Israeli Singer Akiva Releases Heartfelt New Single Born from “Challenging Reality” | LISTEN
On his birthday, the acclaimed artist shares a song of gratitude and light, co-written with his children amid personal and national struggles.
Israeli singer-songwriter Akiva released a moving new single on Wednesday titled “Abba Toda” (“Thank You, Dad”), offering a message of hope and gratitude born from a time of personal and collective challenge.
The song, infused with joy, faith, and emotional resilience, was written during a quiet family evening and reflects Akiva’s decision to find light within darkness. After a long period marked by personal difficulties and military reserve duty, the singer says the creative process offered him a healing path back to music.
“Today is my birthday,” Akiva shared in a heartfelt message. “My heart is full of thanks. I wanted to give this song as a gift to the world, to all of you. After a long stretch of reserve duty, carrying emotional burdens and intense pressures, I built myself a small cabin in Pardes Hanna and returned to writing, playing, and breathing again. One night after the Shavuot holiday, while sitting with my kids, we started tapping and humming and ‘Abba Toda’ just emerged. It instantly lifted the energy in our home. I hope it brings light to yours as well.”
The lyrics were co-written with his children, and the melody was composed together with his son. Since its creation, the song has become a part of the Turjeman family’s Shabbat tradition and now it’s being shared with the public.
Unlike his previous tracks that were born from pain and introspection, Akiva says this new release represents a conscious shift. It is not a denial of hardship, but rather a mindful choice to focus on gratitude and connection.
“It's not escapism,” he explained. “It’s a worldview, a decision about what story to tell ourselves and the world.”