LISTEN: Rabbi Haim Druckman loved this song – This gorgeous rendition honors his memory

There's something deeply moving about how music carries memories. Two years after we lost Rabbi Chaim Druckman, musicians Tohar Halamish and Yehuda Zahavi have breathed new life into a melody that brought him so much joy - the uplifting tune of "Neranena B'Yeshuatecha" (We Will Rejoice in Your Salvation).

Anyone who knew Rabbi Druckman would remember his radiant smile when this particular melody from Psalm 20 would play. "He had this way about him," Halamish and Zahavi recall, "always ready with a warm 'Hineni' (Here I am) and that signature bright smile that seemed to light up any room."

What makes this tribute even more remarkable is a touching discovery the artists made while recording. The original composer was Rabbi Pinchas Kehati, who, in one of those moments that feels more than coincidental, passed away on the 1st of Tevet - just one day before Rabbi Druckman's own passing.

The timing of this release feels particularly poignant. As our nation grapples with difficult times, this psalm's message of hope and ultimate redemption resonates more deeply than ever. The melody captures both our current struggles and our unwavering faith in better days ahead.

The artists have dedicated this rendition to three souls: Rabbi Druckman, whose passing on the eighth night of Chanukah left such a void in our community; Rabbi Kehati, whose Torah commentary has guided countless students; and Israel Amichai Weitzen, a young soldier who fell defending our people at Kerem Shalom this past Simchat Torah.

When you listen to this melody, you can almost hear Rabbi Druckman's voice - his boundless love for both Torah and the Jewish people, his unwavering optimism, and his deep faith that even in our darkest hours, salvation is just around the corner. The artists close with a heartfelt prayer for our soldiers' safety and the swift return of those held hostage - a prayer that surely would have been on Rabbi Druckman's lips as well.

CREDITS:

Lyrics: From Tehilim, Psalm 20

Melody: Rabbi Pinchas Kehati z"l (with additions by Tohar Halamish and Yehuda Zahavi)

Vocals: Tohar Halamish and Yehuda Zahavi, residents of the City of David

Guitars, Keyboards, Clarinet, Drums: Reuven Hayon

Orchestra: Tohar Halamish

Mix and Mastering: Reuven Hayon

Recorded at Reuven Hayon Studios

Song Cover Design: Yael Halamish

Arutz Sheva contributed to this article.