Yonatan Razel is an American-Israeli singer, writer, composer, musical arranger and conductor.
Biography
Yonatan Razel was born in New York and moved to Israel at a young age with his family.
Razel is the brother of musicians Aaron Razel and Ricka Van Leeuwen,
[ and the cousin of the violinist Nitzan Chen Razel.
As a child he learned to play on piano and cello, and studied conducting with Mendi Rodan. With his siblings Aharon, Yehuda and Ricka, the Razels formed a band and performed on ]Rivka Michaeli
Rivka Michaeli ( he, רבקה מיכאלי; born 14 April 1938) is an Israeli actress, comedian, television hostess, and entertainer.
Early life
Michaeli was born in Jerusalem, Mandatory Palestine, British Mandate of Palestine (now Israel). Her f ...
's program. Razel's army service was as a musician and arranger for the IDF military band. After his release, he studied conducting and was the conductor for the Israel Chamber Orchestra and the Ra'anana Symphonette.
For a number of years Razel abandoned his music, moved to Susya
Susya ( ar, سوسية, he, סוּסְיָא; Susiyeh, Susiya, Susia) is a location in the southern Hebron Governorate in the West Bank. It houses an archaeological site with extensive remains from the Second Temple and Byzantine periods, incl ...
, where he worked as a shepherd and studied psychology. An offer to arrange music came from Yoni Rechter
Yoni Rechter ( he, יוני רכטר; born 18 November 1951) is an Israeli musician, composer, pianist, arranger and singer.
Biography
Yonatan (Yoni) Rechter was born in Tel Aviv, Israel. He is the son of Israeli architect Ya'akov Rechter and st ...
and drew him back into the musical world. This performance won warm reactions, and was later included in a "Best of.." collection by Yoni Rechter. This was also when Razel met and befriended Evyatar Banai.
He currently lives in Nachlaot
Nachlaot ( he, נחלאות, also ''Naḥlaʾoth'') is a cluster of 23 courtyard neighborhoods in central Jerusalem surrounding the Mahane Yehuda Market. It is known for its narrow, winding lanes, old-style housing, hidden courtyards and many smal ...
, Jerusalem, is married to Yael and has three daughters and one son.
He learns in the Jerusalem Kollel
The Jerusalem Kollel is a rabbinic education program with the stated goal of training kollel couples to assume positions of leadership in Jewish communities worldwide.
The intensive 3-year program covers the laws of Shabbat, Nidah, and Issur ...
under the direction of Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits
Yitzchak Shmuel Halevi Berkovits ( he, יצחק שמואל הלוי ברקוביץ) is an American-born Orthodox Jewish rabbi, rosh yeshiva, rosh kollel, and posek (arbiter of Jewish law) in Israel. In 16 years as Menahel Ruchani (spiritual direc ...
.[
]
Musical career
In 2007, after 12 years of work, Razel released his first album, ''All in All'', produced by Eviatar Banai
Eviatar Banai (also spelled Evyatar or (incorrectly) Evitar; he, אביתר בנאי; born February 8, 1973) is an Israeli musician, singer and songwriter.
Biography
Early life
Banai was born in 1973 in Beersheba. The extended Banai family is ...
. Three radio singles from the album were "All in all", "Zion", and "I am my prayer". The album was followed by a solo tour.
Razel won "Singer of the Year" and "Song of the Year" from Ynet in the fall of 2007.
In 2009, Razel gained fame in the Orthodox Jewish community after a song he wrote and arranged for Yaakov Shwekey
Yaakov Choueka, better known by his stage name Yaakov Shwekey, is an Orthodox Jewish recording artist and musical entertainer. He is of Egyptian and Syrian Sephardic heritage from his father's side; and Ashkenazi from his mother‘s side.
Fam ...
, "Vehi Sheamda
Vehi Sheamda (Hebrew: וְהִיא שֶׁעָמְדָה) is a short passage in the Haggadah of Passover Seder
The Passover Seder (; he, סדר פסח , 'Passover order/arrangement'; yi, סדר ) is a ritual feast at the beginning of the Jewis ...
", was successful and won an award as "Song of the Decade" from the religious Israeli radio station "Kol Chai
Kol Chai ( he, קול חי) is a Haredi and National Religious radio station in Israel established in 1996. The station, based in Bnei Brak, broadcasts six days a week: not on Shabbat.
Frequencies
Contributors
;Current
*David Lau
* Mordech ...
".
In 2022, he came to Strasbourg, France after befriending with the Amira community during their trip together to Uman. He played in the 'grande shule' and Strasbourg's youth accompanied him with music and joy till his car. During the concert, he sang, and the Bas Rhin's Chief Rabbi Harold Avraham Weill joined him on his saxophone. It was "the best evening he had in a long time". All the jews of Strasbourg loved him.
Discography
*''All in All'' (2007)
*''In Between the Sounds'' (2012)
*''Open To Change'' (2017)
*''Live at Heichal HaTarbut'' (2018)
See also
* Aaron Razel
* Music of Israel
The music of Israel is a combination of Jewish and non-Jewish music traditions that have come together over the course of a century to create a distinctive musical culture. For almost 150 years, musicians have sought original stylistic elements ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Razel, Yonatan
Israeli musicians
Jewish American songwriters
Jewish American musicians
Living people
Baalei teshuva
American Orthodox Jews
American emigrants to Israel
Israeli Orthodox Jews
Musicians from New York City
People from Jerusalem
Songwriters from New York (state)
1973 births
21st-century American Jews