[ about the project ]
In the 1920s and 1930s, Yiddish was one of the official languages in Belarus, alongside Belarusian, Polish, and Russian. Together with Belarusian, it was the language of the “tuteishyya,” the locals, expressing not power but rootedness, a sense of belonging. It was also a living language of poets and writers. For Yiddish poets, Belarus was not just a setting but a theme, a homeland, a cultural lens: they wrote about it, within it, and for it. Today, this vibrant layer of Belarus’s multilingual heritage is almost forgotten.
Building on this legacy, Yiddish Veršes is a music album based on Yiddish poetry of Jewish poets from Belarus in the first half of the twentieth century. Seven contemporary Belarusian artists transform these long-sidelined texts into original compositions across genres — from dreamy dub and electronic to art-rock and rap. The project is initiated by Belarusian-Jewish Cultural Heritage Center in partnership with music label Radio Plato.
MUSICAL ALBUM
“The fate of Belarusian Yiddish literature is such that the Soviets destroyed the writers, and the Nazis — their readers. Can Belarusians become the heirs of that literature?”
— Siarhei Shupa, linguist
The project brought together seven Belarusian artists: Palina, Tok Rukoo, KOOB, WTBSK, Syndrom Samazvanca, Lightowy, and Anastasia Rydlevskaya - who reimagined the poems in their own musical language. Each of them documented their creative process in personal video diaries that became the basis for a dedicated Instagram visual campaign.
ALBUM & ARTISTS
"This project is not an attempt to recreate the past, but a way to bring it into the present. What emerged is not a stylization or reconstruction, but an organic continuation of a legacy that is now growing new roots."
— Maya Katznelson, curator, BJCH Center
[ the poets ]
Leyb Naydus (Hrodna, 1890–1918) — one of the pioneers of modern Yiddish poetry in Belarus. Influenced by European aesthetics and modernism, he brought a cosmopolitan vision to Yiddish literature, gaining popularity among Jewish youth.
Avrom Reyzen (Koidanova / Dziarzhynsk, 1876–1953) — a poet of the Jewish labor movement who emigrated to the United States, though his work also appeared in Soviet publications.
Moyshe Kulbak (Smarhon, 1896–1937) — the most celebrated Yiddish poet of his time, blending folklore, mysticism, and modernist form. Executed in 1937.
Izi Kharyk (Zembin, 1898–1937) — a widely published proletarian poet and major figure of Soviet Yiddish literature. Executed.
Avrom Reyzen (Koidanova / Dziarzhynsk, 1876–1953) — a poet of the Jewish labor movement who emigrated to the United States, though his work also appeared in Soviet publications.
Moyshe Kulbak (Smarhon, 1896–1937) — the most celebrated Yiddish poet of his time, blending folklore, mysticism, and modernist form. Executed in 1937.
Izi Kharyk (Zembin, 1898–1937) — a widely published proletarian poet and major figure of Soviet Yiddish literature. Executed.
[ tracklist ]
- KOOB & Thomas Varrall — «Leib Najdus» (poem by Leyb Naydus “I Drink The Nectar Of The Sun With My Heart”)
- Lightowy — «Niemata» (poem by Moyshe Kulbak “Silence”)
- Palina — «Maladym» (poem by Izi Kharyk “Don’t Live in Despair”)
- Anastasia Rydlevskaya — «Howl» (poem by Avrom Reyzen “Howl, Howl, Raging Winds”)
- Syndrom Samazvanca — «Viecier» (poem by Izi Kharyk “Wet, Lost Wind”)
- Tok Rukoo — «Sérénade Mélancolique» (poem by Leyb Naydus "Sérénade Mélancolique")
- WTBSK — «Heler Papir / Light paper» (poem by Moyshe Kulbak “Song of the Beggar (3)”)
[ snippets ]
“I’m endlessly grateful for how cohesive this compilation sounds. As the music curator, I saw that the musicians didn’t just adapt the poems — they lived them, allowing the voices and imagery of the Yiddish poets to speak through them.”
— Aliaksandr Karnejchuk, Radio Plato
[ live in Vilnius ]
On June 13, 2025, Yiddish Veršes was presented in Vilnius during Culture Night with live sets by Tok Rukoo, Syndrom Samazvanca, and WTBSK — mixing album tracks with original repertoire.
PRESENTATION
Organized by the Belarusian-Jewish Cultural Heritage Center, Radio Plato, Goethe-Institut Vilnius, and Cvi Parkas, with support from the Jewish (Litvak) Community of Lithuania and the Vilna Gaon Museum of Jewish History.
[ to watch ]
VIDEO
[ thanks for the support ]
MASS MEDIA
“Not just a release, but an example of a powerful coming-together of Belarusian musicians. Yiddish Veršes is a project about poetry, memory, and Jewish heritage reimagined through music. A very compelling lineup of artists who reveal themselves anew while tackling a demanding musical challenge.”
KLIK — Belarusian music media
read
read
“The poem is relaxed, light, yet at the same time carries a kind of burning message that struck me deeply. In our time, as questions of identity multiply, returning to history becomes especially important for me — the history of peoples, and the effort to better understand the character of people and of nations.”
“Yiddish Veršes - a unique project of Belarusian musicians”
LRT - Lithuanian National Radio
listen
listen
“When meanings and answers run out, sometimes it’s therapeutic to look into the past. That’s why I’m always interested in participating in retrospective projects. I chose this poem precisely because of the line “seek the strength for happiness.” A simple and relevant thought, an impulse. Musically, I wanted to create a feeling of joy amidst a harsh, monotonous reality. And I was also inspired by my hip-hop classes.”
Producer & Curator: Maya Katznelson
Music Curator: Aliaksandr Karneychuk
Expert Support: Mikhail Krutikov, Siarhei Shupa
Mastering: Uladzimir Patapenka
Visual Design: Vladimir Gorz
Release Strategy & Communications: Ilia Vorobey, Viktoria Fedorova
Music Curator: Aliaksandr Karneychuk
Expert Support: Mikhail Krutikov, Siarhei Shupa
Mastering: Uladzimir Patapenka
Visual Design: Vladimir Gorz
Release Strategy & Communications: Ilia Vorobey, Viktoria Fedorova
Belarusian-Jewish Cultural Heritage Center
Radio Plato
Radio Plato
PROJECT TEAM
PROJECT ORGANIZERS