Famous chazzanim Aryeh Leib Hurwitz, Yaakov Motzen, Avremi Roth, and Yisrael Nachman Turgeman joined the Raanana Symphony Orchestra to perform a dramatic medley of Chabad Niggunim.
A special day:
Throughout the generations, the month of Tammuz has been known as a month of mourning, sorrow, and destruction, because during this month, on the 17th of Tammuz, the walls of Yerushalayim were breached beginning the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash.
However, in our generation, the month of Tammuz revealed the “Chag Hageulah” of the Frierdiker Rebbe. The Rebbe was imprisoned for spreading Torah and Judaism in Soviet Russia and was sentenced to death.
On Gimmel Tammuz, the Rebbe’s sentence was commuted to exile, and on Yud Beis Tammuz, 1927, he was informed by a government official that an order for his complete release had arrived. In addition to the personal freedom the Rebbe received, his release and departure from Russia marked the beginning of a new era of spreading Torah and Judaism to the entire world.
The Music:
In 1944, the Frierdiker Rebbe, established “Nichoach” (Nigunei Chasidei Chabad) with the aim of collecting hundreds of old Chabad melodies, correcting them, and transcribing them into musical notation. Leading this effort was Rabbi Shmuel Zalmanov, known for his exceptional musical talent and proficiency. As part of his role, he compiled the “SEFER HANIGUNIM”, released in three volumes over 31 years, containing 347 melodies.
Three months ago, Heichal Hatarbut in Tel aviv, experienced something different than its usual musical event. The “Chassidic Treasures” Concert. An evening featuring nigunim of various Chasidic Dynasties, Chabad, Bobov, Breslev and Mozitz. The first half of the concert concluded with a medley of Chabad greatest nigunim.
The Performers:
The concert featured some of the world’s top tier cantors: Aryeh Leib Hurwitz, Yaakov Motzen, Avremi Roth, and Yisrael Nachman Turgeman, performed with the Raanana Symphony Orchestra and the joint choirs “Yuval” and “Zimratyah“.
Arranged and conducted by the Maestro Ofir Sobol who has succeeded his late father Mordechai Sobol OBM as president of “Yuval” the Israeli Ensemble of Jewish Music, the producers of this concert and concert series.
Sobol is also the author of the newly released “Sodot Hachazzanut”, a must read book full of stories, imagery and video of cantorial treasures over the years.
The Nigunim:
The tunes of the Chabad Medley were compiled from various beloved and treasured Chabad tunes, which Chabad Rabbeim and Menagnim have brought to us over the years.
1. Avinu Malkeinu – Melody 6 in Sefer HaNigunim, one of the ten tunes attributed to the Alter Rebbe. Chasidim sing this tune during the Yomim Noroim in the Rebbe’s shul at the start of every prayer. It’s also sung worldwide in Chabad during the High Holidays and Fast days.
2. Ka’eil Ta’arog – Nigun #14 of Sefer HaNigunim, a song of devotion associated with the Rebbe the Tzemach Tzedek.
3. Tzama Lecha Nafshi – Nigun #21 of Sefer HaNigunim attributed to the Alter Rebbe, though not among the ten tunes. The Rebbe taught this beloved melody during the gathering of Shabbos Parshas Kedoshim in the year 1954.
4. Eli Atah – Nigun #3 of Sefer HaNigunim, one of the ten tunes of the Alter Rebbe. In Chabad, it’s sung at the end of the Pesach Seder, In Hallel, and at many Chasidish Farbrengens
5. Baruch Hu Elokeinu – The opening song of the album by the singer *Avraham Fried* “Yankel Yankel”, released in *2009*. Chasidim in Nevel sang a similar tune with these same words.
6. Nigun Rikud – Nigun #27 of Sefer HaNigunim. Also known as the “Nigun Simchas Torah” from Nikolayev, and also as “The Rebbe’s Nigun”. The song opens the first record in the series “Nichocach”.
The 3rd of Tammuz (אתחלתא דגאולה) falls on the same day of the week as Tisha B’Av, the 17th of Tammuz, and Pesach (the holiday of Geulah), to teach us that they are all days of redemption for Am Yisrael
May we merit, with Hashem’s help, to see the redemption of the captives this month together with the Geulah Shleima. Amen!
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