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.

Reflecting on a Secular Jewish Upbringing

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Peter Sokolow, a full-time professional musician active in Klezmer revival, talks about his secular upbringing in Crown Heights and his mother's unique political philosophy.

This is an excerpt from an oral history with Peter Sokolow.

This excerpt is in English.

Peter Sokolow was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1940.

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

Other video highlights from this oral history

What is Klezmer Revival?

1 min 21 sec

Peter Sokolow, Klezmer Fats

3 min 4 sec

My Father's Piano

1 min 32 sec

"Rumania, Rumania"

4 min 5 sec

“I Found Out I Could Play Tunes on That Thing”: The Beginning of A Music Career

3 min 9 sec

What’s a Club Date?: Peter Sokolow Explains

2 min 26 sec

The Beginning of A Catskills Career

2 min 52 sec

Working with Dave Tarras

1 min 40 sec

Mentors in Jewish Music: the Epstein Brothers and Sydney Beckerman

9 min 35 sec

Peter Sokolow Remembers Humorously Bad Gigs

6 min 29 sec

"It's Not Hip To Be Authentically Jewish": Klezmer Trends and Fusion

5 min 8 sec

More information about this oral history excerpt

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