When Israel Sang to America: Tova Ronni and Israeli Folk Music

WHEN ISRAEL SANG TO AMERICA

A Rabbinic Capstone Project Presented by

Tobias Divack Moss THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2018 | 29 KISLEV 5779 HEBREW UNION COLLEGE - JEWISH INSTITUTE OF RELIGION

Program Order

Shalom Aleichem/Hava Netze B'machol Nerot Hanukkah Hanukkah Blessings Mi Y'mallel Dirah Bli N'ginah Negev Shelanu Zemer Chag Lach Yerushalayim Ki MiTzion HaFinjan Oyfn Veg Shteyt a Boym Baym Rebin's Tish Those Were the Days Cachol V'lavan

Singers

Cantor Inbal Sharett-Singer, Lea Kalisch, Rosie Moss

Musicians

Joyce Rosenzweig, Elana Arian, Ivan Barenboim, Matt Dallow

HUC-JIR Choir

Ze'eva Berman, David Fair, Toby Glaser, Ben Harris, Alexandra Kurland, Danielle Rodnizki, Emily Simkin, Robby Wittner

Guest Star

Ron Eliran, Israel's Ambassador of Song

Tova Ronni Our tradition tells us that from Zion will go forth Torah. For myself and many diaspora Jews before me, from Israel came forth Tova, a folksinger who conveyed the lifestyle, landscape, and language of modern Israel.

Tova (1923-2006) was born in Wolozlawik, Poland. In response to growing anti-Semitism, Tova’s family immigrated to British Mandatory Palestine in 1933. Tova became immersed in the budding Hebraic culture, and soon established herself on the stage of HaBimah Theater as an actress and monologist.

In 1947, Tova moved to New York to study theater with Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio and Erwin Piscator of the New School. To support herself, she began offering folk music performances. The people loved her. She toured extensively throughout the Americas, performing in synagogues and concert halls, celebrating the holidays, and raising money for Jewish and Zionist causes.

In the 1970s, Tova turned her focus from performance to production.

She served as Director of the Tarbuth Foundation for Hebrew Culture, and, later, as the Artistic Director of the Folksbiene Theater.

Tova saved everything: concert posters and newspaper clippings, sheet music and letters, reel-to-reel recordings and vinyl masters.

Over the past six months I dug deep into these materials. But without further ado, shalom aleichem, let’s go out dancing.

PEACE BE UPON YOU – LET’S GO OUT DANCING

‫ הבה צא במחול‬- ‫שלום עליכם‬ Shalom Aleichem – Hava Netze B’machol Words: Shalom Bantz, Asaf HaLevy Music: Unknown

‫ אסף הלוי‬,‫ שלום ב צ'ו‬:‫מילים‬ ‫ לא ידוע‬:‫לחן‬

THE CANDLES OF HANUKKAH

‫רות ח וכה‬ Nerot Hanukkah Words: Ida Factorit Music: Varda Gilboa (Carp)

‫ איטה )אידה( פקטורית‬:‫מילים‬ (‫ ורדה גלבוע )קרפ‬:‫לחן‬

Each candle stands up and requests, “Shamash, give me fire, Shamash, give me light” And the Shamash gives fire to each.

As he bows to each candle, he says, “grace, grace” Blessed are you, Shamash of Light.

Please join us in saying: The light will shine forth for 8 days, Blessed is this holiday for all eternity. Amen

HANUKKAH BLESSINGS First blessing

‫וֹתיו וְ צִ ָוּ וּ לְהַ ְדלִיק ֵ ר ֶשׁל חֲ ֻכָּה‬ ָ ‫בָּרוּ ַא ָתּה אֲ ֹד ָי אֱ ֵהי וּ מֶ לֶ הָ עוֹלָם אֲ שֶׁ ר ִק ְדּשָׁ וּ ְבּ ִמ ְצ‬ Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech haolam asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tsivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who hallows us with mitzvot, commanding us to kindle the light of Hanukkah Second blessing

‫בוֹתי וּ בַּ יּ ִָמים הָ הֵ ם בַּ זְּ מַ ן ַהזֶּה‬ ֵ ֲ‫בָּרוּ ַא ָתּה אֲ ֹד ָי אֱ הֵ י וּ מֶ ֶל ָהעוֹלָם שֶׁ עָ שָׂ ה ִ​ִסּים לַא‬ Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech haolam she-asah nisim laavoteinu v’imoteinu bayamim hahaeim baz’man hazeh Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who performed wondrous deeds for our ancestors in days of old at this season Third blessing (recited for new use of Statue of Liberty Hanukkiah provided by HUC-JIR Museum)

