Nigunim : Hassidic melodies (1990)

"Nigun or plural niggunim, meaning "tune" or "melody", is a form of Jewish religious song or tune sung by groups. Some nigunim performed as prayers of lament, while others may be joyous or victorious. Nigunim are largely improvisations, though they can be based on thematic passages and stylized in form, reflecting the teachings and charisma of the spiritual leadership of the congregation or its religious movement. Nigunim are especially central to worship in the Hasidic Judaism, which evolved its own structured, soulful forms to reflect the mystical joy of intense prayer (devekut)The belief is that when you sing a nigun, the soul of the rabbi who created it appears in the room. On festive occasions the nigunim are especially joyful melodies. On the festival of Simchat Torah, the most joyous day in the Jewish calendar, fervent nigunim are sung while dancing with the Torah scrolls in the synagogue." (alaskajewishmuseum)