The Lecture-Recitals

"Jewish Folksongs" is a series of lecture-recitals given in either English or Hebrew about the ways songs reflect different themes of Jewish heritage.

 

The songs chosen represent various aspects of Jewish life. We sing the songs or listen to authentic versions; I tell the stories behind the songs, and we discuss how they reflect Jewish tradition, particularly in the Diaspora. The audience is encouraged to sing along, participate in the discussions and contribute what they know from their own experiences. Most of the songs are in Yiddish, Ladino and Hebrew (for the time being!) One of the interesting questions always raised is whether the songs represent general Jewish values or whether they are more representative of the ethnic environment from which they have stemmed. We also discuss whether the songs are particularly Jewish in nature, and to which extent they represent universal cultures and values.