We would love to sing with you at our wedding.

Mi Ban Siach is a piyyut, meaning a liturgical poem sung at religious services. It was written in the Middle Ages and appears in a manuscript of Mahzor Vitri  (from the late 13th century), poet unknown.

Here is a recording of the song by the world-renowned Shmeisel Singers, from the first rehearsal for the wedding. The melody is by Abie Rotenberg of Dveykus and has been arranged by Chani, Alma’s world-renowned mum.

The source for this piyyut is from Midrash Rabbah to the Song of Songs 2:2, where a person who knows how to act with kindness stands out like a ‘rose among the thorns’.

The poet compares a person who recites the blessings for the bride and the groom to a rose among the thorns. It is customary to sing it at weddings.

We would like to invite you (should you choose to accept) to join in serenading us as we walk down the aisle.

Here are the words, followed by an approximate translation:

Mi ban siach – a person who understands/knows how to speak (i.e. the words of the traditional Seven Blessings for the wedding couple);

Shoshan chochim – [may be compared to] a rose among the thorns;

Ahavat kallah mesos dodim – [the one who understands] the love of the bride and the joy of the groom;

Hu yevarech et he-chatan ve’et hakallah – will bless the bridegroom and the bride.

We would love everyone for everyone to join in the singing on the day!