Niggun Mitzvah Badge

List of requirements

Step 1

1. Explain the following:

   1. What is a nigun?
   2. What makes music Jewish?
   3. What is wrong with listening to music from non-Jewish sources?
   4. When is it a mitzvah to sing?
2. Sing one (1) nigun from EACH of the following categories:

   1. Camp songs
   2. Zemiros
   3. Prayer melodies
   4. Chassidic nigunim
3. Recite the following about the songs which you chose for requirement 2:

   1. the name of the nigun;
   2. the source of the nigun;
   3. when the nigun is traditionally sung.
      

Step Two

1. Explain three purposes of nigunim and how they are accomplished.
2. Explain in what situations are nigunim not appropriate.
3. Describe the following:

   1. How both vocal and instrumental music was used in the Beis Hamikdash (Holy Temple).
   2. The shir shel yom (the song sang over the daily offering) for each day.
   3. The songs that was sung in the Beis Hamikdosh.
4. Sing two (2) more nigunim from EACH of the following categories:

   1. Camp songs
   2. Zemiros
   3. Prayer melodies
   4. Chassidic nigunim
5. Recite the following about the songs which you chose for requirement 4:

   1. the name of the nigun;
   2. the source of the nigun;
   3. when the nigun is traditionally sung.
      

Step Three

1. Explain the following:

   1. The Nine Songs that have been sung in biblical times;
      When the Tenth Song that will be sung;
   2. The difference between the Tenth Song and the first nine.
2. Rehearse and demonstrate with one or more friends two (2) kinds of chassidic dance.
3. Sing one (1) nigun connected with each Yom Tov AND two (2) more nigunim (besides those used for Steps One and Two) from EACH of the following categories:

   1. Camp songs
   2. Zemiros
   3. Prayer melodies
   4. Chassidic nigunim
4. Recite the following about the songs which you chose for requirement 3:

   1. the name of the nigun;
   2. the source of the nigun;
   3. when the nigun is traditionally sung.
5. Do ONE of the following:

   1. Play a nigun with a musical instrument of your choice;
   2. Teach a nigun to a group of people.