Reb Yehuda Eber

During the farbrengen of Shavuos 5698 in Otvotzk, there were many bochurim who were standing near the Frierdiker Rebbe. As usual we sang niggunim between the sichos, though this time the Rebbe showed dissatisfaction from the way we sang, as we were not well versed in them and were not singing them with precision. When we finished singing, the Rebbe commented, “Generally the shamash in shul sees to it that all property of the shul is in its correct place, if the shamash is unable to do it, the responsibility falls on the gabbai, and if the gabbai fails to organize the shul then its his responsibility. That’s all a parable. The lesson to be learned from this is: if the Bochurim don’t know the niggunim, it’s the Hanhala’s job to teach it to them, but if they fail to do so, it’s the Bochurim’s responsibility to learn them properly!”

When he finished talking, he immediately turned to Reb Yehuda Eber, indicating it was him who he meant. At that point we realized that in addition to being very well versed in all of Shas and Poskim, he was also a Ba'al Menagen; something which he concealed from us until then.

In accordance with this directive, Reb Yehuda arranged that during the time for Seuda Shlishis, a group of Bochurim who had a natural talent with neginnah would come to his house to learn niggunim. It did not take them long to realize how knowledgeable he actually was in this field as well. He taught them niggunim from many different chassidim, as well as from different Chassidishe cities, such as Nevel (where he taught before fleeing to Poland in 5690).

Aside for the niggunim which had names, (meaning those to whom or where they are attributed) he also taught them ‘nameless niggunim’ which he would call ‘niggun stam one’, ‘niggun stam two’ etc. He also composed his own niggunim which he taught them as well.

On his recording of niggunim, Reb Moshe Rubin (who was among those who went to Reb Yehuda’s home each Shabbos), sings several of the niggunim he was taught then, as well as one niggun which Reb Yehuda composed.

Regarding the niggun known as “Reb Yehuda Eber’s niggun hisva’adus” , the author of Sefer Haniggunim writes: “In this niggun it is strongly expressed the seriousness of deep thought, and the inner feelings of the heart.”