Niggun Hahishtatchus

Introduction:

In a Sicha of the Frierdiker Rebbe it is explained, there are three levels in niggunim; 1) Niggun from the Rebbe which he himself composed or that he was wont to sing (i.e. "attributed" to him). 2) From Chassidim which contains "toichen" i.e. a hisorirus to T'shuvah. 3) A niggun "shoitah" which has no toichen and says nothing.

In Hiskashrus to the Rebbe there are three levels correspondent to the three levels of the Neshama, singing a Rebbe's niggun connects you to the highest level and it opens a connection to the levels which are "makkif". In order to truly understand a Rebbe's Niggun one must learn the Rebbe's Chassidus, only then can he understand its inner meaning and be enveloped by it so that the niggun should accomplish what it is supposed to

The Story:

This is a niggun dveikus attributed to the Tzemach Tzedek who would sing it while being משתטח by the kever of his mother, Rebbitzen Devorah Leah the daughter of the Alter Rebbe.

In Sefer Haniggunim is written about this niggun:

“This niggun is a short tnuah (melodic movement) yet full of dvaykus it expresses a soulful yearning and trembling from the innermost depths of ones nekudas haleiv."

The Tzemach Tzedek's mother, passed away on Tzom Gedaliyah 5553 after giving up her life for the dissemination of Toras Hachassidus leaving an only son, the Tzemach Tzedek, at the tender age of three years old. Before her passing she asked her father, the Alter Rebbe to raise her child and insure his proper chinuch. True to his word the Alter Rebbe took care of him, supervised his upbringing and learned with him.

After his mother’s passing, he would sleep in the Alter Rebbe’s room. One night he woke up crying for his mother saying “Mother, take me to you”. His mother Rebbetzin Devorah Leah then patted him on his back and said: “Sleep calmly, Zayde is here, stay with him”.

The Areinfirnish of the Tzemach Tzedek:

The following is a free translation of a sicha of the Friediker Rebbe:

Erev Yom Kippur 5553, the Alter Rebbe went to visit the gravesite of his daughter Rebbitzen Devorah Leah. The Alter Rebbe commanded to carry the child, the Tzemach Tzedek, and bring him with to the holy site. The Rebbe said “Just as Tzadikim are greater after their passing than in their lifetime, so too the blessings of Tzaddikim are much greater after their passing than in their lifetime”.

All the assembled were shaken as the Alter Rebbe standing by his daughters kever and while holding the hand of the small child said with a pleading voice: ”Devorah Leah bas Shterna today is Erev Yom Kippur bless your child Menachem Mendel ben Devorah Leah that ‘zeh hakoton gadol yihiyeh’ in Torah, the revealed aspects as well as the hidden aspects of Torah with much success in good deeds, and that he should do so with good health and many long years. And plead for me, for Adas Hachassidim and for Toras Haba'al Shem Tov.’’

That Yom Kippur, the Tzemach Tzedek fasted like all adults… On the following day after davening, the Alter Rebbe commanded that they should wrap up the child so he shouldn’t see anything and carry him to his mothers resting place. The Alter Rebbe with all his family who were then in Liozna as well as a large group of Chassidim went to the holy site. There the Alter Rebbe together with the child and his father Reb Sholom Shachna went over to the grave. The Alter Rebbe called out in a cheerful voice: ”Devorah Leah bas Shternah today I am bringing in your son to Torah (to cheder) bless him that ‘kishem shenichnas l’Torah…” and all the assembled called out amen.

Every year on Tzom Gedaliyah, the Yartzeit of his mother, the Tzemach Tzedek would say a Maamar Chassidus; the subject would be about Sefiras HaMalchus.