16 Sep SHAAREI SHAMAYIM AND BEYOND:
As we find ourselves deep in the heart of Elul—the month of reflection, preparation, and return—Ashkenazic communities around the world are preparing to begin Selichos this coming Motzei Shabbos. A quiet urgency settles over the Jewish world. It is a time of introspection, deep soul-searching, and for many, a time accompanied by a very particular sound: the unmistakable voice of singer and kumzitz leader Naftali Kempeh.
Across yeshivas, batei midrash, and Jewish homes—from Yerushalayim to New York, and from Lakewood to London—Kempeh’s music has become a soundtrack for teshuva. His now-famous “Shaarei Shamayim” is sung passionately in countless communities, especially as the Yomim Noraim approach. This past Motzei Shabbos, the first night of Selichos, Naftali Kempeh was chazzan at the Great Synagogue in Yerushalayim.
This past Sunday, Ari Hirsch from Jewish Vues interviewed the very busy chazzan, baal tefillah, and Jewish musician Naftali Kempeh and discussed many different topics.
Thanks for taking the time to do this interview! I’m sure this is a very busy time for you. Please tell everyone a little bit about yourself.
I grew up in Tifrach. It’s a small village in the South near Ofakim and Be’er Sheva in Eretz Yisrael. There’s a famous Yeshiva there. I grew up very Litvish. It’s a Chazon-ish community, very strict, very frum. I loved it. I was a very good bachur. Later, I went to yeshiva in Bnei Brak and eventually learned in Kotzera in Yerushalayim. Today, I live in Yerushalayim in French Hill, and Baruch Hashem, I have a good wife and three beautiful children.
How did you first get into the Jewish music world?
In our family, everyone is a Baal Tefillah for the Yomim Noraim, and I’m no exception. My father has been a Baal Tefillah for fifty years in the shul in Tifrach. My grandfather was a huge Baal Tefillah as well. So we grew up not just with music, but with nusach and niggunim, especially around the Yomim Tovim. It was a topic of conversation at almost every meal.
It wasn’t Chassidishe music, though. My father is a huge talmid chacham and was very against modern music. So I grew up on more traditional styles, London, the London Boys Choir, Belz, very strict Chassidishe music.
I really entered the music world when I was in Yeshiva Gedolah. I felt I had something to give, a koach I needed to express. I got into the Carlebach scene in Yerushalayim and would attend many kumzitzes. Over time, I learned guitar and became the soloist at kumzitzes. It happened gradually, there wasn’t a moment when I decided “this is what I’m doing,” but I found myself shining there.
Would you say that you see yourself more as a Baal Tefillah, a Chazan, or just a regular Jewish musician?
In Chassidishe music, it doesn’t have to be one or the other. If you’re doing music as an oved Hashem, trying to bring people closer to Hashem and bring them joy, then you can really be all three at once.
Of course, it’s also my parnassah and my kavod, and baruch Hashem, I have some gaavah too. But at the end of the day, in Chassidishe music, you need to be both a Baal Tefillah and a musician. That’s my job. I’m a Chassidishe singer, well, not exactly Chassidishe, I’m a Yiddishe singer. That’s what I’m trying to become.
Are you Chassidishe?
I’m not. I grew up Litvish, and I’m still Litvish. I have connections to Chassidus, especially on my mother’s side, but I didn’t grow up with that. I grew up very yeshivish.
Who were your musical influences growing up? Who did you love to listen to?
That’s a tough question, because we didn’t have much music in the house. But if I had to name two major influences:
Spiritually and musically, Carlebach. He knew how to match the right melody to the right words, like a true baal tefillah.
Professionally, MBD. When it comes to composing, choosing songs, and elevating Chassidishe music to the next level, there’s no question.
Is there someone you model yourself after, either musically or spiritually?
I always say that in my head, I’m trying to be the bridge between Carlebach and MBD. Carlebach was all heart, not always professional, you can hear that in his music. MBD brought professionalism to Chassidishe music while keeping the neshama. I try to stand in the middle. And I’m Israeli, so that adds another flavor. It’s a blend.
You managed to turn the intensity of Elul and the Yomim Noraim into something both deeply moving and incredibly uplifting. How do you strike the balance between seriousness and inspiration?
That’s something I’m always thinking about when I make music to make music that uplifts people. I’m not saying I succeed every time, but I try. I grew up very Litvish, Elul was always intense. Not scary, but intense. Full of avodah. My father would cry during davening. That left an impression.
Later on, I encountered Carlebach and started learning Chassidus. That blend, the depth and fear of Elul with the warmth and simcha, that’s what I try to bring. In our generation, the lines between Litvish and Chassidish aren’t so clear anymore. This combination really speaks to people.
“Shaarei Shamayim” is my personal favorite song of yours. What would you say is your next most popular or impactful song?
It’s very interesting how it really depends on which community you’re from. In America, songs like “Shaarei Shamayim”, “Emes Malkeinu”, and in Lakewood, “Bavur Avoseinu” and “Lev Nishbar”, are particularly popular. “Btzeis Yisrael” from Hallel is also a big one.
