In honor of the wedding of his son, Or Chaim, taking place tomorrow (Tuesday)—Aaron Razel is releasing “Od Yishama.” It is a wedding nigun he composed an entire generation ago, which he now performs alongside his sons—Shir Zion, Be’eri, and Eliya—in honor of their brother, the groom.
“Who knows the path a nigun might take?” Aaron asks. “I remember myself on the eve of my own wedding, playing this melody—four-handed—with Chagai at my father-in-law’s home in Givat Shaul. Nachum was there too, drumming on a darbuka… And now, a whole generation has passed and for the wedding of my second son, Or Chaim, I decided to record this nigun with my boys.”
The lyrics—”Yet shall be heard in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the groom and the voice of the bride”—are verses that echo beneath every chuppah in Israel. They are joined by the blessing bestowed upon Boaz by the elders of Beis Lechem, found in the Megillas Rus: “May Hashem make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and like Leah, both of whom built the House of Israel.”
The arrangement and musical production were crafted by Avi Tal and Aaron Razel, with vocal contributions from the Yedidim Choir. The result is a joyful, family-centered nigun, a melody passed down from generation to generation, inviting everyone to join the dance circle.
“Get up and dance!” Aharon calls out, “May we know only joyous occasions throughout the entire House of Israel!”

עוֹד יִשָּׁמַע בְּעָרֵי יְהוּדָה וּבְחוּצוֹת יְרוּשָׁלַיִם
קוֹל שָׂשׂוֹן וְקוֹל שִׂמְחָה קוֹל חָתָן וְקוֹל כַּלָּה
יִתֵּן ה’ אֶת הָאִשָּׁה הַבָּאָה אֶל בֵּיתְךָ כְּרָחֵל וּכְלֵאָה
שֶׁבָּנוּ שְׁתֵּיהֶן אֶת בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁבָּנוּ אֶת בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל

Music: Aharon Razel
Vocals: Aharon, Shir Zion, Be’eri, and Elia Razel
Arrangement and Production: Avi Tal and Aharon Razel

Backing Vocals: Yedidim Choir