The Yiddish Book Center's

Wexler Oral History Project

A growing collection of in-depth interviews with people of all ages and backgrounds, whose stories about the legacy and changing nature of Yiddish language and culture offer a rich and complex chronicle of Jewish identity.

Abba's Zmiros

Watch now:

Avraham Fried, Lubavitcher Hasidic recording artist, discusses (and sings a snatch of an example of) the songs his father and grandfather would sing at their Shabbos table and reflects on how their gift of song continues to connect the family all over the world.

This is an excerpt from an oral history with Avraham Fried.

This excerpt is in English.

This interview is part of the Yiddish and the Arts: musicians, actors, and artists series.

Other video highlights from this oral history

Drawing Inspiration From Secular Jewish Music: A Hasidic Singer Reflects

2 min 34 sec

"It's a Big Deal Now": Advances in Music Production in the Hasidic World

1 min 54 sec

Talking To G-d Through My Music

2 min 33 sec

Performing Classic Chabad Songs

1 min 55 sec

"The Story of Yaakov": Avraham Fried Sings and Explains One of Yom-Tov Ehrlich's Yiddish Songs

2 min 16 sec

A Vunderlikhe Matone (A Wonderful Gift): Zmires, Songs Passed Down Through The Generations

2 min 14 sec

"Music is the Best Medicine": Avraham Fried on the Inspiration to Keep Making Jewish Music

2 min 33 sec

"Closer to Hashem": My Role As a Hasidic Performer

1 min 31 sec

Spreading the Rebbe's Message Through Song: Avraham Fried on His Musical Career and Inspiration

5 min 16 sec

"Is it a Positive Message?": Keeping The Focus Through My Musical Career

2 min 27 sec

More information about this oral history excerpt

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