‫בָּרוּ ַא ָתּה אֲ ֹד ָי אֱ הֵ י וּ מֶ ֶל ָהעוֹ ָלם שֶׁ הֶ חֱ ָי וּ וְ ִקיְּמָ וּ וְ ִהגִּ יעָ וּ לָזְּ מַ ן הַ זֶּה‬ Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, shehecheyanu v'kiy'manu v'higiyanu laz'man hazeh.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season When 1st voice gets here, 2nd voice begins

AN APARTMENT WITHOUT MUSIC

‫דירה בלי גי ה‬ Dirah Bli N’gina ‫ לא ידוע‬:‫מחבר‬

Author: Unknown

OUR NEGEV

‫גב של ו‬ Negev Shelanu ‫ לא ידוע‬:‫מילים‬ ‫ שמואל פרשקו‬:‫לחן‬

Words: Unknown Music: Shmuel Fershko *** The Negev, the desert The Negev is ours The precious Negev Even the desert is precious to me

‫גב המדבר‬ ‫גב הוא של ו‬ ‫גב היקר‬ ‫אפילו המדבר הוא יקר לי‬

CELEBRATION SONG

‫זמר חג‬ Zemer Chag Words: Zerubbabel Gilad Music: David Zahavi

‫ זרובבל גלעד‬:‫מילים‬ ‫ דוד זהבי‬:‫לחן‬ ***

Sing, sing a song of thanks For the blessing of the land

‫ ִשׁירוּ ִשׁיר תּוֹדָ ה‬,‫ִשׁירוּ‬ ! ‫לְ בִ ְרכַּ ת הָ אֲ דָ מָ ה‬

Again we have gone down to the spring To draw water in gladness Because our fields have born fruit And the blessings of many young cattle

‫שׁוּב י ַָר ְד וּ אֶ ל הָ עַ יִן‬ :‫לִ ְשׁאֹב מַ יִם בְּ ָשׂשׂוֹן‬ ‫כִּ י הֵ ִיבוּ ְשׂדוֹתֵ י וּ‬ .‫וּב ְֹרכוּ עַ ְשׁ ְתּרוֹת הַ צֹּאן‬ ‫ַי ֲעלֶה ָא ִרנּוּ ֵ וּ‬ :‫תַּ ֲעלֶה ְתּפִ לַּת ָרצוֹן‬ ‫כִּ י יָשׁוּבוּ ִמכְּ ַף אֶ ֶרץ‬ !‫כָּל אַחֵ י וּ לְ צִ יּוֹן‬

Let our joyous song rise With our desired prayer Because from the corners of the world All our brothers and sisters returned to Zion

TOWARDS JERUSALEM

‫לך ירושלים‬ Lach Yerushalayim Words: Amos Ettinger Music: Eli Rubinshtein Made Famous By: Ron Eliran

‫ עמוס אטי גר‬:‫מילים‬ ‫ אלי רובי שטיין‬:‫לחן‬ ‫ רן אלירן‬:‫הושר על ידי‬

EMANATING FROM ZION

‫כי מציון‬ Ki MiTzion Words: Isaiah 2:3 Music: David Zahavi

‫ג‬:‫ ישעיהו ב‬:‫מילים‬ (‫ עמ ואל עמירן )פוגצ'וב‬:‫לחן‬

*** For out of Zion shall go forth Torah and the word of Adonai from Jerusalem.

‫כִּ י ִמצִּ יּוֹן תֵּ צֵ א תו ָֹרה‬ ‫ירוּשׁ ֽ ָליִם‬ ָ ‫ְוּדבַ ר ְי ָי ִמ‬

THE COFFEE POT

‫הַ ִפי ְגָ'אן‬ HaFinjan Words: Chayim Hefer Music: Armenian Folk Melody

‫ חיים חפר‬:‫מילים‬ ‫ עממי ארמ י‬:‫לחן‬ ***

The wind blows cold We’ll add a chip to the campfire And thus with scarlet limbs It will rise on fire like a sacrifice.

The fire flickers, The song blossoms Around, around goes the finjan.

If it boils fast a third time The heart will tremble and be glad The olden verse will return.

Here, the coffee is already done.

We’ll drink and give praise What taste, what smell Around, around goes the finjan.

