Yiddish Theater started in Europe and swiftly became a creative arena for immigrant Jews in America, surpassing its origins.
It’s musical aspect shone from the very beginning — everything from shmaltzy lullabies to
sophisticated jazz.
From “Raisins and Almonds” to “Mazl”
Multimedia examples tracing a century of this varied and rich genre underscore a cultural contribution that lives on.
Our Local Expert in Jewish Music
Mark Kligman, Ph.D holds the UCLA Mickey Katz Chair in Jewish Music and is Professor of Musicology and Ethnomusicology at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. He lectures widely in the US and abroad on a range of topics from liturgical music from Middle Eastern Jewish communities to Yiddish show music.
