A special video recording of ‘Oseh Shalom’ by Britain’s Chief Rabbi, recorded to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel, has just seen one million hits on YouTube.

The recording features the Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks with soloist chazzans Jonny Rugel, Shimon Craimer and Rabbi Lionel Rosenfeld along with the Shabbaton Choir as well as children from the Moriah Jewish Day School in London.

The recording was made in the same London studio as the famous 1984 Band Aid video, which raised money for famine relief in Ethiopia, and produced by leading producer Trevor Horn. The song was part of the ‘Home of Hope’ music CD released by the Chief Rabbi to mark Israel’s 60th anniversary two years ago.

Posted on YouTube in May 2008, the video has been seen as far away as Asia and Africa. One-third of hits have come from the US.

“The one million hits is testament to the love of Jews across the world for the State of Israel,” said Chief Rabbi Sacks. “The words of ‘Oseh Shalom’ reverberate with us all and lift our hearts to a miracle of a land rebuilt.”

Shabbaton choir director Stephen Levey, who composed the new version of the song, paid homage to the Chief Rabbi.

“I’m absolutely amazed at the response it has had. To reach one million hits is beyond all expectation. I cannot thank enough all those who made it possible and to the Chief Rabbi whose belief in the project inspired us all,” he said.