"Bo le-shalom ḥatan - Vehalleluya" (Groom, come in peace - Halellujah)

With Songs They Respond: The Diwan of the Jews from Central Yemen
With Songs They Respond: The Diwan of the Jews from Central Yemen
"Bo le-shalom ḥatan" (Groom, come in peace)

Written by David ben Yosef

Performed by Aharon Amram, Menahem Arussi, and two of his young pupils

With Songs They Respond: The Diwan of the Jews from Central Yemen
With Songs They Respond: The Diwan of the Jews from Central Yemen
"Vehalleluya" (Halellujah)

Written by David ben Yosef

Performed by Aharon Amram, Menahem Arussi, and two of his young pupils


Zaffa for a wedding in the form of a girdle poem by David ben Yosef, whose name is revealed at the end of the poem. It has an introduction and eight stanzas, the last of which is atypical: it has an extra verse, and a different rhyme scheme, since it rhymes with the poet's name. Here only the Hebrew stanzas are sung it continues in Arabic, and this part is not sung here (complete version - Seri-Tobi: 76). This is a song of blessing and encouragement to the groom.

Aharon Amram, Menahem Arussi, and two of his young pupils sing in a responsorial manner. The soloist, Aharon Amram, opens with the introduction, and from the first stanza onwards the children and their tutor, Arussi, respond. In the third and fifth stanzas the melodies are changed. At the end of the song there is an immediate transition to the hallel, which is concluded with the blessing Vekulkhem berukhim.

Join Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get updates