I recently attended an introduction class to Hasidut by Zevik Kitzes who did a doctorate in the history of Hasidut . He explained that Hasidut started as a movement opposed to the technicality-obsessed Judaism of Eastern Europe in the 17th century. The questions Jews were asking themselves is “Did I shake the Lulav correctly? How many hours until I can eat dairy?” But they were not asking the questions of “why am I doing this?” Something was missing. Enter the Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760). He spreads a message of singing, dancing, and finding simplicity in Judaism. For example, Hasidut introduced the niggun, defined by Wikipedia as "a form of Jewish religious song or tune sung by groups." But it is much more than that. It is a song that has no words, just a melody. The simple Jew, who worked hard all day as a milkman or blacksmith did not have the time or energy to find joy in the intricate sugiyot (cases) of the Talmud. But through the heartfelt melody of a niggun, the Jew could find meaning and depth.
I don’t connect to all the tenets of Hasidut, but one thing I find powerful, and I think everyone can take something from, is the niggun.
Recently, on the anniversary of the birthday of the Baal Shem Tov, a young rabbi named Rav Yosi Gamliel led a hitvaadut. A hitvaadut is a gathering of singing niggunim and sharing divrei torah (and also drinking a l'chaim- but not for yeshiva bachurs :).
He opened the gathering with: "A niggun can reach the deep ocean of human emotion like no words can."
We sang many niggunim, but one that struck a chord within me is called tzama.
This one has words, from psalms:צָמְאָ֬ה לְךָ֨ ׀ נַפְשִׁ֗י כָּמַ֣הּ לְךָ֣ בְשָׂרִ֑י
“my soul thirsts for You
my body yearns for You” (Pslams 63:2)
The first tune we sang was fast paced. The second one was slow. I felt the best way I could describe it is not through prose, rather through a poem.
Enjoy!
A niggun in Elul
Fast like a cheetah
Dancing to heaven and back…”
Up and down Jacob’s ladder
The drum beat sets the pace
And penetrates the heart
A niggun in Elul
Slow like honey
Dripping from the apple
Our voices waliling like Shevarim
Breaking the stone walls
We are yearning for
Love, Community
And a Return
A niggun in Elul
In Elul and the Aseret Yemey Teshuva we focus on Teshuva- repenting and returning to our better selves. We return to righteous actions, better relationships, and responsibility. There are many steps in the process of Teshuva. I think that singing a niggun- with friends, family, or even just to yourself- can help us with that process.
Wishing everyone a שנה טובה ומתוקה!
Singing and dancing to "Tzama"