Sharing Her Song

Singer Shaindel Antelis and the Evolution of Jewish Music For Women

By Malky Lowinger

it didn’t seem possible for more women to break into the field at the time.”

Things began to change when Shaindel went to seminary in Israel. She participated in a singing competition and performed at weekly open mic nights for women which didn’t exist in America at the time. While in Israel, she also wrote hundreds of songs filled with inspiration which she got from her classes and the holiness that surrounded her.

Suddenly, it seemed like it was possible to be a gifted female singer and share your

Times have certainly changed. Today, women’s music is super popular. Concerts are sold out within days as are productions and plays, and the energy level at these events is off the charts. Women’s DVDs are placed front and center at seforim stores and are selling briskly. Ladies-only videos are accumulating tens of thousands of views on social media. The field has literally exploded. And that’s a good thing, says Shaindel.

“I think it was actually the pandemic that triggered the massive popularity that this issue. Most frum women performers seek halachic guidance from a rav or personal posek.

It’s not simple, says Shaindel who is passionate about bringing her message of chizuk and inspiration to her listeners while maintaining proper halachic guidelines. She knows that a presence on social platforms can bring tremendous exposure, but she is also careful about it. She discussed it with her rav, and together they worked out a solution that allows her to inspire others while maintaining her standards.

“It was hard,” she remembers. “Many people were very supportive, but some of my listeners were critical of me. When I started out, there were no Orthodox women’s music videos on YouTube and my account was private, which means it was hard to find my videos. I remember one woman telling me that if I’m on YouTube I must have a big yetzer hara. That really hurt.” message with the world. Shaindel optimistically began to hone her own talent.

While Shaindel is careful to follow halacha, she is also a bit of a free spirit. She describes herself as a colorful person.

“I released my first CD when I was about twenty years old,” she remembers.

But it was an uphill battle.

“At first, Jewish music distributors told me that women’s music doesn’t sell. They weren’t interested in carrying my CDs. A few years later, after getting lots of requests for my CDs, they agreed to distribute them, but they were being placed on the bottom shelf in the back of the store.” we are seeing today,” says Shaindel. “That’s when the women’s music industry really blew up. There were so many months of lockdown, and women were looking for kosher entertainment. Parents wanted their daughters to listen to appropriate, quality content, and female singers and musicians were happy to fill the void.”

There were, and still are, challenges. Frum female artists need to present their content within the boundaries of tznius and modesty, and many struggle with

“I love flowers and color,” she shares. “Hashem made gardens and a beautiful blue sky, and we should enjoy it. When I wear a colorful outfit, I feel happier.”

The burgeoning field of women’s music has spawned a new generation of talented young girls who are hoping to join the industry. Shaindel cautions them to be patient and to wait until they develop their personal style before jumping into the business.

“It’s just not healthy to put yourself out there when you’re not ready for it,” she says. “Wait until you can handle it. When you’re a bit older and more mature, you know who you are and then the fame won’t get to your head.”

But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t develop their talents. Shaindel encourages young girls to go for it. She offers practical advice.

“Record one song in a professional studio and send it to family and friends,” she suggests. “It’s an opportunity to share your voice while also inviting constructive feedback from the people you trust.”

Shaindel also recommends learning a musical instrument, specifically the guitar.

“If you want to compose songs, it’s super helpful if you can accompany yourself on the guitar. Learning the basic chords is easy, and it will help you tremendously when you write music.”

Music may seem like a glamorous industry, and sharing your message is very rewarding. But Shaindel cautions aspiring young talent that the road can be bumpy at times. “Yes, you can be frum and talented, and you can spread your message,” she says. “But you also need to develop a thick skin. There are plenty of disappointments and frustrations, and lots of doors that close in your face.”

She advises ambitious young women to stay focused despite the frustrations. “Don’t torture yourself every time you get criticized,” she recommends. “Don’t fret over every little mistake.”

Shaindel herself has performed in countless different venues. She’s been featured at kiruv concerts, Pesach programs, fundraising events, and all types of parties for women. She especially enjoys performing in schools where she can share her own vulnerabilities with students.

“When I share my own struggle with self-esteem and being bullied growing up, girls actually start to cry because they identify with it,” she says. “The truth is that everyone struggles with something, but a lot of people just don’t talk about it. When they listen to my music, they feel validated. I try to explain to them that you’re good enough.”

Shaindel estimates that she’s written about 400 to 500 songs.

“It’s all from Hashem,” she quickly adds. “Hashem puts the music into my head.”

She likes to keep a voice recorder nearby to capture the moment of inspiration before it floats away.

There’s a powerful positivity to Shaindel’s music, even in the songs that are con templative and thoughtful, and with her strong yet elegant voice, she expresses a wide range of emotions. Her recording of Uri Davidi’s “Jump” together with Mayan Davis is fun, energetic, and fast-paced, while her “All Around The World” is an expression of her deep love for Eretz Yis roel. “Invisible” is deeply introspective about bullying and loneliness; youngsters will surely recognize that feeling of being overlooked and unappreciated in social settings. And the recently recorded “It’s All From You,” written and released by Thank You Hashem, reflects her personal affirmation that Ain Od Milvado, it’s all from Hashem.

“My topics are happiness, connect ing to Hashem, getting through the hard times, and not comparing ourselves to others, just to name a few,” Shaindel ex plains.

In that vein, Shaindel likes to share her personal story, and perhaps that’s why she’s beloved by her many fans. She has turned down offers to work in the secular music industry so she could re main religious and keep the halachos of kol isha many years and advises single women to remain optimistic. “I got married at thir ty,” she says, “to an amazing guy, and I want people to know that just because you are in your late twenties or thirties or any other age, that doesn’t mean you have to give up on your dreams.” Still, it’s important to keep busy while you’re single, she asserts. “I was pursuing my music and doing kiruv during that time so it wasn’t as torturous for me as it can be for some people.”

Now Shaindel lives in the Five Towns and has a baby, baruch Hashem, which changes things considerably. “I used to be out late at night, and I would travel a lot,” she says. “Now I can’t do that as much. My priorities have changed. I love performing and I still do, but I have to balance it with my role as a wife and a mother.”

Ultimately, her primary mission is to share her music, to inspire people, and to give them chizuk.

“I want to touch people with my music,” she imparts. “That’s why I focus my songs on real life. So many people are in pain, now more than ever. I share my stories with them, I connect with them, and I give them the hope and confidence to face the future. That’s ultimately my goal with my music.”

Shaindel’s music is available on all online platforms and her videos are online as well.