JEWISH MUSIC: JILLIAN PATERSON, ARDEN HEIGHTS BOULEVARD JEWISH CENTER'S HEBREW SCHOOL

The Hasidim were the followers of the Baal Shem Tov. For them, song was equal to prayer, and even had more spiritual power.

They considered song to be the ladder to the Throne of G-d. Many of the Hasidic rabbis believed that words actually got in the way of communicating with G-d. Because of this, many of the Hasidic melodies were sung without words. These are called the niggunim.

The Jews of Central and Eastern Europe sang songs that were supposed to be morally uplifting. These were hymns, psalms, and songs of devotion. Since the Jews were a "Holy Nation," their songs should be reflective of that. The rabbis did not want the Jews singing the secular songs that they considered to be not of high moral character.

But they did not have to worry, because even though some of these songs managed to get in through the ghetto walls, the Jewish folk songs still kept their morality high.

When the 16th century began, these worldly songs became very clear in their musical and poetic form. These Yiddish folk songs had themes that touched upon everything in Jewish daily experience. These people sang songs of G-d, and of the world to come. They sang songs of the Messiah. They sang songs about Moses, and the Patriarchs and the Matriarchs. They sang songs of love; song of living and dying; songs of work; songs of good fortune and of misfortune. Basically, these were songs about all aspects of Jewish life. These were tender and emotional songs. These were songs of humor and introspection. But what we remember most about so many of these songs were the tender melodies and sweetness that surround us when we hear them.