Moshe Koursia: 'I had a conversation with my father about sexuality, and I showed him a clip'
Moshe Koursia opens his heart in an interview about the meeting between the world of screens and religion: 'There is a gap between the regular world and the world that is on the screens', the anxieties that overwhelmed him, and the real difficulty of finding a relationship when he is almost 34: 'Publicity creates a not-so-small obstacle on the way to finding a real connection'.
In the middle of the festive launch event for "Napoleon" cheese, between mingling and sweets, we met for a conversation with singer and songwriter Moshe Koursia. When he arrives with all the energy, the smile, and the kippah on his head, it is hard not to feel the open heart and the immediate connection. Although he testifies about himself as someone who has been "in a toning process since second grade", Koursia feels completely at home at a culinary event. When we ask him what his morning looks like and whether he stands and cooks, he laughs and admits that it is a quite rare event: "I make myself some protein drink, say a few blessings, take another protein drink for the road, I manage".
Also regarding his memories from the kitchen, Koursia maintains self-humor and mentions that cooking is not exactly his strong suit. When asked about the biggest embarrassment that happened to him among the pots, he shares a story from life: "The biggest embarrassment that happened to me in the kitchen is not what you expect, but I was in the middle of a broadcast. And I am not now the most brilliant person, and behind me was a pan, all smelly, we were in a live broadcast and the whole frame is a pan. That is my embarrassment in the kitchen".
But beyond the humor, the last year brought with it a significant leap in Koursia's exposure, mainly because of his participation in the program "Connected" (Mehubarim). The program, which requires its participants to put their heart on the screen, was not an easy step for him. "First of all, the Holy One, Blessed be He, decides everything, I did not decide anything. And it happened. There were like a few years that it was like coming up, and I was afraid of it, that is the truth. And the Holy One, Blessed be He, decided that this is the moment, so I did it", he explains. When he is asked if there were moments when he wanted to leave parts of his life to himself, he emphasizes the sense of mission: "I knew that I was coming to give. I need to give, not everything will be comfortable for me for everyone to watch. It does not always feel most comfortable to me, but I am at peace with it and I am happy that I did it, and I hope that it also gave something to people, so they will not feel alone with their feelings".
The most complex part of this exposure, from his point of view, was not dealing with the camera himself, but the influence on the circle close to him. "I think that what was most complex for me was that the moment I expose my life, then there are a lot of people who are close to me, it is my parents, my friends, who are also exposed, whether they want to or not. Like, even if they are not presented, I am talking about my life and people come up, and it is a bit tougher", he shares. At the same time, he clarifies that he is proud of his path and does not regret anything. Regarding the reactions from the audience and the less simple criticisms on the net, he takes everything in proportion: "I will not tell you that all the feedback is always the most joyful, there are people who are bored by it, or who are tired of hearing it, or that I am whining... and that is okay".
When diving into the depth of the background from which he came, a religious and quieter home, the question arises how the close environment and his parents accepted the step of full television exposure. "If my parents were not so into it and so supportive and hugging and cooperating, it would have been much more complex for me. Once my parents, it is the Rabbi and the Rabbanit of the public, if they are inside this thing and smiling and hugging and loving me, I am at peace with everything and it was not hard for me". He tells that his parents went along with him and even on particularly sensitive topics there was no resistance: "I had a conversation with my father about sexuality, and I showed him a clip, and you know, it was not a 'dos' (religious) conversation. And he told me 'Everything is good'. Like, it is part of life and it is holy of holies, and that they should broadcast it".
The meeting between the religious world and the world of glamour, screens, and social networks is a central axis in his life, but Koursia no longer feels the need to apologize or disguise who he is. "There is a gap between the regular world and the world that is on the screens. This I hope everyone understands. I do not feel different, other. I had a period in the beginning when I noticed that I am a bit ashamed maybe that I am religious... and it passed". When asked how he manages to keep the values inside a world of constant exposure, his answer is simple: "I do not feel that I am keeping anything. This, you know, this is my DNA. My parents are my lighthouse in life, for this I was born and this is real, so it remains".
It is impossible to talk to Moshe Koursia without raising the subject of relationships, a subject that occupies him and those around him naturally. Although his mother set him a "goal" in the past until age 25 and today mainly restrains herself and waits, Koursia feels that he is today in the right place and much more ready: "Much more than a year ago, that is for sure. With God's help, soon my 34". When asked what is most important for him to find in a future partner, he lists: "Love. Friendship... good qualities, finding favor". However, he admits that the publicity creates a not-so-small obstacle on the way to finding a real connection: "You are a persona that like people know from it all kinds of parts and it is hard, because you usually close yourself off more, you are like... you know, it is not a normal thing. We are human beings, it is not normal".
This passion for life, for connection, and for relationships relies on a foundation of trust that accompanies him in his daily life. For him, the connection with the Creator is not a morning ritual, but a relationship: "I grew up in a home that it is the Holy One, Blessed be He, father with the Holy One, Blessed be He. I have nowhere to run, He is part of me. When I am nervous, when I am good, when I am happy, when I am sad He is with me. This is an existing relationship". This faith is also what lifted him in more complex moments in his life: "I grew up on that I am supervised by private providence, and I am supervised and father loves me under any conditions, the faith saved me from keeping the anxiety attacks, which I used to have much more. And today I know that the Holy One, Blessed be He, is with me and watching over me and loves me and everything is fine, not dealing with the future, its future, I am now here".
To young people who are debating regarding the place of faith in their lives, he conveys a message: "Let faith not limit you. Do not think that it limits you, like, you can do everything. Everything, all your dreams, do not say 'Oh, because I am religious', no. If you really want something go work on it, do it, and the Holy One, Blessed be He, is with you".
And after all, music is the beating heart of Koursia. Ahead of his upcoming performance at "Reading 3" in Tel Aviv and the launch of his new album "Peter Pan", the excitement is at its peak. The album includes five songs, of which three are completely new songs, which he calls "my baby". When he is asked regarding a special guest at the show, he keeps quiet but raises expectations when he promises a stand of "the best singer in the country in my opinion". Finally, he does not restrain himself and spoils with a line from the album's title track: "How will you stop flying if you are Peter Pan? Again you are talking to her, again you are with Tinkerbell. Everyone is overtaking in line and I am apologizing, dying to arrive, even 24/7 I am only apologizing...". With a new album, an impressive show on the horizon, and a burning faith in his heart, it seems that Moshe Koursia is completely ready for the next stage. And in parallel to his personal life, Koursia is also preparing for the performance at Reading which will take place tomorrow (Wednesday) and said that he is "very, very" excited for it.
