Nigunim

Nigun ``humming tune'' in Hebrew. They are sung in groups, mostly as homophonic chorals. Songs are without any lyrics or words, syllables like ``bim-bim-bam'' or ``Ai-ai-ai!'' are often used. Rarely some biblical verses or quotes from other classical Jewish texts are sung in the form of a nigun as well.

Hasidism seemed to re-launch an interest in Jewish music.This (rather conservative) Jewish movement is emphasizing ``emotional devotion'' more than the common ``erudical'' devotion. Hasidic groups often have their own nigunim, composed by their Rebbe or leader. It is customary to gather around in holidays to sing in groups. There are also nigunim for individual meditation, called devekus or devekut (connecting with God) nigunim. These are usually much slower than around-the-table nigunim, and are almost always sung without lyrics.

The Baal Shem Tov, founder of Hasidism, spoke of devekus nigunim as ``songs that transcend syllables and sound.'' Several tunes attributed to him are still used today.

Figure: Nigun by Walter Spitzer

5#5

Iyyun, an Jewish spiritual center located in New York who presents its mission as:

Iyyun: (ee-YUN) (hebrew) mindful examination; deep exploration; introspection

IYYUN, an organization dedicated to the study and experience of Jewish spirituality, explores the three dimensions of human reality: The Mind, The Heart and The Body.

IYYUN creates opportunities for people of all backgrounds to deeply examine and understand the intellectual, emotional and physical within themselves in the light of Jewish spiritual teachings and the wisdom of the Torah.

IYYUN seeks to unify the disparate intellectual, emotional and physical dimensions of the human experience into a complete whole, empowering men and women to realize their full potential and together, build a global spiritual community.

nicely comments in its web-site on this ``emotional'' prayer-form:

Wherein Neitzsche suggested that the ``fire magic of music'' is to be found in its anti-rationality, and what he sought in music was its ``ecstatic irrationality,'' the Jewish mystic looks to unveil within music its transcendence. Perhaps not the transcendence within the music itself, as some would argue that music is nothing more than ``sonorous air'' or, as Leibniz had it, ``unconscious arithmetic''; rather the reaction to the music, the transcendence reached as one reacts to the music.

A wordless tune-as is much of Jewish mystical song, particularly Chassidic^3.5-is the way two individuals can communicate on a soulular[sic] transcendent level. Any breakdown in the verbal communicated mode can be repaired by creating a conduit that transcends words. When a person feels alienated from his Source, or for that manner, from his fellow man, a wordless tune which exists on a realm that defies distinctions, separations, and disharmony, is the most fitting remedy, causing a unity of souls.