Nigunim from Various Nations: Part 2

00:01 Behemshech, in continuation to the earlier installment where we discussed various nigunim which were sung at the Rebbe's farbrengen, and these were nigunim which were brought by Hasidim from different countries, uh, throughout the world. We continue now with installment number two, discussing additional nigunim from additional countries which the Rebbe requested that these nigunim should be sung at his farbrengen on several occasions. At the farbrengen of Yud Gimmel Tammuz, the 13th of Tammuz, which marks the liberation date of the previous Rebbe from prison in 1927, so it was at the farbrengen in the year 1955, the Rebbe stated that there are certain mestes, certain institutions which carry the name of the previous Rebbe. They are the mestes Oholei Yosef Yitzchak, primarily chadorim yeshivas for young children, and they are found primarily in Africa, in Morocco, in North Africa. And since these mestes were founded for the intention, for the purpose of our brethren, the Sefardim who live in this country, Morocco, so therefore, they should sing now the nigun, Sefardic nigun, Morocco nigun, which is famous, the Skarbover, which means it's a standard nigun, and they then sang the nigun Ein Adir Kashem. Over the years, we find that also Rosh Hashanah taf shin taf zayin, the following Rosh Hashanah, which is end of 1955, also Shabbos Bechukosai taf shin chaf hei 1965, and additional occasions that the Rebbe asked that they should sing this nigun. In Khevrit Lubavitch, which was a certain issue that would come out every few months, reporting about what took place in

02:30 Lubavitch by the Rebbe, what took place in the mestes and institus- different institutions, we find also a description in regard to this farbrengen that between the sichos, they sang Chassidishe nigunim, and also the Sefardic nigun, Ein Adir Kabere Ve'ein Brucheh Kateirah. And this is basically, uh, the inyan of singing this nigun was a siman of spreading Chassidus Chabad also in the Sefardi countries. The nigun Ein Adir is traditionally sung on Simchas Torah, and it is something that we find in many Yiddish communities, and it is also published in tens of siddurim. It is in a poem which originates from a very early time, already in Venice in the year four 94, and it is also, uh, customarily sung in Yemen, Baghdad, and Persia and Bukhara. And this explains why the Rebbe referred to it as Sk- Skarbover. Skrabover. Skarbover means traditional. It is a standard nigun which is sung quite often, and it generally refers to old traditional nigunim. And now we go on to a nigun from Bukhara. Chag Hashuas, the Yom Tov of Shuas taf shin lamed beis 1972, HaChacham HaRav Refoel Tzemach Hudakov came to the Rebbe. This yid, Rav Refoel, was born in the year 1899, and he was niftar in 1987. A yid of mesirat nefesh, self-sacrifice in the time of the communist rule in Uzbekistan. And at the end of Shuas, when the Rebbe was distributing kislei bracha, the Rebbe told Chacham Refoel he should sing the nigun, "Shimbu banim chulu, atem shalom chulu." And when Chacham Refoel, as

05:06 he was referred to, reached the words "keser terah," which is part of this nigun, he pointed at the Rebbe. Shabbos Parshas Nasei, the Shabbos after Shuas that same year, taf shin lamed beis, the Rebbe distributed mashki to the guests from England and also from those who came out from Georgia and Bukhara, and the Rebbe asked one of them to sing the nigun Atem Shalom. Meitzar Rosh Hashanah taf shin lamed gimel, that's late 1972, going into the new year, lamed gimel, which later becomes 1973. During kislei bracha, the Rebbe instructed Rabbenu Shemtov that he should sing his nigun, which is Mi Armyah Admur. It's a nigun in Russian, and also the yidden from Georgia should sing their nigun, and the chachamim, chachamim should sing their nigun. And then the Rebbe asked if they know the Nigun Atem Shalom. And the Rebbe with a smile asked, where is Moshiach? Moshiach, the Rebbe specified, I'm referring to Moshiach ben Refo. He is the son of Chacham Refo. Last name, as mentioned, is Chodaitov. During the Fabringen, Shabbos Parshat Vo'era Tov Shin Lamed Heh, it's early 1975, the Rebbe spoke about a certain Ha'orah, a certain inyan that his father wrote on the Zeyar. The Rebbe would traditionally elaborate on the commentaries of his father on the Zeyar. And in this Ha'orah, it is mentioned, peace with you and peace with your family and peace, everything that's yours. And then the Rebbe said, since we mentioned Atos Shalom, so there is a Yid from Russia who has a nigun

07:14 on these words. And the Rebbe then gave Porim Mask of Chacham Refo and he asked him to sing the nigun Atem Shalom. Chanukah Tov Shin Lamed Heh, this is late 1974. The Rebbe honored Rab Refo to light the Menorah, the Menorah's Chanukah, at the conclusion of Mincha in the shul upstairs. Horav Levi Gorelik recalls that after Ma'idiv, the Rebbe asked Rab Refo if he doesn't mind to light the candles here in shul, but not that it is lit in the shul for the public only, but it's also considered like he, instead of lighting at home, he should light it here. Understandably, he consented and they brought a Chanukiah, a Chanukah Menorah, and they placed candles in there and Rab Refo went up on the table and he said the broches with a special liveliness and a special chayas and he lit the candles. After he concluded with the lighting, the Rebbe asked him if he should sing Hanerot Salalu in the Nusach of Bukharian, in the Bukharian version. And he then said the whole Hanerot Salalu in Bukharian. The Rebbe looked at him the whole time with a smile of simcha and nachas. For us, Rabbi Gorelik recalls, this was a scene that it's impossible to forget. It is like watching a film of how they said Hanerot Salalu in those countries who were in restricted situations, Mesirit Nefesh. There's no words to describe it. When Rab Refo concluded Hanerot Salalu, the Rebbe suddenly, while he still, Rab Refo is standing on the table, asked

09:28 him that he should sing the Nigun Atem Shalom. He moved and then he sang that and everybody sang with him and then the Rebbe motioned with his hand, very much encouraging the Nigun. And this was a very unusual scene, a one-time scenario and praises the eye which saw all this. Purim Tov Shin Lamed Heh during the Fabringen in 1975, before the last Sichah, the Rebbe asked to sing Atos Shalom. The Rebbe did not say Atem Shalom, but Atos Shalom. And we hear how the Rebbe is participating and singing along the Nigun with the Elam. In particular, many times, the Cholash Elochem Shalom, that the Rebbe is motioning with the hand, that the Rebbe is actually singing many times that part of the Nigun. And then during the Fabringen of Purim Tov Shin Lamed Heh 1975, before the last Sichah, the Rebbe instructed to sing the Nigun as the Rebbe referred to it in singular form, Atos Shalom. As it is mentioned earlier from the Zeyar. And it is also said in the Be'it Lomachomet Zoi Shabbos. And one is able to hear how the Rebbe is participating in the background, singing along. And in particular, many times in the section which contained the words V'Cholash Elochem Shalom. And then the whole audience, the whole Elam of Chassidim is singing the Pizmeyn Atem Shalom, Cholash Elochem Shalom with a special zrizus, with a special levidikit, as it seems like this was all encouraged by the Rebbe motioning with the Yodei Hagdeisha.