Pick Your Tune

While Shabbos day is slowly getting longer, we’re still making the most of those long Motzaei Shabbos nights when the workweek hasn’t yet begun. As the Havdalah candle is extinguished in a pool of wine and the table readied for a fourth holy meal, even leftover challah is a feast when sending off the Shabbos Queen.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MOTZAEI SHABBOS NIGGUN?

Beri Weber

A SONG FOR DOVID HAMELECH

My song about Dovid Hamelech — “Lomir zingen a lidele farn Melech Duvid,” composed by Cheskie Weiss — is really a perfect Melaveh Malkah song, as this is Dovid Hamelech’s seudah. In general, I go for the traditional zemiros, like the Berditchever’s “G-tt fun Avraham.”

Rabbi Shloime Taussig

A TUNE FOR ALL OCCASIONS

I personally love Reb Benzion Shenker’s famous “Hamavdil.” It’s not just a classic, it’s a gorgeous tune, which I actually use a lot in davening, too. I’ve found that it works well for parts of davening such as “Mimkomcha” in Shabbos morning Kedushah and “Pischu Li” in Hallel.

Menachem Herman

A NIGGUN FOR COMMUNAL HAVDALAH

There’s a certain crowd who do a communal Havdalah, and Carlebach songs will always work best there. They are a good fit for Melaveh Malkah, too.

Hershy Rotenberg

AT HOME, WE STICK WITH THE OLD

When I’m at a sheva brachos or a kumzitz on Motzaei Shabbos, I automatically reach for Carlebach and MBD — their melodies invite everyone in and lift the room with simchah, and I’ll often sing both their versions of “Gam ki Eileich.” But at home, with my family, Motzaei Shabbos sounds a little different — a little more chassidish. I like to sing an old “G-tt fun Avraham” that I learned from my mother, who learned it from her mother.