The Key

Music by Abraham Ellstein (1907 – 1963) 
Lyrics by Jacob Jacobs (1890 – 1977) 

“Our Jewish People” was first sung in 1941 by Miriam Kressyn (1910-1996), a formidable woman in the Yiddish cultural world of the US. Played during the darkest period for the Jews in modern history, it was recorded many times, yet the song seems to have been forgotten in recent years.  As such, it has been difficult to find an English translation. This one I have pieced together with the help of Cedric Ginsberg, Evelyn Green, Russel Lurie and Blima Nudelman 

Our Jewish people will live forever, 
and endure every hardship. 
The Jew survives, 
because of his strong faith and devotion. 
Nations have struck out against us with water and fire.  
But our passion still burns deep inside of us. 
Oh, our Jewish people will live forever,
And endure every hardship. 

Now a thousand years have passed,
since the Jew has existed in this world. 
Pogroms and trouble brought fear,
an attempt by man to oppress. 
From every corner you can hear the anguished cry of the Jewish people. 
Dear God, help your Jewish children,
and send them a blessing. 
Listen ‘o Israel, they shout out, G-d is one, 
God, we crawl to you.

A Bis'l Libe - A Bit of Love

Undzer Yidish Folk

Music by Abraham Ellstein (1907-1963) 
Lyrics by Itzik Manger (1901 – 1969) 

The self-proclaimed “master tailor” of the written word; folk poet and playwright, Itzik Manger, wrote “Yid’l with a Fiddle” as one of his rare musical contributions for an Ellstein film of the same name. The film is said to be the last Yiddish film made in Poland before WW2, and follows bass player Aryeh and his violin playing daughter, who dresses as a boy called Yid’l – because her father says it will be safer for her that way as they go from town to town playing at weddings to make ends meet. 

Translation from hebrewsongs.com 
 
Over fields, roads, 
On a wagon of hay,
In sun and wind and rain
Two musicians ride.
A surprise, oh, a surprise!
Tell us, who are they?

Chorus
Yid’l with his fiddle, 
Aryeh with his bass.
Life is a song
So no point being angry 
Hey, Yidl, fiddle, shmiddle, hey,
Life is just a joke.

A goat stands in a meadow
And bleats sadly, "Mehhh",
Hey, goat, you fool,
To be sad is not right.
So he shakes his beard,
That's so, that's so. Feh!

Chorus 

A bird flies, "Good morning"
Good morning, good year!
Sadness and worries - 
May they go to blazes!
Laugh with the wind, Yid’l - 
And just ride on! 

Chorus

**Photograph: My great-uncle Isaac and great-aunty Blima Nudelman's wedding in Johannesburg, 9th May 1948. Both families were of Polish descent. Aunty Blima has helped me with many of the translations.

Yid'l Mit'n Fid'l


Paul Robeson sings Hirsh Glik's Partisan Hymn, "Zog Nit Keynmol" at his 1949 concert in Moscow.

זאָג ניט קיינמאָל • Zog Nit Keynmol • Paul Robeson

I am multidisciplinary performance artist. Creating an album of Yiddish Songs has been my latest undertaking. I also sing in the Beit Emanuel choir in Johannesburg.

Yid'l Mit'n Fid'l

Leigh Nudelman

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