For decades the Niggun based on the Psukim of the new chapter in Tehillim of the Rebbe has played a central role in the celebration of Yud-Alef Nissan. The Niggun was ecstatically sung almost non-stop throughout the time period around the Rebbe’s birthday and played from the loud speakers of the Yud-Alef Nissan Mitzvah Tank Parade.
This year, in addition to newly composed niggunim, a Niggun on the words of the Rebbe’s Kepital already exists, one which enjoyed the Rebbe’s encouragement for many years.
But many may be unfamiliar with the origins of this Niggun – when and why was it composed and on which occasions was it sung by the Rebbe.
This story takes us back to Erev Hoshanah Rabbah 5736 (1975) when a special instruction from the Rebbe’s Mazkirus was relayed to Chazan Moshe Teleshevsky to adapt the words of Kepital 117 in Tehillim to a Niggun. Chazan Teleshevsky proceeded to adapt them to a particularly joyous Niggun to which Chassidim some times sing with the words of “Ashreinu Ma Tov Chelkeinu”.
That night as the Rebbe walked out of the mid-night recital of Tehillim the thousands of chassidim gathered excitedly sung the new Niggun which had been just been composed. The Rebbe encouraged the singing strongly with his hand and the chassidim continued singing for several minutes.
Subsequently the Niggun was recorded on tape number eight of the Nichoach choir which was established and was under the direct supervision of the Rebbe.
From then on these Psukim were sung with the Rebbe’s encouragement during Hallel every Rosh Chodesh and during Pesach and Sukkos.
Another particularly special time the niggun was often sung, which holds a special connection to Yud-Alef Nissan, was by the Yud-Alef Nissan Farbrengens. Since 5738 the President of the United States has observed yearly Yud-Alef Nissan as Education and Sharing Day USA recognizing the Rebbe’s giant efforts to prioritize the need for proper education and calling upon its citizens to apply the values of morals and ethics of the Sheva Mitzvos Bnei Noach. Often at least one sicha by the Yud-Alef Nissan Farbrengen was dedicated to thanking the President for the Proclamation and dwelling on the importance of education to ethics and morals. The Rebbe highlighted the historic era we live in in contrast to previous periods throughout history, with the non-Jewish President taking an active role in fulfilling the reason for the world’s creation – “La’sheves yetzorah”, a civilized society. It was only natural following such sichos for the entire assemblage to burst out with a resounding singing of “Hallelu” which describes how all nations of the earth will praise Hashem, with the Rebbe’s strong encouragement.
As we begin to recite this chapter daily and celebrate with this special Niggun let us further our efforts to fulfill the Rebbe’s goal of influencing all nations of the world to recognize Hashem until we will merit to the fulfillment of the words of the Perek in the most literal sense with the coming of Moshiach.
A special release of the Niggun has been released sung by Meir Sassoskin and is presented below.
AUDIO:
Hallelu Short version
Video: Niggun “Hallelu Es Hashem”
how about put on from nichoach