Years and generations have passed Borders and bridges and bonfires A stranger will never understand The taste of a song well-played Any paratrooper, any reservist Forever would remember it The eternal coffee of the finjan

,‫הָ רוּחַ ו ֶֹשׁבֶ ת ְק ִר ָירה‬ ,‫דוּרה‬ ָ ‫וֹסִ יפָ ה קֵ יסָ ם ל ְַמּ‬ ‫אַרגָּמָ ן‬ ְ ‫וְ ָכ בִּ זְרוֹעוֹת‬ ;‫בָּ אֵ שׁ ַי ֲעלֶה כְּ קָ ְרבָּ ן‬ ,‫הָ אֵ שׁ ְמהַ בְ הֶ בֶ ת‬ ,‫ִשׁ ָירה ְמלַבְ לֶבֶ ת‬ ...‫ סוֹבֵ ב הַ פִ י ְ גָ'אן‬,ֹ‫סוֹבֵ ב לו‬ –‫ישׁית חִ ישׁ י ְִרתַּ ח‬ ִ ִ‫וְ ִאם בַּ ְשּׁל‬ ,‫הַ לֵּב ֶיח ֱַרד וְ י ְִשׂמַ ח‬ :‫ַי ֲחזֹר הַ פָּ סוּק הַ נּו ָֹשׁן‬ .‫הִ נֵּה הַ קָּ פֶ ה כְּ בָ ר מוּכָן‬ : ַ‫ְִשׁתֶּ ה וּ ְ ַשׁבֵּ ח‬ , ַ‫ יֵשׁ ֵריח‬,‫יֵשׁ טַ עַ ם‬ ...‫ סוֹבֵ ב הַ פִ י ְ גָ'אן‬,ֹ‫סוֹבֵ ב לו‬ ,‫ָשׁ ִים יַעַ בְ רוּ וְ דוֹרוֹת‬ ,‫וּמדוּרוֹת‬ ְ ‫גְּ בוּלוֹת וּגְ ָשׁ ִרים‬ ‫ַלזָּר לְ ע ֹולָם א יוּבַ ן‬ , –‫מַ ה טַּ עַ ם הַ זֶּמֶ ר ֻ ַגּן‬ ‫צַ ְחָ ן וְ ֵרז ְֶרבָ ה‬ –‫תָּ ִמיד ִי ָזּכֵר בָּ הּ‬ ...‫בְּ " ַגְ לָה" ְִצחִ ית ֶשׁל פִ י ְ גָ'אן‬

BY THE ROAD STANDS A TREE

‫אויפֿן וועג שטייט אַ בוים‬ Oyfn Veg Shteyt a Boym ‫ איציק מא גער‬:‫מילים‬ ‫ פיליפ לסקובסקי‬:‫לחן‬

Words: Itzik Manger Music: Philip Laskowsky *** By the road stands a tree; A bent tree, All the birds of the tree Have flown away.

3 toward the east, 3 toward the west, And the rest toward the south, And the tree is left alone astray, in front of the storm.

‫אויפֿן וועג שטייט אַ בוים‬ ‫שטייט ער אי ַי געבויגן‬ ‫אַלע פֿייגל פֿו עם בוים‬ ‫זע ען זיך צעפֿלויגן‬ ‫ דרי ַי קיין מערב‬,‫דרי ַי קיין מזרח‬ ‫און דער רעשט קיין דרום‬ ‫און דעם בוים געלאָזט אַליין‬ ‫הפֿקר פֿאַרן שטורעם‬

I say to momma "Listen, If you don't stand in my way, I'm going to, momma, one-two, become a bird...

I'll sit in the tree And I will lull it and comfort it through winter With a lovely tune."

Hay dalidali hay dalidali hay...

‫זאָג איך צו דער מאַמע הער‬ ‫זאָלסט מיר אָר ישט שטערן‬ ‫וועל איך מאַמע איי ס און צוויי‬ ‫באַלד אַ פֿויגל ווערן‬ ‫איך וועל זיצן אויפֿן בוים‬ ‫און וועל אים פֿאַרוויגן‬ ‫איבערן ווי טער מיט אַ טרייסט‬ ‫מיט א שיי עם יגון‬ ‫הי ַי דאַלידאַלי הי ַי דאַלידאַלי הי ַי‬

Momma says, "No, child," And weeps wet tears.

God forbid, in the tree you might freeze."

I say, "Momma, it's a waste of your lovely eyes, Because before you know it, I’ll become a bird."

