Re: Identity in Klezmer

[Jack Falk <jackfalk...>]

Mark David asks, "How can you be "filled with Jewish culture
and tradition" without the Yiddish language and culture 
(including Klezmer music)?"  

As a klezmer musician and Yiddish singer -- and as someone
who has spent a little time in Israel -- I think it's very
possible to be immersed in Jewish culture and tradition
without any exposure to Yiddish culture.  Half of Israel
(perhaps more) is of Sephardic/Mizrachi descent.  Their
music is Mediterranean; their languages are Hebrew, and
often Arabic, Ladino, or Farsi.  It's as Jewish as 
anything our grandparents gave us, but it's an altogether
different cultural tradition.  Living in the land of Israel,
in Jewish communities, speaking a Jewish language, such Jews
would seem to be "filled with Jewish culture and tradition".

Moreover, klezmer music and secular Yiddish culture aren't 
necessarily important to black-hat yidn, who might ask any of 
us: "How can you (as a secular Yiddishist) consider yourself 
to be filled with Jewish culture and tradition unless you have 
a firm commitment to religious practice, learning, davening, etc."

Quite another discussion, to be sure....

Jack (Yankl) Falk


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