By COLlive reporter
For years, Rabbi Shmuel Butman served as the Baal Tefilla in the main shul of 770 Eastern Parkway for Slichos, Musaf of Rosh Hashana Day 2, and Musaf of Yom Kippur.
Many remember listening to the classic “skarbuveh” nusach, a nusach of davening for Yomim Noraim that has been widely used by Ashkenazic communities for generations, that he used for his heartfelt davening.
As to the origin of the nusach, much of it was personally taught to Rabbi Butman by the famed chossid R’ Shmuel Betzael Althaus (originally from Nikolayev) who remembered it from his childhood. R’ Shmuel Betzalel was very musical and published two albums under the title “Nigunei Lubavitch” at the behest of the Rebbe.
Once in the 1960s, Reb Shmuel Betzalel came to visit New York from Melbourne, where he was a Shliach and a key figure in the founding of the Chabad community in Australia. Because Reb Shmuel Betzalel had a friendship with Rabbi Butman’s father, Reb Zalman Butman, he graciously agreed to spend time with the young Rabbi Shmuel Butman and teach him the nusach.
Rabbi Butman, who later became Executive Director of the Lubavitch Youth Organization (“Tzach”) and other institutions and programs, used large parts of what he was taught then in the years that he served as Baal Tefilla in 770.
Certain parts of this nusach, specifically parts of the Avodah of Yom Kippur, are attributed to Reb Isser der Chazzan, who served as chazzan in Lubavitch for Yomim Noraim during the times of the Rebbe Maharash. He had a special tune for the Avodah, and a tnuah (part of a tune) for the paragraph “V’hakohanim,” which was said to be sung in the Beis Hamikdash. When Reb Isser would sing “korim” there was not a dry eye in the whole shul. (Sefer Hasichos 5704, Page 26).
Once, in the middle of davening on Yom Kippur in Lubavitch, a fire broke out near the shul due to a thunder and lightening storm. Reb Isser was in middle of the Seder Avoda in Musaf and was deep in concentration. Almost everybody ran out of the shul to see what was going on and to help extinguish the fire. The Rebbe Maharash remained in the shul, unconcerned, and Reb Isser remained inside, so engrossed in in his davening that he did not realize what was taking place around him. (Sefer Hasichos 5704, pg 28).
Other parts of the nusach (specifically the paragraph beginning Oichila Lakel) are attributed to Reb Yechiel der Chazzan (Halperin), who served as the chazzan in Lubavitch during the times of the Rebbe Rashab.
Still other parts (specifically the paragraph in the Avodah of Yom Kippur that begins with the words Terem Yifshot) are attributed to Tzaleh dem Chazzan (Shulzinger), also known as Betzalel Odesser, a renowned chazzan from the 19th century.
In past years, one of Rabbi Butman’s grandsons asked him if he would share parts of the Yomim Noraim nusach so that he could learn it himself. As a zchus for the neshama of Harav Hachossid Harav Hatomim Harav Shmuel Menachem Mendel ben Harav Hachossid Harav Shneur Zalman, the Butman family is sharing these recordings with the public.
For easy access, they are published on Spotify (included are Selichos in 770, 5781 and parts of Megillas Eicha) – click here
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