Jewish Folk
Unlike the other types of folk music, Jewish folk music is very diverse and has many different types of music styles. Jewish folk music is divided into three different categories. One is Ashkenazi and it is Yittish-based music that mixes with german music and some western Europe countries. The next is Sephardic, which consists of Ladino-based music and that mixes in with Spanish and Turkish music. The last is Oriental which is original Jewish music in their own language. These types of music are mainly about culture and ethnicity, and how people have gone through hardships. For example, during the Holocaust, many Jewish people wrote and sang folk music songs while they had to work in the camps. They also had Jewish festivals that helped express their songs and dance. They even wrote lullabies and tunes for their children in order for them to fall asleep. The Jews traveled over to the U.S. in order to escape their own hardships, to pursue work and to make money.
Here is an example of a Jewish folk song, called Durme Durme, sung by Flory Jagoda:
From TRKKNCL on YouTube
From TRKKNCL on YouTube
One of the most common instruments in Jewish folk songs is called a Lyre. It mainly looks like a mini harp but it is smaller and has distinct differences. It is used to play more classical folk songs, but it is still very common to hear a lyre in a jewish folk song.
Here are a few pictures of a Jewish Lyre:
Picture (left) from: Glenn J. Hill
Picture (right) from: Robert Mock
Here are a few pictures of a Jewish Lyre:
Picture (left) from: Glenn J. Hill
Picture (right) from: Robert Mock
In Braintree, there is a temple there called "Temple B'Nai Shalom" that clearly suggests that there is Jewish culture there. It holds shabbat morning sessions and allows anyone to come to share Jewish culture. It states on their website that anyone is welcome, from children to anyone who wants to just stop by. They want to spread their culture in any way possible, especially with this temple. There is also a hotel in Braintree that suggests there is Jewish background. It is called the Hyatt Place Hotel, and it was founded by Jay Pritzker, who has a heavy Jewish background. Although the hotel is not Jewish based, it was still owned by someone who was Jewish, meaning the Jews definitely traveled to Braintree in order to pursue work and to make a living.
Here is a picture of the Temple B'Nai Shalom, in Braintree (left) and a picture of the Hyatt Place
(right):
Picture from Paula Goldman, from the temple's website. Picture from
Here is a picture of the Temple B'Nai Shalom, in Braintree (left) and a picture of the Hyatt Place
(right):
Picture from Paula Goldman, from the temple's website. Picture from