Jewish, the Musical
In "Jewish, the Musical," not all of the songs are of Jewish origin. Out of the 35 core songs, at least eight come from other musical traditions. For example, we use a Ukrainian melody for the song 'Happy Birthday!' While the text is entirely in English, the melody carries the flavor of Odessa, a city that has long been part of Jewish history and culture.
One of the standout non-Jewish songs is "How to Be Strong," which is based on a Calypso melody from Caribbean musical traditions. Though it may not have Jewish roots, the song has been adapted into a powerful scene during the liberation of Buchenwald in 1945. In this scene, Aloha, a nurse in the U.S. Army originally from Hawaii, pulls out her old ukulele from her worn military nurse’s bag and sings this song, to comfort Rebecca, a 15-year-old girl who survived the horrors of the concentration camp. Rebecca is extremely thin, barely able to stand, and eats the small bowl of potato soup (we can hear "Kartofel Zup Mit Shvomen" coming from somewhere far) that Aloha gave her. Aloha watches her kindly, worried that Rebecca might make herself sick as she eats quickly and hungrily. Gently, Aloha asks her to slow down and take her time. Aloha, explains that her mother used to sing this song to her, and now she offers it as solace after Rebecca breaks down in tears, sharing the heartbreaking story of what happened to her parents during the terrible events she endured.
Rebecca, known in the barracks as "Shalom" because of her bravery, earned this nickname by defiantly shouting "Shalom Aleichem" whenever she returned from the grueling work assignments in the camp, when the guards weren’t nearby. While some prisoners were terrified by her defiance, most felt a quiet sense of joy, admiring her courage and her connection to her roots in the darkest of times.
This approach of combining melodies from different cultures reflects my belief that music knows no boundaries. These diverse songs, integrated with Jewish lyrics and stories, highlight the central theme of the musical: the unifying power of music. Each song, whether rooted in Jewish tradition or elsewhere, serves as a tool for connection, breaking down barriers between ethnicities and musical styles.
A Dream Becoming Reality
Jewish songs have always been a vital part of Jewish culture and the world’s musical heritage. However, many of these beautiful songs are written in Hebrew, Yiddish, or other languages, making them less accessible to broader audiences. "Jewish, the Musical" is a project that adapts these songs into English to make them available to a wider audience.
Olga has translated and adapted into Russian many Jewish jewels specifically for "Jewish, the Musical," including "Hatikvah"(Атиква), and Holocaust songs like "Tango in Auschwitz", "Do Not Stand" and "Spring in the Ghetto." Some personal favorites include "A Bissele Mazel"(Горсточка счастья), Rabbeinu Tam (Рабейну Там), "Ale Brider", "Hava Nagila" and "Belz" (Бельц).
Thanks to Olga’s work, we've adapted over 35 classic Jewish songs for the musical. So far, we’ve completed a couple of adaptations into English from her Russian lyrics, and we are continuing the process. Our YouTube channel Rigli Music, where we’ve posted many of these songs, has already garnered over 4 million views, with an additional 15 million views across platforms like Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, Yandex Music, and others.
In addition to these well-known songs, "Jewish, the Musical" will also feature children's songs like "Rebbe Elimelech (Ребе Элимелех)", "I Have A Little Dreidel (Дрейдел и дети)", "Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah (Ханука, О, Ханука)", and the joyful "Chiribim Chiribom" (Чирибим чирибом). These songs are an essential part of the Jewish musical tradition and play a crucial role in educating younger generations, helping them take pride in their Jewish identity, cultural heritage, and the history of their people. They also help bridge generations, offering the audience a blend of nostalgia and celebration.
My goal is not just to bring this musical to Broadway, but to reach a global audience through film, television, and digital platforms. And who knows - maybe one day we'll even be accepting an Oscar, with the audience joining in to sing our heartfelt song "Mommy," a tribute to the guiding light that mothers represent in our lives.
The Story of Emma Glick
At the heart of the musical is the story of Emma Glick, a 16-year-old girl from a secular Jewish family in Manhattan. Emma’s mother, Oksana Chik ("Mommy" theme), was born in Ukraine and has Jewish, Ukrainian, and Italian roots, while her father, Boris Fridman, was born in the U.S. to Jewish immigrants.
Emma hasn’t always been certain about her connection to her Jewish roots. Her understanding of her heritage has been somewhat vague, and she has been hesitant to openly identify as Jewish, knowing that for some, it evokes mixed and often conflicting emotions. However, participating in the school musical will change her perspective. As she learns more about Jewish history, especially after watching the documentary Shoah and engaging in rehearsals with her classmates, she begins to connect deeply with the songs and the stories they tell. Through discussions with her peers and by exploring significant moments of Jewish history reflected in the musical, Emma’s attitude starts to shift.
