Shabbos Parshas Vayeitzei, 9 Kislev
Reb Shimon led us in a new niggun this week, the famed "Zhebiner Hartz".
Zhebin (or Zhembin) a thoroughly Chassidic city, was famous for its fine, accomplished Chassidim. Some of them were renowned for their intellectual accomplishments. These Chassidim were known as “maskilim,” for they had mastered the art of understanding the most sublime Chassidic teachings. Another group of Chassidim were known as “ovdim.” These were the Chassidim who labored intensely as they assimilated the Chassidic teachings into their very beings. They spent much time refining their emotions.
This niggun expresses the experience of this second type of Chassid, the “oved.”
Click here to for the official Chabad recording.