Yonatan Razel

Yonatan Razel was born in New York and made Aliyah at the age of two, later returning to religious observance with his family. From a young age, he connected with classical music, studying piano under the acclaimed Pnina Salzman. Concurrently with his final years of high school, Razel enrolled at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, pursuing a B.A. in Conducting and Composition. He studied under esteemed mentors, including Prof. Mendi Rodan, André Hajdu, and Lev Boguslavsky, graduating with distinction two years after his military service. Razel served in the IDF as an outstanding musician, working as an arranger for a military band. Post-release and graduation, he worked as a conductor for the Israeli Chamber Orchestra and the Raanana Symphonette.

His musical career shifted in 2007 with the release of "Sakh HaKol", his debut album, musically produced by Eviatar Banai. Following its release, Razel held a special launch concert accompanied by a string quartet, where he hosted Banai as a guest. He subsequently embarked on a successful solo tour, accompanying himself on the piano.

A pivotal moment occurred in 2009 when Razel collaborated with Chasidic singer Yaakov Shwekey on the duet "V'Hi She'Amda" during a Caesarea performance. The song achieved massive popularity, becoming a major hit across the religious and ultra-Orthodox communities, and earned the title "Song of the Decade" in the religious radio stations’ "Decade Charts." Further cementing his reputation as a unique composer, Razel wrote "Katonti" in 2010 as a prayer of gratitude following the recovery of his injured daughter. The song achieved widespread success and was named the ACUM Song of the Year in 2013.

In 2012, his second album, 'Bein HaTz’lilim', was released, which also achieved Gold Status. Key tracks that resonated widely included "Katonti," 'Niggun Pogesh Tizmoret', 'HaGa’aguah', and the title track. His third album, 'Pote'ach Lev', followed in 2017, featuring hits like 'HaTov', 'Neveh Tala’ot', and 'Achshav Ani Af'. Razel's music is uniquely characterized by its broad acceptance across the entire spectrum of Israeli society—secular, religious, and Haredi alike.

Razel maintained strong artistic output into the 2020s, releasing several hugely successful singles. These included 'Achat Sha'alti' in 2020, performed with his family to mark the completion of the global Talmud cycle (Siyum HaShas), and 'Zohar HaRakia', a unique duet with mainstream rock artist Berry Sakharof, based on words from the Talmud. In 2021, he offered a renewed performance of John Lennon's "Free As a Bird" as part of a tribute project, and released 'Chelkat Elokim', composed by Nurit Hirsh and written by Yoram Taharlev.

Between 2022 and 2023, he released a number of radio hits, including 'MeHager', 'Lev El HaNeshama', 'Al Tachshov Al HaMachar', and 'Tashiri'. In 2023, he participated in the "Third Soundtrack" project, writing and performing the songs 'Pitaom Noshem' with Kobi Oz and 'Shir Mispar' with Guy Mazig and Harel Skaat. His fourth studio album, '50', was released in 2023, featuring the title track written for his 50th birthday that year, combining previously released singles with new material. Throughout 2023–2024, Razel served as the musical producer for a unique concert series supporting the Friends of Magen David Adom, which featured new symphonic arrangements of Chasidic, Israeli, and international classics. The performances, held at the Tel Aviv Culture Palace and Caesarea Amphitheater, hosted major Jewish vocalists, including Cantor Yitzchak Meir Helfgot, Ishay Ribo, Chaim Israel, and Shulem Lemmer.