In Eretz Yisrael, songs like “Kol Hanachalalim”, “Bavur Avoseinu”, and others hit differently. Some resonate more with the Litvish crowd, while the Daati Leumi, who are very focused on
Avodas Hashem, are especially drawn to “Unesaneh Tokef” and “Btzeis Yisrael” from Hallel. Yeshiva-world Chassidim have their own favorites as well.
It’s fascinating to see how each song connects with different communities.
As a Baal Tefillah going into the Yomim Noraim, how do you choose which niggunim to use? Do you lean towards nusach from mesorah or newer styles?
I try to mix it up, depending on where I’m davening. Some years, the shul wants fresh niggunim, so I bring new ones. But my base nusach is from Tifrach. When I was seven or eight, my father, though he was a Baal Tefilla, sent me to daven in the yeshiva with 1,400 people so I’d feel the power of tefillah. I davened there for over ten years. The chazzan was Rabbi Karlinsky, who was niftar two years ago was a huge Baal Tefillah. That’s the nusach I absorbed.
Were you the chazzan in yeshiva?
No, I was just a bachur. But I davened there and absorbed the atmosphere. That nusach became part of me.
What do you do for the more “popular” parts of davening?
I’ll do the regular songs that people expect. I try not to fight the crowd. I might add my own niggun or change the words slightly, but I stay within the spirit of the place. Recently, I’ve been davening in a place that isn’t into innovation, so I stick to the basics.
Where are you davening this year?
Actually, this year I’m not davening. Baruch Hashem, I’m very busy and I have three little kids. So I took a break. I haven’t davened for the Yomim Noraim for the last two years. IY”H, when the kids grow a bit, I’ll go back.
Do you miss being chazzan on the Yomim Noraim?
Yes.
Do you want to return to being a chazzan in a shul for the Yomim Noraim?
Yes, absolutely. It’s very hard for me not to be doing it. But I’ll be back, no question.
Which tune do you use for Ochela?
I go with the classic tune—I don’t want to fight with the crowd.
Which tune do you do for “Unesaneh Tokef”?
I have my version, the Tifrach nusach from Rabbi Karlinsky. But I had to change it. In Yerushalayim, everyone does the Chevron Yeshiva nusach. So I do that. As the Maharal says, it’s not good to make changes during the Yomim Noraim. People expect the tune they grew up with.
How was the Eitan Katz concert this past Motzei Shabbos in Yerushalayim?
Unbelievable. Just unbelievable. I was shocked, in a good way. I was behind the curtain waiting. Eitan Katz is someone I’ve admired for a long time. It’s not easy to be unique in the Chassidishe world, but Eitan really carved out a special place. His niggunim and his contribution to Jewish music are incredible. I actually invited him to be a guest at my Sukkos concert two years ago, so this was kind of a return favor. The energy was amazing.
How does it feel to be up on stage, start a tune, and have the crowd sing every word back to you?
Honestly, the real moment is when you come home and your wife tells you to take out the garbage. That’s the reset. But seriously, people don’t realize how much work goes into making music. It’s endless hours. I’m blessed that this is my job, but it’s not easy. Still, when you’re on stage and you see the crowd connecting, it’s magic. It makes all the work worth it.
We don’t get to see you too often in New York. Any plans for more concerts here soon?
Actually, I’m in New York pretty often. Most of my work in America is private, not public concerts. I don’t do mixed concerts, which makes logistics harder. But there’s a plan for Chanukah. It’s not finalized yet, but I’m working on it.
Are you planning on coming out with a new album soon?
Right after Sukkos, IY”H.
Could you give us a little preview?
I just released a new single called “Kehodata” from my upcoming album, but you’ll have to wait to hear the rest after Sukkos. The song “Kehodata” seeks to convey a heartfelt feeling and a deep connection to the sacred words we repeat during these days: the Yud- Gimmel Middos Shel Rachamim. These holy words were revealed by HaKadosh Baruch Hu to Moshe Rabbeinu as a special segulah for yeshuah and to merit favorable judgment (be’zoche bedin).
FUN QUESTIONS WITH CHAZZAN AND BAAL TEFILAH NAFTALI KEMPEH
What’s your favorite R’ Shlomo Carlebach song?
“Ahavas Olam”
What’s your favorite Eitan Katz song?
“Lemaancha”
What’s your favorite MBD song?
“Chukosehu”
What’s your favorite Avraham Fried song?
“Tatenyu” (from the “Avinu Malkeinu” album with Chabad Nigunim)
What’s your favorite Ishay Ribo song?
“Or HaChaim”
What’s your favorite Shloime Dachs song?
“Yerav”
What’s your favorite song to sing in the Sukkah?
Harchaman Hu Yanchileinu
What’s one subject that should be taught in yeshiva?
Tanya
Which Yom Tov made the biggest impression on you as a child?
Pesach
Who’s the best chazzan you ever heard on Yamim Noraim?
Reb Yeshaya Karlinsky
What’s something you wish you knew how to do better?
Cook. My wife would be very happy.
If you could have a chavrusa for 30 minutes with anyone in history, who would it be?
Rabbi Nachman of Breslov
What’s the hardest middah to change?
Kaas (anger)
If you can have three guests for your Friday night Shabbos meal, anyone from the beginning of time, who would you invite?
My mother (a”h), my grandfather, and my other grandfather. I miss them deeply.