Israeli Musicians Release Spiritual Single Hours Before Flight to Morocco Bar Mitzvah

The new single "Rabbi Amram Ben Diwan" was released this week by Israeli artists Chaim Itzkowitz, Shai Gross, and Moti Attias just hours before their flight to Morocco for a historic bar mitzvah celebration. The melody was originally composed by Itzkowitz years ago during a spiritual journey to Morocco with his close friend Gati Hershkovitz. Inspired at the tomb of the righteous Rabbi Amram Ben Diwan, Itzkowitz created a heartfelt prayer song asking for divine mercy and salvation for the Jewish people. The tune remained a secret for years until Moti Attias heard it and insisted it deserved to be shared with the world.

Despite initial enthusiasm, the project was delayed until recently when hundreds of family and friends gathered in Morocco for Hershkovitz's son's bar mitzvah, marking the perfect moment to finalize the song. In a frantic race against time, Attias enlisted composer Shai Gross and Itzkowitz to record and produce the single at Moshe Yaakov's studio just hours before their departure. The final track features the original melody combined with rich vocals and a unique musical arrangement blending traditional and modern sounds by Moshe Yaakov, with mixing and mastering by Menachem Friedman.

The single's release coincides with the yahrzeit (anniversary) of Rabbi Amram Ben Diwan, adding special significance. The song's journey, from its spiritual inception in Morocco, through years of secrecy, to its studio production and return to Morocco, completes a meaningful circle. This release joins a wave of new singles in the Hasidic music scene but stands out for its unique backstory and timing.

Credits include composition and lyrics by Chaim Itzkowitz, performance by Itzkowitz, Shai Gross, and Moti Attias, musical arrangement by Moshe Yaakov, and mixing/mastering by Menachem Friedman.