For many years, Sofer, Coach, and Mohel Rabbi Fitz Rabin has been a familiar voice behind the amud in Crown Heights. A seasoned baal tefillah, Rabbi Rabin has developed an approach to davening that combines the traditional nusach with niggunim and melodies that give unique expression to the words and spirit of the tefillos.

Adding to a growing collection of recordings he has produced over the years, Rabin this year released a new recording of one of his favorite piyutim, “אדר והוד” from Rosh Hashanah Shacharis, set to the soulful and heartfelt melody of Niggun Shin Alef in Sefer Hanigunim.

Niggun Shin Alef is unique in that it opens in a major key, with a sense of celebration and openheartedness, before transitioning into a minor key, taking on a more intense and prayerful yearning.

For Rabin, that progression closely mirrors the movement of the piyut itself. אדר והוד begins with praises of Hashem — His greatness and might, and the joy of the Jewish people as His chosen nation — before moving into an impassioned prayer for the time when the Jewish people will be redeemed and the entire world, indeed the entire universe, will recognize the fullness of Hashem’s glory.

For the first time, Rabin’s recordings have now been brought together into a single playlist. “I was talking with my brother Shlomie Rabin of Jplacing.com about what could be created to support Baalei tefillah and this is one of the ideas that came up” says Rabin. Baalei Tefilla are always looking for great tunes and melodies to help make the Davening more uplifting and this playlist is designed as a resource to help chazanim and baalei tefillah prepare for the Yamim Noraim and spark creativity of their own. 

For Rabin, preparing to lead the davening is about more than assembling a collection of melodies.

“What I’m looking for,” says Rabin, “is a niggun that extracts the emotion the words hold, while at the same time making sure that the movement of the melody matches the rhythm of the prose.”

Asked for his number-one tip for baalei tefillah, his answer is simple: “Pirush hamilos — understanding the meaning of the words.”

“When the chazzan understands the meaning of the words he’s reciting, the people listening automatically hear something more stirring and personally relevant than they otherwise would. It allows the words to come alive in a way that leaves people moved and inspired.”

This year’s new recording comes with an interesting twist. The piyut “אדר והוד” is recited during Shacharis on both days of Rosh Hashanah. However, when the first day of Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbos, as it does this year, the section referring to the blowing of the Shofar is omitted. The melody Rabin chose is structured in a way that makes it particularly suited to this year’s first day of Rosh Hashanah.

Those in Crown Heights who would like to hear Rabin lead the davening live will have the opportunity to do so this Rosh Hashanah. Rabbi Rabin will serve as baal tefillah for Shacharis at Anshei Lubavitch and Mussaf at Beis Shmuel.

The full playlist of Rabbi Rabin’s Yamim Noraim recordings is available on YouTube here.