‫זאָגט די מאַמע יטע קי ד‬ ‫און זי וויי ט מיט טרערן‬ ‫קע סט חלילה אויפֿן בוים‬ ‫מיר פֿאַרפֿרוירן ווערן‬ ‫זאָג איך מאַמע ס´איז אַ שאָד‬ ‫די ַי ע שיי ע אויגן‬ ‫און איידער וואָס און איידער ווען‬ ‫בין איך מיר אַ פֿויגל‬

‫וויי ט זי מאמע איציק קרוין‬ ‫עם אום גאָטעס ווילן‬ ‫עם כאָטש מיט א שאַליקל‬ ‫זאָלסט זיך ישט פֿאַרקילן‬ ‫די קאַלאָשן עם דיר מיט‬ ‫ס´גייט אַ שאַרפֿער ווי טער‬ ‫און די קוטשמע טו דיר אָן‬ ‫וויי איז מיר און ווי ד מיר‬ ‫הי ַי דאַלידאַלי הי ַי דאַלידאַלי הי ַי‬ ‫און דאָס ווי טער לייַבל עם‬ ‫טו עס אָן דו שׁוטה‬ ‫אויב דו ווילסט ישט זייַן קיין גאַסט‬ ‫צווישן אַלע טויטע‬ ‫כ´הייב די פֿליגל ס´איז מיר שווער‬ ‫צו פֿיל צו פֿיל זאַכן‬ ‫האָט די מאַמע אָ געטאָן‬ ‫דעם פֿייגעלע דעם שוואַכן‬ ‫קוק איך טרויעריק מיר אַרייַן‬ ‫אין דער מאַמעס אויגן‬ ‫ס´האָט איר ליבשאַפֿט ישט געלאָזט‬ ‫ווערן מיך אַ פֿויגל‬ ‫אויפֿן וועג שטייט אַ בוים‬ ‫שטייט ער אי ַי געבויגן‬ ‫אַלע פֿייגל פֿו עם בוים‬ ‫זע ען זיך צעפֿלויגן‬ ‫הי ַי דאַלידאַלי הי ַי דאַלידאַלי הי ַי‬

‫‪And momma cries "Itzik, my crown,‬‬ ‫‪As God would want,‬‬ ‫‪take a scarf with you anyway,‬‬ ‫‪Lest you catch cold.‬‬ ‫‪"Put on your galoshes,‬‬ ‫‪A severe winter is coming.‬‬ ‫‪And take your fur hat.‬‬ ‫!‪Woe is me‬‬ ‫‪Hay dalidali hay dalidali hay...‬‬ ‫‪"And wear you winter jacket,‬‬ ‫‪put it on, foolish child,‬‬ ‫‪Lest you become a guest‬‬ ‫"‪of the dead.‬‬ ‫‪I lift my wing, but it's hard...‬‬ ‫‪Too many, too many things‬‬ ‫‪Has momma put on‬‬ ‫‪her weak little bird.‬‬ ‫‪I see myself sad‬‬ ‫;‪into my momma's eyes‬‬ ‫‪Her love did not allow me‬‬ ‫‪to become a bird...‬‬ ‫;‪By the road stands a tree‬‬ ‫‪A bent tree‬‬ ‫‪All the birds of the tree‬‬ ‫‪Have flown away.‬‬ ‫‪Hay dalidali hay dalidali hay...‬‬

AT THE REBBE’S TABLE

‫ביים רבי ס טיש‬ Baym Rebin’s Tish Words: Unknown Music: Unknown

‫ לא ידוע‬:‫מילים‬ ‫ לא ידוע‬:‫לחן‬ ***

,‫אַז דער רבי עמט זיך פּראַװען דעם טיש‬ As the rebbe begins ,‫מאַכט ער דאָס מיט גרױס כּװ ה‬ [to celebrate] the tish, ‫און אַ טעלער מיט פֿרישע‬ he does this with great kavone. ,‫פֿײַ ערדיקע פֿיש‬ And the gabbai Elkhone ‫רוקט אים גלײַ ך‬ passes him a plate .‫ אלח א‬,‫או טער דער גבאי‬ with fresh, spicy fish.

Oh, how many thoughts pass through the godl-hador in an instant!

He tastes only a bit of the fish, and gives the rest to his hasidim.

‫אײַ דער גדול־הדור‬ ,‫פֿאַרציטעט די מחשבֿות‬ ‫גאָר אָן אַ בליק פֿאַרזוכט פֿון די דגים‬ ‫אַ ברעקעלע אָר‬ .‫און שע קט עס די חסידימלעך אַװעק‬

Oh, there was a chasing, a pushing, a grabbing, a commotion just like at the holy banquet [of messianic times].

The Jews hurry, the sheep jostle, to get a piece of fish.

