4-5. Two Dance Niggunim of the Vizhnitz Hasidim

^{Vizhnitz Choir, congregation and Moshe ("Mona") Rosenbloom's orchestra, conducted by Binyomin Hartman, wedding banquet of the Vizhnitz Rebbe's granddaughter, Benei Berak, 11 February 1987.}

The origins of these two niggunim are unknown. They were sung at the Vizhnitz court in Grosswardein (Romania) before the Vizhnitz leaders immigrated to Israel. In the early 1950s, the Rebbe of Vizhnitz, R. Hayyim Meir Hager (1888-1972), instituted in Israel the custom of singing each niggun separately at the Friday night Tish. This takes place at the dance that follows the Grace after Meals and prior to the second part of the Tish, "Der tsvryter Tish" ("the second Tish"). Before leaving for his own meal the Rebbe would come to the meal of the Yeshiva students, which was held separately, where he would sing "Shalom 'aleikhem" and "Eshet hayil." After he had left for his meal, before they sat down to eat, the students would dance and sing the first of the two niggunim recorded here. Since then both niggunim have been part of the regular repertoire of Vizhnitz Hasidim in Israel; today they are sung and played mainly at weddings and other joyful events.

Both niggunim have the classical Hasidic structure A-B-C-B, and form part of a long string of dance niggunim that Binyomin Hartman, till a few years ago the conductor of the Benei Berak Vizhnitz Choir, chose to perform at the meal during the wedding of the Rebbe's granddaughter. In the original recording, the order of the two niggunim was reversed.