The Niggun "Kol Dodi Dofek"

The niggun Kol Dodi Dofek is one of the ten niggunim of the Alter Rebbe. In Sefer HaNiggunim it appears as the fifth niggun.

References from Our Rebbeim Regarding the Niggun

The Frierdiker Rebbe would instruct to sing this niggun during farbrengens of Anash. On one occasion he said about the niggun: "It cleanses the soul and removes from it the sircha (= impurity) which can be discerned in the final movement."

The Mitteler Rebbe said about the niggun: "The father (Alter Rebbe) could dig within a chassid and tear out the not-good through Chassidus or a niggun, but this niggun also demands from the chassid. The words of the niggun are the Rebbe's response to the chassid regarding why there is an urgent need for personal avoda."

Words of the Niggun

Kol dodi dofek, Pitchi-li achoti Rayati yonati tamati — Shir HaShirim, Chapter 5, Verse 2

In Sefer HaNiggunim (Part 2), there appears an additional version, more precise and with several additional sections. This is the version that Chassid R' Elchanan Dov Marozov would sing, and this is how it is sung today at the Rebbe's farbrengens.

This niggun is Niggun 5 in Sefer HaNiggunim (the additional version - Niggun 211).

In Russia, the Chassidim would also sing this melody with words expressing the longing and yearning to see the Rebbe:

Az der Oibershter vet gebn, gezunt un lebn, veln mir zich zehn mit unzer Rebin. Ai Rebbeinu, ai Rebbeinu, Rebbe, Rebbe, Rebbe... veln, veln, mir zich zehn, veln, veln, mir zich zehn, oy, Rebbeinu!

See Also

• Niggun 25 - A niggun with identical movements to this niggun

External Links

About the Niggun

• Rabbi Lev Leybman, Niggun 'Kol Dodi' on the Kir HaNiggunim website

Various Performances and Arrangements

• Heichal HaNegina • David Horowitz (Niggun 5) • David Horowitz (Niggun 211) • Nichoach 2 • Kol Dodi Dofek from Velner - Disc 1 • Kol Dodi from Chanan Bar Sela - Disc 1 • Kol Dodi-Adh"z from Otzar Niguney Chabad 3 • Chassidic Medley from Chassidic Farbrengen 2 • Amir Benayoun • Simcha Friedman and Elaor Velner • 'Malchut' Choir performing 'Kol Dodi' • 'The Kapelye' together with Benny Friedman • Yonatan Razel from Tzama 5780 events