![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63d81ac5a1aaf761ea85d240/f70c3af6-a57a-412d-9a62-25a843875d6d/pleytem+landing+banner+03-944.jpg)
A new Yiddish theatrical concert
by JOSH WALETZKY
AMERICAN PREMIERE PERFORMANCE:
SUNDAY,
MARCH 26, 2023
1 pm & 6 pm showtimes
Presented by the National Yiddish Theater Folksbiene at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Park, NYC
New York-born composer Josh Waletzky’s new Yiddish song cycle—“pleytem tsuzamen / פּליטים צוזאַמען/ Refugees Together”— is a call for solidarity with those who are most threatened. Confronting our current reality, the songs present a dynamic fusion of traditional forms with the social, political, and personal challenges posed by the world today — and they embody the power of music to foster the courage we need to “link arms and take to the streets together against bloodshed and hatred.”
These songs are stunning and political—addressing immigration and refugeeism, climate collapse, racism, foster care, mass shootings, antisemitism, and “Make Our Race Great Again” ideologies. Waletzky’s voice has rarely been more powerful or timely.
Creative Team
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Josh Waletzky
Music and Lyrics
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Michael Barakiva
Director
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Angela Baughman
Sound designer
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Miriam Crowe
Lighting Designer
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Asia Fruman
Ukrainian Supertitle Translations
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Jeyn Levison
Theatrical Book, Creative Producer
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Zhenya Lopatnik
Sand Art
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Mackenzie Towbridge
Stage Manager
Waletzky wrote these songs for a chosen group of master Yiddish singers, the foremost contemporary
performers, teachers, and transmitters of Yiddish song—Daniel Kahn (US, Germany), Sveta Kundish
(Ukraine, Israel, Germany), Sasha Lurje (Latvia, Germany), and Polina Shepherd (Russia, Tatarstan,
England)—as well as for his own voice. Accompanying the singing is, likewise, an ensemble of master
Yiddish instrumentalists, also among the foremost contemporary performers, teachers, and transmitters
of Yiddish instrumental music—Deborah Strauss (US/violin), Jake Shulman-Ment (US/violin), Ilya
Shneyveys (Latvia, Germany, US/accordion), Polina Shepherd (piano), and Beth Silver
(Canada/cello). pleytem tsuzamen also incorporates Ukrainian sand/shadow artwork by Zhenya Lopatnik.
Meet the Performers
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Daniel Kahn
Voice, guitar
Photo: Oleg Farynyuk
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Sveta Kundish
Voice
Photo: Michael Bezman
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Sasha Lurje
Voice
Photo: Shendl Kopitman
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Merlin Shepherd
Clarinet
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Polina Shepherd
Voice, Piano
Photo: Kirill Nikitin
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Ilya Shneyveys
Accordion
Photo: Anton Tal
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Jake Shulman-Ment
Violin
Photo: Lloyd Wolf
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Beth Silver
Cello
Photo: Shendl Copitman
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Deborah Strauss
Violin
Photo: Avia Moore
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Josh Waletzky
Voice
Photo: Jeyn Levison