The Pittsburger Rebbe’s talent for composing heart-rending melodies sung worldwide is well known. Here is the story behind the niggun Yismechu HaShomayim:
The Rebbe was always involved in the fight against assimilation and when a Jew from Florida appeared before the Pittsburger Rebbe and cried that his daughter was engaged to be married to a goy, the Rebbe was so moved and distressed by his plight that he pledged to stop at nothing to rescind the harsh decree. He flew to Florida and against all odds fought and used all his ways and means until succeeded, in an almost supernatural manner, to cancel the marriage and avert the decree.
When the Rebbe returned to Ashdod, he thanked Hashem for his successful endeavor and that his efforts to cancel the intermarriage had borne fruit. As a thanksgiving, he composed the well-known niggun for Yismechu HaShomayim, which is still sung to this day among Pittsburger Chassidim and others who appreciate heartfelt Yiddish gezangen. (Avrohom Bechoro p. 33)
