Following the annual tradition of composing new niggunim for the Rebbe’s kapitel in honor of Yud Alef Nissan, dozens of individuals worldwide have created their own compositions for the new kapitel of the Rebbe, kapitel 125.

Chassidim have long recited the Rebbe’s kapitel daily, strengthening their hiskashrus. In Dor Hashvi’i, this connection found unique expression through negina, with a new niggun from the Rebbe’s kapitel composed each year for the Rebbe’s birthday. These niggunim became a central part of the Yud Alef Nissan celebrations, reflecting the deep love between Chassidim and the Rebbe.

The idea began in 5722 when the ba’al menagen Reb Yitzchok Dubov of Manchester introduced a niggun on “Yomim Al Yemei Melech Tosif” from that year’s kapitel at the Shavuos farbrengen. Though it did not gain lasting traction, the Rebbe later requested “Ach Lelokim” (5724) and “Tzomo Lecha Nafshi” (5725), both from the kapitel of that year.

By 5730, Chassidim began composing their own niggunim annually for Yud Alef Nissan, adapting pesukim from the new kapitel to existing tunes. This continued for 12 years until 5742, when Reb Feitel Levin, for the first time, composed an original tune, “Harninu Leilokim,” for the Rebbe’s 80th birthday. From then on, the Yud Alef Nissan niggun tradition took on new significance, with multiple composers submitting their own compositions each year.

Since everyone wanted the zechus of having their niggun sung at the Rebbe’s farbrengen, a vaad of baalei menagnim was established by the 770 bochurim to organize the selection process. They reviewed submissions and selected the most fitting niggun, which the Chassidim then sang in the Rebbe’s presence. Though the Rebbe did not directly choose, he would show encouragement when a niggun was sung, finalizing the decision.

In rare cases, the Rebbe refrained from encouraging a particular niggun, signaling it would not be accepted. In 5749, the Rebbe unexpectedly highlighted a specific posuk from that year’s kapitel in a sicha, leading to a post-facto change in the chosen niggun.

Over the years, Chassidim frequently sang the new niggun when the Rebbe entered or left tefillos, receiving his encouragement. Once established, it became a centerpiece of farbrengens and a highlight of the year. The Rebbe greatly encouraged this tradition, and at a farbrengen on Shabbos Vayeishev 5752, the Rebbe remarked:

“From time to time, new chassidishe niggunim are composed by those who have the ability to create a good niggun. When the tzibbur accepts and sings it publicly, it becomes part of the chasidishe niggunim!”

The final Yud Alef Nissan niggun sung in front of the Rebbe (to date) in 770 was “Mizmor Shir Leyom HaShabbos,” composed by Reb Sholom Bruchstat and sung on Motzoei Shabbos Bereishis 5754. May we be zoche to sing this year’s Yud Alef Nissan niggun by the Rebbe, with the coming of Moshiach now!

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R’ Sholom Bruchshtat singing his nigun with bochurim in 770:

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Hatomim Meir Sasonkin:

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R’ Shlomo Cunin:

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R’ Baruch Shalom and R’ Avremel Blesofsky, children of the late baal menagen R’ Aharon Blesofsky a”h, and based on his tenuos:

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Mesivta Lubavitch Baltimore – composed by Hatomim Yossel Gopin, vocals by Shalom Osdoba, music by Shmully Gutnick:

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Hatomim Mendel Barber

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R’ Chaim Tovshteyn with music by Chabad Maestro R’ Israel Edelson:

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R’ Yanky Marton:

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Hatomim Levi Peles:

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Hatomim Yosef Yitzchok Farkash:

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Hatomim Refoel Dovid Scheiman: