Shuva

The niggun “Shuva” is perhaps the most famous among the Yud Alef Nissan niggunim. It was composed by Reb Feitel Levin and the encouragement that the Rebbe showed to this niggun was quite unique. The seder at the Shabbos farbrengen throughout the years was that immediately after the Rebbe made Kiddush, the niggun of that year’s kapitel was sung. In light of the Rebbe’s sicha on Chof Ches Nissan 5751, the niggun after Kiddush was “Zol Shoin Zein Di Geulah”, and “Shuva” was sung after the first sicha.

Reb Feitel Levin relates:

“I had completed the final product on a Thursday night, and by the time Shabbos came, the crowd of Bochurim and Anash had already listened to my recording and learned the new tune.

“When the Rebbe entered the Shul for Kabbolas Shabbos, everyone sang the niggun in unison and waited to see how the Rebbe would react. One can only imagine the joy that filled my heart when I saw the look of sincere pleasure evident on the Rebbe’s face that first time he heard the niggun. And the Rebbe’s enjoyment of the new niggun only seemed to grow with time, as is by now wellknown”.

Of all the many niggunim composed yearly in honor of Yud Aleph Nissan some linger in the hearts and minds of Chassidim until today, having left an impression as unique and different, out of the ordinary. Among them, and perhaps above them all, stands the niggun Shuva, constantly sung in the Rebbe’s presence until Chof Zayin Adar, 5752.

Any Chossid who was zoche to be in the Rebbe’s presence during that period will confirm that this niggun was uniquely cherished by the Rebbe (and consequently, by the Bochurim and Anash). This was unmistakably clear from the way he vigorously encouraged the singing of this niggun.

In those last few winter months of 5752, the Rebbe gave of himself to the Chassidim in a manner unparalleled in previous times. As the weeks passed, more and more nights were devoted to distributing dollars to the public, and on more occasions than ever before, the Rebbe personally handed Kuntreisim to each and every man, woman, and child, often with Lekach and dollars.

And accompanying all of these precious moments was the niggun Shuva. The Rebbe would encourage the singing of “Shuva” heartily, pausing briefly in the midst of the distribution to motion his encouragement to the crowd.

It is this that makes “Shuva” so special. More than the emotion encapsulated by the niggun itself, in its lyrics and heartfelt tune, it is the memories of these treasurable moments that stir the strings in the hearts and souls of Chassidim who were privileged to experience them with their beloved Rebbe.