Tears, Joy and Hope

Yiddish Songs Written in the Jewish Ghetto with soprano Harriet Bennish Tears, Joy, and Hope brings to life the poignant stories of everyday life in the Jewish ghettos of Europe from 1940 - 1945. Through poetry and song, Jewish artists gave voice to their fears, their struggles, their dreams, and their determination to endure. In the shadow of unimaginable suffering and death, music became a powerful expression of humanity, resilience, and hope. Sung in the rich and expressive Yiddish language in which they were written, these rarely heard songs come alive through the voice of soprano Harriet Bennish, accompanied by cello and accordion. Historical photographs and both English and newly added Spanish translations, offer a moving glimpse into the lives and experiences of the composers, writers and performers who lived in the ghettos. Tears, Joy, and Hope began as a live concert and research presentation in 2018. Over the years, generous donations allowed each song in this program to be professionally arranged. In 2024, Harriet worked with director Jerry Prell to help transform the concert into a powerful one-woman show, bringing greater focus and dramatic depth to the stories behind each song. In 2025 Harriet debuted the newly staged production at Der Nister Yiddish Cultural Center in Downtown Los Angeles for Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. Content Advisory - This concert offers a historical reflection on the Holocaust and daily life in the Jewish ghettos of Europe between 1940 and 1945. Although there are no disturbing images, the program does include spoken accounts of violence, persecution, and loss of life. Due to the sensitive nature of this material, the concert may not be suitable for children under the age of 12. Here's what audiences are saying: “Bennish’s voice and reciting of the Yiddish songs and true stories of the ghettos will break your heart and move your soul. A must-see event!” -Mona Golabek, concert pianist and author of “The Children of Willesden Lane” “Harriet Bennish breathes life into song lyrics that tell stories about people escaping their pursuers and stopping long enough to lament their disappeared parents and loved ones. The songs remind us of a fear and mourning as fascists separated families and detained them in ghettoes during the Holocaust. They also compel us to look at our present.” - Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, journalist, poet “I don’t know a word of Yiddish, but I felt that you were telling a story of the forgotten. By giving us the English translations, each song was made more dear and meaningful … someone years ago sang these songs of love, death and survival.” - Carol Greenberg, congregant, Temple Israel of Long Beach “Harriet, your program is an intervention for combating antisemitism.” - Dr. Ayal Feinberg, Ph.D., scholar and researcher of antisemitism, Gratz College.