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Jewish music and Jewish singing have always been an essential part of what we do, especially for teens. Music is so much a part of their lives, so it’s essential that we channel that need for music and use it to connect to the neshamah as opposed to the guf.
On an NCSY regional shabbaton, when we bring the kids together, there is no moment (aside from when someone is saying a devar Torah or we’re bentshing) that music is not playing in the background. From the second we get there until the second we leave, we make sure they’re hearing plenty of Jewish music. On Shabbos, we pick essential songs and make them a theme. We sit and sing together so the kids build up a memory of song.
We use both vintage and contemporary niggunim, from Carlebach to Shwekey. One song that has become a staple introduction to Shabbos, and in that context the introduction to kiruv itself, is the famous Shalheves “Tov Lehodos.” Since the words are from Mizmor Shir Leyom HaShabbos, we use it as the song of Shabbos.
“Tov Lehodos” is the number one. “Yismechu” by Shlomo Katz is the number two — it has that easy repeat of “Oy yoy Shabbos kodesh, oy yoy Shabbos kodesh.” Carlebach’s “Niggun Neshamah” and Shlomo Katz’s “Niggun Nevo” are also powerful. We sing them over and over and there is no hurdle of words to overcome, just the tune to learn. Another one which has become a staple, specifically in our region, is Shwekey’s “Shema Yisrael.” That powerful chorus has the whole crowd crying and singing.
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