Words:

א. שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּֽ֫עֲל֥וֹת אֵ֖לֶיךָ נָשָׂ֣אתִי אֶת־עֵינַ֑י הַ֜יֹּֽשְׁבִ֗י בַּשָּׁמָֽיִם: ב. הִנֵּ֨ה כְעֵינֵ֪י עֲבָדִ֡ים אֶל־יַ֚ד אֲדֽוֹנֵיהֶ֗ם כְּעֵינֵ֣י שִׁפְחָה֘ אֶל־יַ֪ד גְּבִ֫רְתָּ֥הּ כֵּ֣ן עֵ֖ינֵינוּ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ עַ֜֗ד שֶׁיְּחָנֵּֽנוּ: ג. חָנֵּ֣נוּ יְהֹוָ֣ה חָנֵּ֑נוּ כִּי־רַ֜֗ב שָׂבַ֥עְנוּ בֽוּז: ד. רַבַּת֘ שָֽׂבְעָה־לָּ֪הּ נַ֫פְשֵׁ֥נוּ הַלַּ֥עַג הַשַּֽׁאֲנַנִּ֑ים הַ֜בּ֗וּז לִגְאֵ֥י יוֹנִֽים (כתיב לִגְאֵ֥יוֹנִֽים) :

Translation: 
1. A song of ascents. To You I lifted up my eyes, You Who dwell in heaven.
2. Behold, as the eyes of slaves to the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a handmaid to the hand of her mistress, so are our eyes to the Lord our God, until He favors us.
3. Favor us, O Lord, favor us, for we are fully sated with contempt.
4. Our soul is fully sated with the ridicule of the complacent, the contempt [shown] to the valley of doves.

This Chanukah, make an “Al Nisecho-Hakhel” and earn points!
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• About the challenge: Send in a video of you playing Al Nisecho in front of family on Chanukah to receive 25 points! Play together with other musicians or students to receive an extra 10 points! Introduce the Nigun with any or all of the points below, and receive an extra 25 points! Videos have to be submitted by 5 Teves! The best videos will IY"H be featured on the website (if you would like)!​
• Origination of the Nigun: The Nigun Haneirois Halolu was composed by Chassidim of the Rebbe Maharash, the fourth Lubavitcher Rebbe. The Rebbe Maharash wasn't feeling well then, and he only came out on special occasions to be with the Chassidim. Haneirois Halolu was specifically composed as a long-winded Niggun in order to merit to be with the Rebbe for a longer period of time on Chanukah.
• Meaning of the words: The words of the last part of the Nigun, which we will be playing, are "Al Nisecho, Veal Niflosecho, Ve'al Yeshuoisecho" (and: "Lehodos U’lehalelel Leshimcho Hagodol") which means that we are praising Hashem for all the miracles he did for us on Chanukah. Specifically, “Niflo'os" refers to the highest type of miracles, which are higher than regular Nissim, and certainly higher than Yeshuois.
• Meaning for us: This year is תשפ"ג which stands for Tehei Shnas Niflo’os Gedolos - it should be a year of "BIG" Nifloios - miracles totally higher than nature. The Rebbe encouraged us to tell others and praise Hashem for miracles that we see in our lives, so whoever has a miracle story can share it after this Nigun! Doing this will also hasten the full Redemption, when Hashem will show us the ultimate Nifloi’ois! May it be now!

Two are better than one!

For this month’s competition, play with a friend or family member to compete for the most enjoyable video to watch/listen to, and win $100!

Videos sent in by 11 Nissan, will qualify for the challenge, and will also automatically get entered into a raffle!

You can play any arrangement of Vayehi Bimei you want; the sheet music below can get you started.

​You can find a duet partner yourself or ask us to pair you up! Hatlzocho!

P.S. you can play with a friend virtually. One of you can video yourself, and the second one can add their video on top of the first video.

​(Click 'Read More’ to see all video submissions and sheet music)

Many students worked hard to perfect "the Beinoni" (aren't we all trying to be a Beinoni?!). We selected a winner from each instrument submitted. See below

As we approach 10 Shevat - the Fridikers Rebbe’s Histalkus - you can now prepare yourself with the this Nigun - and get 25 points, too!

The Beinoni was actually composed by R’ Aaron Charitonow, a Chossid of the Fridiker Rebbe, and the Shoichet of the city of Niklayev.

When the Frierdiker Rebbe heard the Nigun, he liked it very much and gave it the name, “the Beinoni”, because it expresses the struggle, and absolute resolve of the Beinoni (one who always must battle, but always also wins, his Yetzer Hora). The “translation” of the second part of the Nigun is: “If it’s really the truth, then why aren’t I actually acting that way?!”

​The third part is quite musically challenging, and most people sing it incorrectly. It is an outpouring of the heart, and not necessarily musically “organized”. Listen for yourself, and try to learn the correct way to sing this beautiful Nigun! (Notice the first note of the Nigun, too!)

Interesting article about the mood and direction of the Nigun:
​https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3201344/jewish/The-Beinonis-Resolve.htm

(Click 'read more' for sheet music and the quiz on this page).

1st Prize: 500 POINTS IN THE MAMESH STORE will go to the contestant who sends a video of himself playing “Al Nisecho" in front of the MOST PEOPLE!

2nd Prize: 500 POINTS IN THE MAMESH STORE will be RAFFLED OFF!
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Rules: Entries must be a video file showing face of the student playing Al Nisecho and at least three other people watching (can be on ZOOM/WhatsApp status views).

Latest entry: 5 Teves 5782.

Keep up the great work, and let’s greet Moshiach with Song & Melody!

The words Podo Besholom were said by the Alter Rebbe as he was told about his release from Prison in Peterberg. To celebrate the day, which was made the Rosh Hashono of Chassidus, the Chassidim of the Mitteler Rebbe (or some say of the later Rebbeim) composed the Nigun Podo Besholom.

The first part is calm and expresses thanks to Hashem for his kindness. The last part of the Nigun is fast and expresses our great Simcha (joy) in the Alter Rebbe being freed and the ability for Chassidus to flourish and spread resulting ultimately with the Geula Sheleimo - may it be now!

More info on the Nigun here: ​www.chabad.org/140693

Many thanks (and a big Mazal Tov!) to our judge, kind sponsor and dear friend: Eitan Corenbluh.  May Hashem bless you abundantly in all!

(Other contestants and details in section below)