So what do Yankees games, old time kibbutzim in Eretz Yisroel and a Lag B’Omer medura (bonfire) in New Square have in common?
You guessed it: They all play “Hava Nagila!”
It may sound shocking, but it’s true. A few years ago, on the night of Lag B’Omer, I attended the massive bonfire in New Square. Thousands of chasidim were gathered on bleachers surrounding the constructed stage upon which the rebbe sat. After the rebbe spoke briefly, he lit the fire, and the crowd erupted, jovially singing the famous Lag B’Omer classics: “Bar Yochai,” “Va’amartem,” and “Amar Rabbi Akiva.” And then the band started playing the tune of “Hava Nagila.” The crowd sang along melodiously, albeit to the classic Chasidic niggun lyrics: “oy- doy- doy- doy- doy.”
All of us non-Chasidim shared our astonishment. Were we imagining things or was this fervently Chasidic gathering playing perhaps the most secular Zionistic song ever produced?
Someone suggested that either it was actually an ancient Chasidic tune that the Chasidim were making an effort to reclaim, or they weren’t aware of the history and symbolism of the song, or a combination of both.
He then added that there’s one other possibility — Moshiach is coming!
The following day, I did some research and discovered that this song does have a fascinating history. In 1838, the noted chasidic rebbe, Rav Yisrael of Rizhin, was imprisoned by the Czar. After two years, he escaped to the village of Sadiger in Austria where he established a new following. It seems that it was at that time that the tune for “Hava Nagila” was composed by one of his Chasidim, and it soon became a favorite among them.
Then, at the beginning of the 1900s, a group of Sadiger chasidim emigrated to Yerushalayim and brought the beloved niggun with them.
There was a famous composer and cantor named Abraham Zevi Idelsohn who was an avid Zionist and had moved from Germany to Yerushalayim in 1905.
Idelsohn enjoyed learning diverse Jewish musical melodies and traditions of different sects of Jews. One of the tunes he learned was this Sadigerer niggun. After learning the tune, Idelsohn decided to add words to the niggun based on the pasuk in Tehillim (11:24): “This is the day Hashem has made, nagila v’nismecha bo — we will rejoice and be happy on it.”
During a concert in Yerushalayim to celebrate the end of World War I, Idelsohn performed the Sadiger niggun with his new words. It became an instant sensation and subsequently became a standard song in Zionist youth groups and weddings.
In the 1950s, the song began to take hold outside the Jewish world. Most famously, the renowned American singer, Harry Belafonte, would sing it.
During the last few decades, “Hava Nagila” has become famous the world over. Its message about transcending life’s challenges by being happy and rejoicing resonates everywhere. These days it can be heard at weddings and at sports events, such as Yankees games. But the song remains a symbol of the Zionist world and cause. The ironic and little-known origin of the song makes it all the more intriguing.
It turns out that the chasidim are indeed trying to reclaim an ancient niggun that they feel was taken from them. Perhaps they aren’t aware of the current symbolism of the song, or perhaps they are aware and don’t care. But the fact is that it is shocking to hear that song being played at such an event.
We often wonder how Moshiach is going to be able to unify all the diverse factions of the Jewish people. (That itself will be the true test of who the real Moshiach is.) Perhaps when he comes, we will all sing “Hava Nagila” together. Some may be singing the words of “Hava Nagila” and others may be singing “oy -doy- doy- doy- doy.” But if all Jews are singing the same tune — which may not have happened since we stood in perfect unity at Sinai — that in itself would be a symbol that the Messianic era is upon us.
Rabbi Dani Staum, LMSW, is a popular speaker and author. He is a rebbe in Heichal HaTorah in Teaneck, NJ, the principal in Mesivta Orchos Yosher, and an experienced therapist and parenting expert. Looking for an inspirational and motivational speaker or scholar-in-residence? Contact Rabbi Staum for a unique speaking experience. Rabbi Staum can be reached at [email protected]. Archives of his writings can be found at: Strivinghigher.com.
