It is very hard to tell where niggun ends and stam song, Jewish song, start. This check will not pass Turing test ( in simple term, even ChatGPT would not be able to tell ). There is no choice, we have to go by vaguely defined thresh-hold in order not to have draconic limitations. In reality, it is a bit simpler than it sounds. Have three judges hold hands and dance with it and imagine it is farbrengen dance. 2 or 3 judges feel it – pass validation. Hard to dance like that for 100 songs? Have 3 bochrim dance and tell. You may even see it yourself on their faces.

When I say draconic limitations, I do not only mean matching scale, that is easy to figure out with the help of the professional musician. The huge limitation is, for the 30 years that you mentioned, to match some sort of cookie cut. Take a risk and give a chance to a creative song. Do that dance test to feel safe about the choice. How else are we going to have next Shuva Shuva! Return the lasting niggunim, AD MOSAI.

Can you please share the source?

He once arrived in 770 when the Rebbe gave him a stern look. The Rebbe never explicitly said “please leave”, but he immediately left. I heard this from a reliable source.

What more do you expect the Rebbe to do? Throw him out the door?! The Rebbe clearly stated his position.

This whole notion that the Rebbe accepted everyone and everything since he didn’t aggressively attack them is absurd. The Rebbe loves every Yid and welcomes everyone, but we need to be clear what is acceptable and what isn’t.

The Rebbe famously differentiated between speaking negatively when it’s not relevant and when it is. When it’s relevant, it’s critical to say it clearly and not mince words. That is the Rebbe’s horaa!

Carlbach was never outright pushed away by the Rebbe. When he wanted to start his style of kiruv the Rebbe told him “צו מיר א שייכות ניט”, not get out of here. Furthermore when later asked by Lubavitcher bochurim why he left/thrown out he responded:”I still am a Lubavitcher”.

YouTube as a whole has greater reach, of course, but someone’s channel much less so.

Yes, excitement should be reserved for kedusha. You’re taking it for granted that the composition of these niggunim is just that, but that’s putting the cart before the horse. Get them excited about things that are unequivocally kedusha, in Torah, avodah or gemilus chassadim, in following in the Rebbe’s ways, etc.!

If I recall correctly Carlbach and his free expression wasn’t praised

The bochrim who get excited about creating niggunim bH typically don’t have youtube channels, but if they did, YouTube is a lot more public than the vaad haniggunim…
But back to the main idea:
Do we really have to “rein in” the niggunim?!? It feels like that agenda would belong to the yetzer horah, who gets worried when we get excited about kedusha.
As for me, when I see the bochrim excited about the niggun, my heart dances with joy!

So many of our kids (and adults) could not care less about the yud aleph Nissan niggun… Let’s rein in the kaltkeit. Let’s rein in the lack of appreciation for today’s chassidishe bochrim. And lets talk about how to get more people involved, and excited about creating more yud aleph Nissan niggunim.

As we have seen through the eyes of our holy Rebbe our Nosi our Father… how every single good deed one can do. Each on their own level each to their own abilities…. If it came from a good source, from within the Rebbe embraced us all, accepted us all…whereas at the same time encouraged us all to do more & more & more. Uplifting us to our greatest & highest potentials and then some more. The Rebbe NEVER EVER in 92 years ever pushed anyone away after a good meaningful positive act that one has done. No matter how insignificant the act was. Or how low of a level a person was.

Of course we have standards we have our paths that has been set forth by our Holy Rabbaim. But never ever push anyone down after a good meaningful act that anyone has done. It can R”L destroy a Helige Taire Neshomo forever”. C”V to even consider it. Let’s emulate how the Rebbe would have responded to this.

Lastly & respectfully, as a general comment…. I am fully aware of the Baaley Minagnim who chose a yearly Nigun for י״א ניסן
But they weren’t the final say of which Nigun was actually accepted. It was the Rebbe himself. Either by an enthusiastic respond while singing or a Sicha with the words to the Nigun.

Hatzlacha Raba Chag HaPesach Kosher Vesameiach. Your intentions are well received, let’s mend it the way the Rebbe would have. That being within itself a gift for the Rebbe lekovod 123.

So let them express their creativity (not at the expense of seder, mivtzoim, etc.). But does it need to be publicized? There’s a peculiar idea nowadays that something hasn’t happened unless you splash it all over; that’s an area of chinuch that needs to be worked on. At most, as the author wrote, “Upload it to your YouTube channel or something, but not to the Vaad Hanigunim.”

It’s not worth your time to argue with R’ Claude Opus, the latest model of AI.

The commenter writes that “every Chossid to express their love and devotion to the Rebbe in their own unique way.” This smacks of reform Chassidus.

The path for Hiskashrus was laid out by the Rebbeim as learning the Rebbe’s Torah and following his horaos. Regarding gifts for Yud Alef Nissan, the Rebbe specified gifts of Torah and tzedaka. Making nigunim was never mentioned as a way to hiskashrus.

While it is certainly an expression of love of chassidim for their Rebbe, it is a far cry from the hachonos that the chassidim would make and the gifts of Torah they would give.

The commenter tells us to “embrace the diversity of our community and the various ways in which we express our love for the Rebbe.” Diversity is the liberal method for doing away with Torah values. We are chassidim of the Rebbe and we follow the path that he set out for us.

With all due respect, I must disagree with the sentiments expressed in the previous article. The Niggun contest for Yud Alef Nissan is a beautiful opportunity for every Chossid to express their love and devotion to the Rebbe in their own unique way.

The Rebbe always encouraged us to use our individual talents to serve Hashem and spread Chassidus. Whether you are a seasoned composer or a bochur with a passion for music, your contribution is valuable and meaningful. The Rebbe sees the heart and intention behind every niggun, regardless of its genre or style.

Let us not limit the ways in which we can connect to the Rebbe and express our hergesh for his holy inyonim. A niggun that comes from the depths of a Chossid’s heart, no matter how unconventional it may seem, can still be a powerful tool to inspire and uplift.

To the bochurim: Don’t be discouraged by those who may not understand your musical expression. The Rebbe appreciates every effort you make to strengthen your connection to him and Chassidus. Continue to grow and explore your talents, always keeping in mind the true purpose behind your endeavors.

To the composers: Your unique voice and style are a gift from Hashem. Don’t be afraid to share your compositions, even if they don’t fit the traditional mold of a “Chassidishe Niggun.” The Rebbe’s message is universal, and your music can help spread that message to new audiences.

And to all of Anash: Let us embrace the diversity of our community and the various ways in which we express our love for the Rebbe. A niggun that may not resonate with one person may touch the soul of another. We are all striving to be me’oded to the Rebbe in our own way.

As we approach Yud Alef Nissan, let us unite in our shared love for the Rebbe and our desire to see him once again. May our niggunim, in all their beautiful forms, pierce the heavens and hasten the coming of Moshiach. Amen.