Isabel Frey, at Brighton One Church, 6th April 2025
"Revolutionary Yiddish Culture: relevance for today’s world"
Every now and then, one of those gigs happens, that we know will stay with us as a significant memory for many a year, this was one of them. Organised by Ben Rogaly and the team at Brighton reading Room (the safe space/activist/library group, not the new cafe at Black rock) and billed as ‘Revolutionary Yiddish Culture: relevance for today’s world”
“A performance and conversation with Isabel Frey including light vegan dinner provided by local Palestinian-owned cafe, Aroma.”
“Isabel Frey is a Yiddish singer, songwriter, ethnomusicologist, and political activist based in Vienna. She specialises in Yiddish revolutionary and resistance songs, reviving the tradition of left-wing Jewish activism by connecting it to contemporary political issues. Through her work, she continues the rich tradition of Yiddish music, composing new Yiddish songs that reflect and respond to modern times.”
An incredible space (much more than a gig) with live music from Isabel Frey in conversation with David Rosenberg, who interviewed her between songs on "Yiddish culture, Bundism, diasporism, women’s equality, anti-fascism and organising for Palestine". As well as organising anti fascist and Jewish history walks of the East End, he is also one of the founders of the Jewish Bloc on the Palestine marches.
Isabel sang a set of Yiddish songs, with translations in English above her via a projection screen. Accompanied by acoustic guitar, her stunning music, moved the room, clapping and occasionally singing along, between songs she shared her in depth knowledge of the music and it’s context, as well as telling her own story and activism during the conversation. Do check out here work, it’s highly recommended.
After the music and conversation, there was a shared meal with delicious food from local Palestinian cafe Aroma. The event was held at One Church Brighton, which is an important inclusive safe community space in Brighton. They recently hosted the International Women’d Day/Celebration of Palestinian women event.
Huge thanks to Ben and all the team who put this together. It seems so often the main stream narrative ignores Jewish voices that are protesting against what is happening in Palestine, I've seen first hand how some of the 'pro Israel' groups try to intimidate or silence these voices.
This event was incredibly enjoyable from a music perspective, but also important as a safe, sociable space, including important historical and contemporary movements, giving space to dialogue, creativity and sharing that too often feel under threat. For safeguarding reasons there was a no photo's policy and the event team documented the evening themselves, so these pics are CD's and book we bought at the gig. The last pic is a flyer for the Cockney Yiddish Podcast, who were in attendance - it’s a great pod, well worth a listen.
The event was sold out, and it was great to see many familiar faces, and catch up for a chat during the meal, in what was a lovely evening for all.
Funds raised at the event were for Ele Elna Elak, a volunteer orgainsation bringing fresh water and food to Gaza
Isabel’s music is on Bandcamp, we encourage everyone to directly support artists and independent record labels by purchasing it there rather than streaming.