Nigunim – songs that open the heavens. The last meeting (this year) in our project ‘Hitchhiker's Guide to Judaism’

‘There are gates in heaven that can only be opened by melodies and songs,’ says a mystical Jewish thought. And it adds: ‘Through singing, man weaves garments of light for Shekhinah.’ That is, for God. Or, if you prefer, for the Absolute.

On 19th December 2025, the Municipal Library in Mszana Dolna hosted the last meeting of our project ‘Hitchhiker's Guide to Judaism’. It was devoted to nigunim – Jewish prayer songs that are difficult to define unambiguously. The topic was presented – both from a theoretical and practical perspective: through singing, accompanied by accordion and guitar, by Jakub Antosz-Rekucki, a linguist and researcher of melic poetry.

People gathered in the library learned what nigunim are not and about the essential features of these prayer songs, which are rooted in the Bible even when they have no words. The presenter drew attention to the similarities between nigunim and Christian meditation and contemplation: canons and chorales, rosaries and chaplets. And on the common message of all these prayer genres, which is a call for peace and community, because, as Shlomo Carlebach, probably the most famous performer of nigunim, who also gave concerts in Poland, said: ‘One God created one world. We are all brothers and sisters.’
This is the idea behind the project, which aims to promote understanding of the not always familiar world of religion and culture from which Christianity derives, and to break down stereotypes and mistrust.

It also has a universal message, because in Hasidic thought, according to Tzadik Nachman of Breslov, every person, even those doing the most menial work, has their own nigun, their own melody. And even if they hum it imperfectly, it protects them from falling into evil. In Hasidic thought, nigunim are also a way of singing what cannot be expressed in words. Thanks to this, they help us transcend the limitations of our thinking and reach places we would not be able to reach with our intelligence alone. They are also related to the idea of tikkun olam – repairing the world, because their common idea is to find God's light in what is seemingly ‘unholy’ – to find the spark of goodness that must be recognised and carried away.
The meeting, which took place during Advent, but also during Hanukkah, was full of the symbolism of light – both in its setting and in its message. Encouraged by Jakub, the audience joined in the singing, which was both a call for brotherhood and peace and an expression of solidarity with those suffering from hatred and victims of violence.
Participants were also treated to Hanukkah doughnuts and Shabbat challah, and cordial conversations and good wishes continued long after the official end of the event.

So far, seven events have been held as part of the project; we hope to continue it in the coming year.
A new challenge for our Foundation is to create a memorial chamber for the Jews of Mszana Dolna, so at the end there was an appeal for people to donate memorabilia related to them.
Another initiative of Sztetl is a request to commemorate an important witness to history, a man who contributed greatly to the development of Mszana Dolna, a patriot and prisoner of Nazi camps, Franciszek Knapczyk. All those gathered signed a petition created for this purpose.
Co-financed by the Minister of Culture from the Culture Promotion Fund.
The meeting, like the entire project, was held under the honorary patronage of the Mayor of the town, Agnieszka Orzeł.