CultureJuly 17, 2026

klezmer

KLEZ-mer

Definition

A musical tradition of the Ashkenazi Jews of Central and Eastern Europe, characterized by its soulful, emotive melodies and its origins in secular folk dance music.

Etymology

The word is derived from the Yiddish 'klezmer,' which itself comes from the Hebrew 'kley zemer,' meaning 'vessels of song' or 'musical instruments.'

In the news

In this article, the word refers to the traditional Jewish musical genre that Psoy Korolenko studied, helping him uncover a connection to his own latent Jewish heritage.

Lost Holocaust music, nearly erased by Stalin, goes on tour in Asia

Read the full article ↗

Jewish Telegraphic Agency

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