Pick Your Tune

T

he centuries-old, holy niggunim that are part of the Chabad heritage seem to carry the very spirit of the chassidus: introspective and elevating, with a joy that comes from true spiritual connection. Some niggunim were written by venerated chassidim of centuries past, while others were either composed or adopted by the Chabad rebbes themselves_— but all have been transmitted from generation to generation with great care for their authenticity, and remain vibrant and sung until today. With such a rich and varied selection, what’s your personal favorite Chabad niggun?

Moshe Laufer (Chabad album producer and arranger)

“For a slow song, I’d pick ‘Arba Bavos’ — special, moving, and extremely deep. And for a happy niggun, the ‘Baal Shem Tov’s Niggun’ — I’d say that niggun is the soul of chassidish song.”

“Arba Bavos,” composed by the Alter Rebbe, has fours stanzas, corresponding to the four spiritual worlds of Atzilus, Beriah, Yetzirah, and Asiyah. Each stanza is intended to be a point of elevation to a higher spiritual realm, and due to its depth, the niggun is only sung by chassidim at weddings and other special times.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 717)