Arba Bavos

Arba Bavos (originally in Yiddish: Der Nigun fun Fir Fallen. Also called Nigun Admur Hazaken and sometimes Niguno Shel HaRav) is the most important and profound nigun among Chabad Chassidus niggunim. The nigun was composed by the Alter Rebbe while he was with his teacher, the Maggid of Mezritch, and after his appointment as Rebbe, he improved it.

The nigun has four "houses" called bavos, corresponding to the four spiritual worlds: Atzilus, Briah, Yetzirah, and Asiyah. All the movements of the nigun are directed toward spiritual matters, and therefore Chabad chassidim are careful to sing it with great precision and only during special occasions and times of joy.

This nigun is the first nigun in Sefer HaNiggunim (the Book of Niggunim).

Meaning of the Nigun

The nigun is structured in an order of ascent from below to above. Similar to the prayer that begins with Baruch She'amar, continues with Pesukei D'Zimra, Birchos Krias Shema, Krias Shema, and concludes with Shemoneh Esrei. Each section of the nigun performs a specific action, in an internal way or in a surrounding way. In this nigun, the Alter Rebbe concentrated his approach in Chassidus and the path of avodah of a Chabad chassid. Each of the four sections of the nigun corresponds to several concepts:

• A spiritual world
• A letter from the name of Havayah
• A level in the soul
• Divine light

Times when the niggun is played

Times for playing the Niggun

Due to its deep spiritual significance, Chabad chassidim are careful to play it with great precision and only during special celebrations and appointed times. It is accepted in the name of the Tzemach Tzedek that on weekdays (except for the times mentioned), playing it could arouse kitrugs (heavenly accusations) chas v'shalom.

Among the appropriate times for playing the Daled Bavos niggun: the three festivals (Shalosh Regalim), Purim, 19 Kislev, 12 Tammuz, the month of Elul, the days of Selichos, as well as when escorting the groom to the chuppah and during the bride's circling around the groom. It was once sung at the farbrengens of Erev Shavuos 5746. The Rebbe Rashab stated that 19 Kislev is the Rosh Hashanah for the four bavos niggun. It is also played at bris milah celebrations, bar mitzvahs, and wedding feasts.

Before the four bavos niggun, it is customary to play a preparatory niggun for the Daled Bavos, an ancient niggun that was beloved by the Rebbe Rashab.

During farbrengens conducted by the Rebbe, the Rebbe himself would instruct when to play the preparatory niggun, which would be started by the chozzer Reb Yoel Kahn, and toward the end of the preparatory niggun, the Rebbe would signal with his fingers the number of times he wanted the fourth bava to be repeated.

Several times the chassidim sang the niggun "Nye Zhuritzi Chloptzi" after the Daled Bavos.

Spiritual qualities of the Niggun

The Rebbe Maharash: "When singing the Alter Rebbe's niggun, it is an opportune time for teshuvah, because it is an eis ratzon (favorable time) above."

The Rebbe Rashab: "When the niggun is sung with inner awakening, it is an opportune time for teshuvah and hiskashrus (connection to the Rebbe); and when the niggun is sung with purity of heart, after proper terumas hadeshen at Tikkun Chatzos, after saying Krias Shema at bedtime with authenticity, and after prayer with deep effort, one can effect a personal salvation in children and life."

The Rebbe Rayatz: "We have a promise that when the niggun is sung, whenever and wherever it may be, the Rebbe (Alter Rebbe) will hear it and feel it, at whatever high levels he may be. But this depends on the preparations of the receiver." When this niggun is sung at the Rebbe's farbrengens, the Rebbe emphasizes that it should be sung with great deliberation and deep seriousness.

The Rebbe instructed musician Jean Zeidel-Rudolf not to make changes to the niggun.

See also

• Preparatory niggun for Daled Bavos

External links

Information

• The Tzemach Tzedek says about the niggun "It appears as if the master of the teaching stands before him":
  • Toras Menachem – 1 – year 5710, from the talk of the second day of Shavuos 5710, p. 92.
  • Toras Menachem – 5 – year 5712 – second part, talk of the second night of Pesach 5712, p. 126. On the Chabad Lubavitch Library website
• Yekusiel Yehuda Gendel, Daled Bavos, 'HaMevaser' weekly about the special niggun Daled Bavos: its nuances, customs and stories 25 Teves 5780 22.01.2020

Media

• 'Daled Bavos' in the Rebbe's voice
• 'Daled Bavos' on the Heichal Neginah website
• 'Daled Bavos' arranged by R' Elaor Velner
• 'Daled Bavos' arranged by Chanan Bar Sela
• 'Daled Bavos' performed by the "Nichach" choir
• 'Daled Bavos' from "Neimos Chabad"
• To hear the niggun from the baal menagen R' Dovid Horowitz
• To hear the niggun from the baal menagen Rashbatz Althoiz
• Moving: "Daled Bavos" with the Rebbe, 19 Kislev 5744 ● Video