Song: “Kah Ribon Olam (Elaka Di Lei)”
Composer: Pittsburger Rebbe shlita
Albums: L’hodos Ul’hallel (Niggunei Chassidei Pittsburg 5)
I
n the Pittsburger chassidic court inAshdod song plays an integral part of the holy avodah and the Rebbe — Rav Mordechai Yissachar Ber Leifer shlita — is the master composer of the chassidus.
“The Rebbe continuously composes new niggunim” explains the Rebbe’s son Rav Meshulam. “In fact every Rosh Chodesh as he davens Hallel at the amud the Rebbe sings a new tune before ‘Mah Ashiv.’ ”
Of all his compositions the Pittsburger niggun for “Kah Ribon” is probably the most famous. The two verses that are widely sung — “Elaka Di Lei” and “L’mikdasheich” with the “Kah Ribon” chorus — are actually the second part of a complex and lesser-known tune for the entire zemer. While some do sing the full composition thousands of frum and chassidish homes have caught on to this powerful fragment. Its plea for redemption — “the ga’aguim longing for the Beis Hamikdash expressed in song ” as Rav Meshulam says — tugs at the heartstrings giving even a simple Shabbos seudah a touch of eternal Jewish yearning. The tune is simple and majestic also often used for the climax of a mitzvah tantz — that moment when the bond of chassan and kallah is compared to that of Hashem with His chosen nation.
