In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

9 The Unforgotten Melody H E A R D B Y Z A L M A N B A H A R AV F R O M D O V - B E R L R A B I N O V I T C H Reb H.ayyim, who held the lease on a nobleman’s distillery, wanted a scholar for his daughter, Zippora, who had reached marriageable age. What did he do? He turned to Rebbe Eliezer, the head of the yeshivah* in the nearby city, and requested a groom: one of the young men who studied all the time, could learn a page of Gemara with the Tosafot commentary, knew how to sing, and was a God-fearing Hasid. The rosh yeshivah complied with his supporter Reb H. ayyim’s request and picked out a student named Yaacov, who was faithful and studious, upright and melodious, with a sweet voice that captivated every heart. The rosh yeshivah gave the young man a letter, recommending him as a worthy son-in-law for the leaseholder and suggesting that the father-in-law support the scholar after the wedding until he became a householder in his own right. The yeshivah student came to the house of his intended father-in-law and within a short time married Zippora, the daughter of Reb H. ayyim the leaseholder. Reb H. ayyim gave the couple their own room in his house, and Yaacov was allotted a place in the attic to study Torah. They ate their meals at the table of the well-to-do father-in-law. Within three years two children were born to them. In this fashion, the young scholar led a comfortable and agreeable life, chanting his Gemara** melodiously and committing his learning to memory . From time to time he would travel to visit the rebbe, bringing him melodies he had heard and memorized. The rebbe used them chiefly at his public feasts, for the third Sabbath meal, and for bidding farewell to the Sabbath Queen. Three years passed, and the period of support promised by his father- * Jewish school of higher learning. ** Rabbinic commentaries on the Mishnah in the Talmud; colloquially referring to the Talmud. 64 9 / The Unforgotten Melody  65  in-law came to an end. Dressed in his Sabbath finery, Reb H. ayyim went to visit a nobleman. After protracted negotiations, requests, and promises, he received a loan of a hundred rubles. Zippora sewed the money into her husband’s vest pocket. He took his tallit* and tefillin** and some pieces of cheese and a loaf of bread as provisions for his journey. He put everything in a bundle and tied this, along with his shoes, to his staff. And in this fashion he set out. That eveningYaacov arrived at an inn. What did he see there? A group of Hasidim avidly eating the tail of a salt herring and drinking. They were all gathered around the stove, because the evening was cool, and one of them was singing a nigun.§ Ai didee dai diggy diggy dai The melody resonated inYaacov’s soul, spread through his limbs, and carried him away, until he reached a decision: “I must stay here and learn this important melody. I will sing it at the first opportunity when I go visit our rebbe, may he live.” Yaacov went over to the Hasid who was singing. “Please, sir!You have restored my soul with your wonderful melody. I would like to learn it by heart.” “What?” the Jew replied. “Just like this, you would acquire such a valuable Hasidic nigun without paying for it? Is the tune public property? I spent a long time gathering up sparks of holiness, polishing and improving various melodies that hover in our world. I have devoted many years to this holy labor. And you want my work and the fruit of my toil for nothing ! Give me fifty rubles from your wallet and the nigun is yours.” Yaacov pleaded with the composer, but in vain. He resisted stubbornly and would not drop his asking price by so much as a kopeck.§§ Yaacov could not control himself. What did he do? He paid the owner of the melody half of all the money he had and purchased the melody from him. Because he did not want to lose his precious acquisition, which had cost half his wealth, he kept singing the nigun to himself as he traveled. Ai didee dai diggy diggy dai . . . * Prayer shawl. •• Small...

Share