eat or sleep. This was literally a defining moment.
And standing in my long pink dress, months pregnant and surrounded by so many people who loved me abd couldn't care less about perfection, but just wanted to support me and listen to something beautiful, something my teacher told me once suddenly hit me.
He had told me he didn't enjoy listening to music anymore.
And suddenly I had this feeling that filled me like who CARES WHAT THEY THINK. I've worked so damn hard on all this music. Its so beautiful and music should be enjoyed and who decided it needs a grade and if i pass then GREAT and if not SO WHAT.
I simply left my anxiety in the other room, came out and played my music. I think it was probably the best I had ever played. I got completely carried away and it was wonderful.
Several professors came over to me after and told me they were surprised that I played so well and should continue. People who I had fumbled in front of for years, who had international performing careers and had never looked at me as a musician before. But I was done.
I had auditioned a few weeks earlier for the Jerusalem Symphony.
6 hours a day of practicing, juggling a toddler and teaching and perfecting every stupid passage and phrase.
And they wanted me, to come and commit and be a part of this beautiful thing and I realized that this huge honor wasn't what I wanted, that i wanted to play without pressure and bring joy to people with music. That the endless rehearsals and striving for perfection and being depressed and anxious about how I measured up would eventually kill me.
(As an aside, a few weeks ago, i was at an event and the soundman said he remembered me in those days. And that I never used to smiled)
Well, i wanted to smile.
I quit the violin for a while.
We moved to Herzliya where my husband got his Rabbinical certification and I worked in telemarketing, hosting enormous Shabbat meals for students while juggling 2 toddlers and occasionally working on projects for myself late at night - this was when I began playing with youtube and content and video. I started experimenting with different ideas musically and looping and recording and videoing, singing and playing and just experimenting and enjoying myself. I tentatively shared some of my creations in some private groups and people really connected with them. I started started experimenting with song writing and recording at home, doing remote recording ln fiverr and eventually quitting my telemarketing job.
I started playing at a few events here and there, mostly as backup, and I slowly built up a bit of a name, but kind of letting life happen to me without being proactive- yes projects abd experimenting with my voice but never putting the effort into reaching new people
And I would look at people who were really following their visions and their dreams and think they were absolutely blessed while I was cursed to be small and insignificant, where people were handed opportunities on a silver platter while I was working a constant uphill battle, with absolutely no good luck.
Everything always seemed to be WRONG with me - i was often told that I wasn't right for some event or performance because of any myriad of things including but not ending with my weight and not working on Shabbat.
And then one day our house and everything we owned went up in flames from an electrical fire.
Photo: Perry Art Focus
PS have you gotten your ticket yet to my concert on Sunday?

Ariella Zeitlin - Album Launch Concert to benefit Emunah Jerusalem Join us in a livestream concert featuring Ariella Zeitlin, a world renowned violinist, singer, and entertainer!