Nigun Avinu Malkeinu

The nigun (melody) for the words "Avinu Malkeinu ein lanu melech ela atah" is one of the ten niguns attributed to the Alter Rebbe.

To this day, Chassidim customarily sing this nigun whenever the prayer Avinu Malkeinu is recited in public.

This nigun is number 6 in Sefer HaNigunim (The Book of Niguns).

As an introduction to the nigun, a special yearning melody is sung, which is customarily repeated twice.

This nigun is unique in that the first words are repeated, despite the fact that in Chabad there is a strong custom not to repeat words of prayer as is the practice of chazzanim (cantors).

In the Rebbe's beis midrash (study hall) at 770, it is customary to sing this nigun at the beginning of each prayer service during the Ten Days of Teshuvah.

The Avinu Malkeinu nigun is customarily sung in Anash (Chassidic) communities on the following occasions:

• On Rosh Hashanah, before every prayer service
• During the Ten Days of Teshuvah and Yom Kippur
• On public fast days
• On Shabbos Kodesh, the nigun is not sung because Avinu Malkeinu is not recited on Shabbos
• At the Rebbe's farbrengens (gatherings), on dates connected to the Alter Rebbe or on dates when all Chabad niguns are sung, this nigun would sometimes be sung as a nigun of the Alter Rebbe

For several years, at the Rebbe's instruction, the Avinu Malkeinu nigun was sung because it was 40 days before Rosh Hashanah.

According to the version in Sefer HaNigunim and also Nichoach, the nigun begins with the words: "Avinu Malkeinu avinu atah", however, the Rebbe sang only the words "Avinu Malkeinu ein lanu melech ela atah."

Lyrics of the Nigun

Avinu Malkeinu avinu atah, Avinu Malkeinu ein lanu melech ela atah — Siddur, "Avinu Malkeinu" prayer recited at favorable times

External Links

• The Rebbe singing 'Avinu Malkeinu'
• To listen to the nigun on the Heichal Negina website
• Chazzan Ben Tzion Miller and his children singing the Alter Rebbe's Avinu Malkeinu at the Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow, 16 Av 5772 (07.2012)
• Avinu Malkeinu performed by Avraham Fried
• To listen to the nigun from Nichoach #1
• To listen to the nigun by the baal-menagen (master singer) R' Dovid Horowitz
• To listen to the nigun by the baal-menagen R' Zalman Bronstein
• To listen to the nigun by the baal-menagen Rashbatz Althaus

Various Performances and Arrangements

• Amir Benayoun • Elaor Velner • "Chassidic Farbrengen" album • Avraham Fried • Michael Teplinsky, in the album "Prayer for the High Holidays"