Chaim Dovid Saracik, Shlomo Katz & Aaron Razel: ‘Shuva Yisrael’

25 Sep, 2025 by yossi

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Veteran musician, Chaim David Saracik, is finally releasing the title song from the EP titled “Shuva Yisrael“. Almost the last single in the special series, this time in special collaboration with singer Aaron Razel and Rabbi Shlomo Katz.
It all started with a phone call Saracik received about a decade ago from Rabbi Shlomo Katz, a rabbi in the Efrat community, who initiated a special project – to bring lesser-known songs by Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach to the public’s attention. “Rabbi Shlomo Katz, who has a huge bank of teachings and songs by Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, invited me and Aaron Razel to sing songs by Rabbi Shlomo that are almost unknown at all in shuls and throughout Israel,” says Saracik.
Their collaboration gave rise to the special album “Kashoshana“, which included ten selected songs from Carlebach‘s lesser-known repertoire. “It was a very special and very moving album,” recalls Saracik, “Aaron created excellent arrangements and Shlomo found the best songs.”
Since then, the dream of another collaboration has not left Saracik, and when he came to work on “Shuva Yisrael” he realized that this was the perfect opportunity. “I thought, wow! This is an opportunity! They agreed wholeheartedly.” Saracik is excited. “We arrived at the studio one afternoon for a few good hours, and here are the results. It was a lot of fun working with them, they are so righteous and nice…”
Yaron Saffer‘s exquisite musical arrangement emphasizes the beauty of the melody and the deep emotion of the joint performance.
Rabbi Shlomo Katz, who in addition to being the rabbi of an active and successful community in Efrat is also a dedicated researcher and collector of the legacy of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, continues his efforts to pass on to all of Israel the hidden pearls from his rabbi’s treasure trove of songs. Aaron Razel, the veteran singer and composer, continues to sing with his vast experience and unique voice, and together with Saracik and Rabbi Katz, creates an exciting and empowering vocal trio.
Saracik, born in South Africa, immigrated to Israel in 1952 after a seminal meeting with Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach in Europe. He became acquainted with the world of Jewish music at the Diaspora Yeshiva on Har Tzion, and has since worked to spread original Jewish music.
In the past year, Saracik released a series of singles that include “Baruch Kevod Hashem“, “Nigun HaRebbi“, “Avadim Hayino“, “Adon Olam“, and later also “Rabbi Natan“, as part of his new EP. Saracik dedicates his works to the entire Jewish people, and especially to IDF soldiers and their families during the current challenging period.