Friday, January 18, 2013

Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places: Chinese Chorus Sings in Yiddish and Hebrew


Would you expect a Chinese Chorus to sing the Yiddish song Oifn Pripitchik and the Hebrew song Yerushalayim Shel Zahav? Well, Jewish traces show up in the most unlikely places, and Hong Kong is no exception.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong Student Chorus performs the music of many cultures in many languages, and Yiddish and Hebrew are part of their repertoire. They also sing in Finnish, Japanese, German and Latin.

The video we're sharing today is titled Choral Selections from Schindler's List. We had forgotten that these two songs were included in the Steven Spielberg film. But here they are, preceded by a violinist playing the plaintive theme from the movie, with which he also closes the medley.

Shabbat shalom.

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.) 


10 comments:

  1. What memories. My grandmother would cuddle me in her lap and sing this song to me when I was a very little girl. Hearing it now at age 81, I still get tears in my eyes thinking of those moments. Thank you so much.
    Having it played and sung by a chorus of Chinese youngsters only added to the joy.

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  2. Beautiful voices; beautiful presentation. I used to sing "Oifn Pripitchik" as I child. Am now 86 years old, and this brings back memories. I shall keep this to replay when I need something soothing in my life.

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  3. Beautiful. Brings tears to my eyes.

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  4. Me too - I'm just turning 84 and my Bubby sang this song and, of course, Rojinkes mit Mondlen, to me when I was a child. It brought back wonderful memories - I sang these songs to my 2 children, too - but my voice is terrible. Also loved Yerushalayim Shel Zahav". We need to bring more of these to the people of the world.

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  5. Replies
    1. On my 86th birthday,Jan.18th,it was a special gift.thanks

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  6. So beautiful and deeply moving. I still have goosebumps...

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  7. Thank you for bringing this beautiful chorus to me. Simply lovely, heartfelt musicians.

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  8. 84 now and this is still my most favorite Yiddish Song. When ever we would get together even today we still sing those beautiful words. The tears are so very happy and also sad just thinking of our dearly departed loved one. Someday we will all sing "Oifn Pripitchik"brent a fireal in dem steeb es heis...forgive the spelling...Alla Zei Gazundt

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