Hop Kozak

This triumphant tune is associated with the a Chassidic Rebbe’s self-sacrifice in saving the life of a fellow Jew. The story: It once happened that a Jew who had rented an inn from the local landlord had fallen behind in his payments and was jailed. The l...

The song is meant as a spur to fervent and joyous worship of G-d is sung on joyous occasions

The Rebbe mentions the custom of singing this Russian Chasidic Nigun on Purim, and the crowd sings the Nigun.

“Jump, Cossack, Jump”. Rabbi Aryeh Leib of Shpoleh, the “Shpoler Zeide” danced to this song in competition against a cossack to gain the freedom of a poor, Jewish innkeeper.

Russian, Belarussian, and Ukrainian peasants were a source for beloved songs, sometimes with Hebrew or Yiddish added.

Hop Kazak, a lively melody attributed to the prominent chasidic master, Rabbi Aryeh Leib of Shpola, known as the Shpoler Zeide.