‫ אַ שטופּע יש‬,‫אײַ אַ יאָגע יש‬ ,‫אַ כאַ פּע יש‬ ‫ אַזױ װי‬,‫אַ לאַ פּע יש‬ ,‫בײַ דעם הײליקן טיש‬ ,‫די ייִדעלעך זײ יאָגן זיך‬ ,‫די שעפֿעלעך זײ שלאָגן זיך‬ .‫צו כאַ פּן אַ ברעקעלע פֿיש‬

Everyone grabs a piece. ,‫אַיעדער כאַ פּט אַ שטיקעלע‬ It refreshes you, , ‫דערקװיקעלע‬ ‫מען האָט דערפֿון‬ it gives you a new soul. ,‫מען קריגט אַ שמה אַ ײַ ע‬ People take with their hands. ,‫גערלעך‬ ‫מען עמט דאָך מיט די פֿי‬ People lick with their tongues. ,‫מען לעקט דאָך מיט די צי געלעך‬ They savor it smacking their lips. .‫מחיה‬ ‫ ס'איז פּשוט אַ‬,‫מען סמאַקעװעט‬ It’s a pleasure!

Whoever hasn’t yet tasted ‫װער עס האָט אָך יט פֿאַרזוכט פֿון דעם‬ ‫ דער האָט אין זײַ ן לעבן‬,‫רבי ס שיריים‬ the rebbe’s shirayim, he doesn’t know true pleasure. ,‫ דאַכט זיך װאָס‬,‫אָך גאָר יט גע אָסן‬ ,‫ גאָר פּשוטע דגים‬,‫ אױ‬,‫דאַכט זיך פֿיש‬ And from what? ‫אָבער דעם טעם האָט עס‬ From fish, oy, simple fish. .‫פּו קט װי דער לװיתן‬ But it tastes like the Leviathan!

GLOSSARY Rebbe Tish Kavone Gabbai Elkhone Godl-haDor Hasidim Shirayim Leviathan

Rabbinic Leader of Hasidic Groups Table (fit for celebration!)

Spiritual Intention Dutiful Official in the Synagogue Yiddish name, from the Hebrew Elchanan Greatest of the Generation Jews that are maybe too obsessed with their rabbi Leftovers from the Rebbe’s Plate (very mystical) Legendary Sea Monster

Sheila Tannenbaum, Mendel Fisher (Exec. Dir. of JNF), Tova, Topol (original Tevye)

THOSE WERE THE DAYS

‫בימים ההם‬ BaYamim HaHem Words: Gene Raskin Music: Boris Fomin Tova’s Most Requested English Song

‫ ג’ין רסקין‬:‫מילים‬ ‫ בוריס פומין‬:‫לחן‬

BLUE AND WHITE

‫כחול ולבן‬ Cachol v’lavan Words: Israel Reshel Music: Israel Reshel

‫ ישראל רשל‬:‫מילים‬ ‫ ישראל רשל‬:‫לחן‬

IN GRATITUDE Thank you to all who made tonight possible and helped me reach this moment on my rabbinic path.

HUC-JIR Capstone Advisors: Rabbi Dr. Lisa Grant, Dr. Gordon Dale Rabbi David Adelson Cantor Richard Cohn Rabbi Dr. Andrea Weiss Dr. Wendy Zierler Classmates and Teachers Yoram Bitton, Tina Weiss, Library Staff Laura Kruger, Jeanie Rosensaft, HUC-JIR Museum Harriet Lewis, Andy Estevez, Marcus Villegas, Elio Cruz Maintenance, Operations, and Security Staff Amanda & Meredeth Kelly Rabbi Dr. Martin Cohen, a Godl-haDor who let me miss class today Experts Lorin Sklamberg, Eléonore Biezunski, YIVO Sound Archive Joshua Price, Sheva Zucker, YIVO Summer Program Bonni-Dara Michaels, Yeshiva University Museum Dr. Nili Scharf Gold, Professor at UPenn Dan Nadel, guitarist Shira Averbuch, (inner) voice coach Interview Subjects: Ron Eliran, Cantor Inbal Sharett-Singer, Bernie & Raya Gitlow, and Zalmen Mlotek All the wonderful musicians listed in the program Supporters B’nai Jeshurun, Rabbis Roly Matalon and Felicia Sol, Hazan Ari Priven BJ Aviv 20s/30s Rina Goldberg, Hanukkah Cocktail of Joy and Song North Fork Reform Synagogue Rabbi Renni Altman Rabbi T Community Ariel Milan-Polisar, Preston Neimeiser, Shira Gluck, Jennifer Mager And all who lent a helping hand today and in the past Family My sister Rosie My parents Sandy and Danny My grandmother Tova, loving proof that memory can be a blessing