Niggun

Prayer

Niggun is a melody, generally unaccompanied by words. In the Bible, it is often associated with uplifting or calming properties. Its spiritual potential was reclaimed in Chasidut, such that one of the common duties of a Chasidic rebbe is to sing, and sometimes even compose, melodies.

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Music as a Gateway to Prophecy

TANAKH

Music can serve as a profound spiritual gateway, even leading to divine inspiration and prophecy. In the biblical narrative of Kings II, the prophet Elisha requests a musician to play for him, which allows him to enter a state of prophecy.

Now then, get me a musician.”
As the musician played, GOD’s hand came upon him,

II Kings 3:15

The Healing Power of Music

TANAKH

Music has the power to heal and soothe the soul, as demonstrated by young David's lyre playing for King Saul. The biblical narrative in Samuel I recounts how David's skillful lyre playing alleviated King Saul's distress and brought him relief from an evil spirit.

Let our lord give the order [and] the courtiers in attendance on you will look for someone who is skilled at playing the lyre; whenever the evil spirit of God comes over you, he will play it and you will feel better.” So Saul said to his courtiers, “Find me someone who can play well and bring him to me.” One of the attendants spoke up, “I have observed a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skilled in music; he is a stalwart fellow and a warrior, sensible in speech, and handsome in appearance—and GOD is with him.” …

I Samuel 16:16-23

The Transformative Power of a Niggun

COMMENTARY

A niggun can evoke a deep sense of connection to Jewish heritage and traditions. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, in his work 'Judaism's Life Changing Ideas,' explores the profound impact of Jewish melodies on personal and communal identity.

One of the local Hasidim invited me for lunch on the first day, and there I found another guest, with a fascinating story to tell. It turned out that he was a successful composer of pop songs – I knew some of his compositions – and had abandoned Judaism several decades earlier. What brought him here, he said, was that he had been driving alone one day in a remote part of the mid-West when it occurred to him that Rosh HaShana must be imminent. At that moment, a tune came into his head, a hasidic niggun, which he had been taught as a child…

Judaism's Life Changing Ideas; A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible, Aharei Mot; Cleansing and Homecoming 4

The Soul's Melody

CHASIDUT

A niggun can express a wide range of emotions, from joy to sorrow, and these varying moods can all serve to reveal the soul. Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Shapira, the Piaseczner Rebbe, explores the transformative power of music and dance.

It does not have to come through the niggun of a broken heart, but could also come from a niggun of joy. All moods can be used to reveal the soul, for this is the way of the Chassid. Sometimes during a joyous niggun and dance he starts crying, and sometimes when he is crying he feels joy.

Hakhsharat HaAvrekhim 9:37

Melodies of Spiritual Arousal

CHASIDUT

Niggunim (melodies) are not just songs but powerful tools for spiritual arousal and connection. Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Shapira, in his 20th-century work, explores the use of niggunim as spiritual tools.

Now, we do find recorded in the holy books many etzot and practices. We have already cited from the Besht of the need for strategies in avodah, and from the Maor vaShemesh that we need new strategies from time to time. At that time, when they would direct someone to be aroused in love or fear, they did so with their holy spirit, for the tzaddikim were able to draw forth a holy fire from Above to each of the hasidim. They also gave etzot, like the ‘words of the living God’ which we cited from the Noam Elimelekh: how one should gaze at the Heavens…

Mevo HaShearim 8:26

The Spiritual Melodies of Rebbe Nachman

CHASIDUT

Rebbe Nachman of Breslov's singing of melodies during Shabbat deeply impacted those who witness them. Sichot HaRan, a collection of teachings and stories about Rebbe Nachman, tells of the uniqueness and fervor of his singing.

The Rebbe’s great holiness and fiery bond with God on Shabbat were really something to see. There was the way he said Kiddush on Friday night and his customs at the table. There was the awesome melody with which he sang Atkinu Seudata and Azamer BeShevachin. There was the way he sang the other Shabbat table songs, such as Kol MeKadesh, Menuchah VeSimchah, Eshet Chayil and MeEyn Olam HaBa'ah. If you have not seen this, you have never seen anything good (cf. Sukkah 51a).

Sichot HaRan 169:3

Grajek (Musician), Artur Markowicz 1927

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