Re: Hava Nagila

[David Herskovic <david...>]

Here is what I know about Hava Nagila.

There is a set of seven songs for each of the seven hakofes of simchas
toyre which are supposed to have their origins in the court of the Magid
of Mezritch, known amongst Chasidim as Rebbe Reb Ber. The Magid was the
successor of the Bal Shem Tov, the founder of the Chasidic movement.

These songs are still sung by Belzer and Skverer Chasidim every simchas
toyre. In Belz, however, the seventh hakofe is sung to the same tune as
the second one, the reason supposedly being that the Zionists 'stole'
the seventh tune for Hava Nagila and therefore 'impurified' it.

I have always doubted this explanation as the Hava Nagila tune doesn't
seem to fit in with the rest. Its pace is much faster ans its structure
is different although it is possible that it was modified.

I have heard that the Skverer Chasidim do sing a different song for the
seventh hakofe and that it is the Hava Nagila tune but I have also heard
that it is not that tune and that they substituted the original with a
new tune. Perhaps a Skverer Chosid can confirm which is the case.


David Herskovic