Songs of the Ghetto

During World War II, the term “ghetto” took on new meaning as a place where Jews in Nazi–controlled Europe were required to live, usually later to be transported to concentration camps. Ghetto residents often turned to music to express their sorrow, ease their burden, and seek courage. While many of the songs relate directly to the Holocaust, others concern Jewish life in Eastern Europe prior to the war.

The songs in this recording are sung in Yiddish, traditionally the primary secular language of Eastern European Jews. Cantor Abraham Brun (1909—1998), a Holocaust survivor, is uniquely qualified to sing these songs, having performed many of them in the Lodz Ghetto and in the concentration camps at Auschwitz.

The liner notes, written in English and Yiddish, contain the song lyrics and a brief biography of Cantor Brun.

Track Listing

101	Ten of Us Seated	Cantor Abraham Brun	02:58
102	School Days	Cantor Abraham Brun	03:33
103	No Raisins and No Almonds	Cantor Abraham Brun	02:40
104	Uncle Itzi	Cantor Abraham Brun	01:33
105	If Not Faith	Cantor Abraham Brun	02:26
106	Little Jew Brothers	Cantor Abraham Brun	01:40
107	Tonu Rabonon (The Talmud Student)	Cantor Abraham Brun	04:30
201	Moments of Confidence	Cantor Abraham Brun	02:47
202	Quiet, Be Quiet	Cantor Abraham Brun	04:01
203	Suns Do Not Become Extinguished	Cantor Abraham Brun	01:31
204	Shut Your Little Eyes	Cantor Abraham Brun	02:58
205	My Years	Cantor Abraham Brun	02:24
206	A Song	Cantor Abraham Brun	03:07
207	Why Need We Cry?	Cantor Abraham Brun	02:35