By the end, she quietly but firmly embraces her Jewish identity – not in defiance or rebellion, but with a quiet pride. She even decides to translate "Hatikvah," the Israeli national anthem, into English. Her teacher, Olga Green, praises her work and includes the song in the musical. It is performed during a powerful scene where Jewish survivors of concentration camps, arriving by ship in 1947, sing the anthem as they step off the gangway onto the land of Israel. This moment reflects not only Emma’s personal journey but also the resilience and hope of the Jewish people.
The musical helps her grow – not only as a person, but also as someone more compassionate, responsible, and grounded in her heritage.
Emma and her classmates are preparing to perform "Jewish, the Musical" as a school project. Their teacher, Olga Green "Tumbalalaika" theme, helps them learn not just the music, but the importance of their ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The students themselves come from diverse families. One of Emma's best friends, Bella, is African-American and incredibly talented. She sings beautifully, and there's a natural grace and nobility about her.
In the midst of rehearsals, Joe, a boy from England who is only attending the school for a year, falls in love with Bella. During one of the scenes, he sings a song ("Darling") to her from behind a closed curtain on stage. Though shy, he peeks out twice with perfect timing for the moments when Bella turns away, making the scene playful and heartfelt.
As the students dive deeper into the musical, they discover songs that touch upon Jewish history, addressing powerful themes like exile and return. One song in particular, titled "Jerusalem", resonates deeply with the students, as it reflects the longing for the ancient city and the pain of displacement, much like the exile in Babylon. You can listen to the song here.
These students are part of the digital generation. They live online and are constantly connected through phones, social media, and technology. But through this musical, they learn a deeper lesson: while it’s important to be modern and forward-thinking, it’s equally important to stay connected to your roots, your cultural identity, and traditions. This message resonates throughout their rehearsals, where some students even compose their own arrangements and choreography. They understand that pride in one’s background can coexist with respect for other cultures.
Emma’s Connection with Mike
At the international student musical competition, where their performance reaches the finals on Times Square, Emma meets Mike (Michael), a boy one year older from the Israeli team. They perform a hip-hop adaptation of the Jewish song "Dire Gelt" (Нету денег) in Yiddish and English, and Mike’s dance skills impress Emma immediately. Though she says little at first, they exchange numbers after a meaningful conversation about their shared Jewish heritage. Mike’s mother is a Mizrahi Jew who fled to Israel during the revolution, and his father frequently travels to New York for business, where his software development company has its largest branch.
This connection with Mike is just the beginning of a romantic and pure relationship between the two. Although Emma is too shy to fully express her feelings at the festival, their bond will grow over time ("Yes, My Darling, Daughter"). In fact, three years later, Emma and Mike will get married, and their wedding will be featured in one of the scenes of the musical. The song for this scene, an adaptation of the Yiddish song Mizinke, is called "Forever" in English. You can listen to the nearly finished version of "Forever".
We also have a playful Russian version called "Getting Hitched" (Выходит замуж), though it was more of a lighthearted creation by Olga Anikina and may not be included in the final version of the musical. Still, the wedding scene adds a heartwarming conclusion to their love story and brings an emotional layer to the overall narrative.
Recognition and Success
For me as the creator, this project has also opened new doors. In 2018, I showcased 12 demo songs from the musical at the Theater Row festival, a collection of theaters on 42nd Street in New York City. This event marked the commercial debut of the project. Following that, "Jewish, the Musical" was recognized by The Dramatist Guild of America, an organization that includes the creators of major musicals like "Hamilton" and "Aladdin."
A Potential Partnership with ANU - Museum of the Jewish People
One of the exciting developments we are working toward is a potential partnership with ANU - Museum of the Jewish People in Tel-Aviv, Israel. The museum has shown interest in incorporating songs from the musical into their exhibits and educational programs. As the world’s largest museum dedicated to Jewish culture, ANU plays a crucial role in preserving and promoting Jewish heritage.
While nothing is finalized yet, we are hopeful that this partnership will come to fruition, and we are committed to doing everything possible to make it happen. We believe this collaboration would allow "Jewish, the Musical" to reach an even broader audience and help bring the richness of Jewish music and culture to life in new ways.
Music as a Bridge Between Cultures
"Jewish, the Musical" is more than just a performance. It’s a bridge between cultures, helping young people from all backgrounds find pride in their identities while learning to respect others. Music unites us all, regardless of our differences, and I believe this musical has the potential to become a significant contribution to the global stage.