Starting Over at 40: “I Found Myself Again”

Anyone familiar with Rika Razel’s stirring voice, which fills Jerusalem’s Great Synagogue with women every Rosh Chodesh for an emotional musical Hallel, may find it hard to imagine her living a completely different life.

For many years, until the age of 40, Rika’s world revolved around deals and sales, nonstop phone calls, rushing between meetings, and a demanding career. Despite her rich musical background, everyday life took over. Then came a breaking point: a powerful feeling that she could no longer continue on the same path and that her soul was calling her back to her love of singing.

In a candid conversation about finding the courage to choose again, Rika speaks about leaving an established career, the challenging yet deeply meaningful transition to singing exclusively for women, and her message to anyone who feels that their true voice is still waiting to be heard.

My New Beginning

“For years, until I was 40, I was in a completely different world. As a child, I started a band with my brothers, Yonatan, Aharon, and Yehuda. We sang and played together, and our childhood was very musical.

“When I got married at 20, I left the world of music and devoted myself to raising my family. Baruch Hashem, I have eight children, and that required time and energy, alongside work. At the time, I worked in real estate, a world that had nothing to do with music. I was running around all day.

“Then one day, I felt an enormous, uncontrollable need to return to music. It was stronger than I was. Suddenly, I found myself deleting clients’ phone numbers, unable to continue doing what I had been doing. During Elul, people talk a lot about desire, and I had such a deep desire to return to who I truly am, to return to music.”

When Life Changes

“I was no longer a young woman. I had older children at home, some of whom raised an eyebrow. Beyond that, we had once performed for mixed audiences, and now, as a religious woman, everything had changed. Of course, I chose to sing only for women. It made me very happy and moved me deeply, but it also required me to give up an entire world.

“Today, after 10 years of performing, I understand just how precisely Hashem guides us through halacha, and how deeply He understands the sensitivities and nuances of our souls in this area. Today, I feel far more fulfilled by my performances, which have taken me to places I never could have planned for.

“I started without knowing where I would end up or even how I would present myself. But I began with one small step: I decided to record my songs and set out on the journey.”

Why I Took the Leap

“Teshuvah is not only about becoming religious in the usual sense. It is about returning to yourself, to your source, to who you are, and to your mission in this world.

“Slowly, I began performing, and today I perform regularly for women. I also have the Hallel project. Every Rosh Chodesh, I lead ‘Shirat Hallel,’ an event at Jerusalem’s Great Synagogue that draws around a thousand women. I perform there with my daughters, and we sing accompanied by musical instruments. It is truly moving and connecting.

“Not long ago, I received a moving message from a mother who told me that she and her daughter had been estranged all summer. They sat together and listened to my song ‘Everything Is From Love.’ They simply laid their heads down and cried together. Moments like those make every difficulty along the way worthwhile.”

What I Gained Along the Way

“I found myself again. I understood that teshuvah and a new beginning do not have to happen in a single day. My journey taught me to take things slowly, in small steps, and to break every dream down into practical details: finding a producer, going into the studio, building a plan, and continuing to work toward it over time.

“Ten years have passed since I took that first step, and baruch Hashem, I am grateful for every moment.”

My Message for the New Year

“You do not have to be afraid of change, and not everything has to happen at once. Make a plan, write down your goals, and begin with one small step. Time does its work, and when you follow your inner truth, you may suddenly discover the true melody your soul has wanted to sing all these years.”