Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Hava Nagila Around the World: In Bucharest, Romania it's Christmas Jazz

In our 12 years of bringing you Jewish Humor Central we have posted 93 versions of Hava Nagila from countries around the world. The song is immensely popular but categorizing it has been challenging. Is it a Jewish folk song? A Hebrew folk song? An orchestral piece? A wedding dance? Yes to all of the above. 

But to the Bucharest Grand Orchestra in Romania, it's Christmas Jazz, as presented in a concert last month in the country's capital. Featured performers are accordionist Emy Dragoi and violinists Alessia and Bianca Dragoi accompanied by the orchestra.

Enjoy!

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.

2 comments:

  1. Hava Nagila is ingrained in our Jewish culture. Your circulating a rendition with the title "Christmas Jazz" is at the very least poor judgment and insensitivity. Your comment “enjoy” intensifies the insensitivity. Its Romanian origin makes it incredibly worse. Romania has a history of pervasive antisemitism spanning many centuries. The Romanian army's contribution to the Holocaust was surpassed only by the Nazis. Thankfully, because of the benevolence of Baron de Hirsch and the JCA my Zaida and his young children including his four-year-old daughter (my mother) escaped the pogroms of Romania 105 years ago. I am one of your regular subscribers and I enjoy your mailings. I will continue to subscribe despite this unfortunate Hava Nagila rendition.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Merry Chrismukkah... bah, humbug! Sorry, but to me this is a tragedy of cultural appropriation.

    ReplyDelete