The Baal Shem Tov, or Besht —  the founder of Chasidism — 
met the soul of the Messiah during an ascent to heaven. 
The Besht asked him, "When will the Master come?" 
The Messiah answered, "When your wellsprings break forth to the outside!" 
(from a letter written by the Besht to his brother-in-law about one of his soul ascents) 


 
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Shalom Aleikhem

This tune for Shalom Aleikhem is known to most folks who will come to this site, but you don't know it like this. The first part of the tune, which is repeated, was written to be sung very slowly and meditatively (and in a minor key), while the last part is in a faster rhythm, like what people are used to. I learned this (the original) version from Ben Zion Solomon. The first verse here is sung as Ben Zion taught me, and the second verse is sung the way people are used to, for comparison. This particular recording is not hi-fi. One of many that I will be replacing when I have some new recording software.

Download/Listen to Shalom Aleikhem


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What do we know about the origins of this niggun? (I learned it - recently - from my mother, who says it's been in the family a long time, but not sure of source and lineage.)

Posted by: Gil Friend at January 14, 2007 5:57 PM

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