Niggun Deveykus Rosh Hashanah (Admur Hazaken)

The Niggun Deveykus for Rosh Hashanah is customarily sung by all Chabad Rebbes in every generation with devotion, enthusiasm, and heart-stirring tears, like a person crying over a faithful friend who has departed - during the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur prayers, especially during the evening prayers of the first night of Rosh Hashanah and before the shofar blowing on both days of Rosh Hashanah.

Origin of the Niggun

About the origin of this niggun, the Rebbe Rayatz relates: "Rabbi Kehat - a distinguished student of the Baal Shem Tov and a member of the group of hidden tzaddikim - was once walking along a road and overheard a conversation between two wagon drivers. One said to his friend, 'In Tehillim it is written, do not be like a horse or mule without understanding, with bit and bridle. A donkey thinks that they put the bit in his mouth so he won't forget how to chew, but you shouldn't be like that - you should understand.' When the Baal Shem Tov heard this story from his student, he was aroused to tremendous deveykus (attachment to G-d) and prostrated himself with outstretched arms and legs while singing a devotional melody - and this is the origin of the niggun."

This niggun is definitely one of the ten niggunim that the Alter Rebbe himself would sing.

The Niggun as Preparation for Shofar Blowing

In the Alter Rebbe's Siddur it states: "After the Torah reading one should prepare himself to blow the shofar, and recite Kapitel 'Lamnatze'ach livnei Korach mizmor' seven times." The Shaar HaKolel explained: "The preparation is to recite this psalm seven times."

However, in a talk on Shabbat Shuva 5731 (1970), the Rebbe rejected this interpretation and explained that the Alter Rebbe's intention was for a spiritual preparation, without specifying any particular preparation, since it is not something equally suitable for everyone. Each person according to his own measure needs to prepare himself for the shofar blowing with something that awakens him, whether it's from what is said in Kesser Shem Tov, or in the Shulchan Aruch of the Arizal, in Chassidic texts or in the Mateh Efraim and the like. And from this awakening should be drawn an awakening for the entire coming year. On a deeper level, the intention is not for any specific preparation, but for a general preparation for divine service throughout the entire year, which is a general self-surrender to Hashem from the depths of the soul.

Some relate that they heard the Rebbe quietly singing this niggun as preparation before the shofar blowing.

During the meal of the second night of Rosh Hashanah 5731 (1970), the Rebbe connected this preparation to this deveykus niggun of the Alter Rebbe.

This niggun is number 9 in Sefer HaNiggunim.

External Links

• Lev Leybman, Niggun of Chabad Rebbes for Rosh Hashanah Prayers, on the Kir HaNiggunim website
• To listen to the niggun on the Heichal Negina website
• To listen to the niggun performed by the baal-menagen R' Dovid Horowitz
• To listen to the niggun arranged by R' Elaor Velner