Songbook's file / תיק – שִׁירוֹן

🎶 Songbook of the Academic Association in Dorpat

These sources constitute a collection of songs and lyrics edited by the "Akademisher Farein" (Academic Association) in the city of Dorpat in 1924. The book includes a wide selection of literary works, folk songs, and student songs, written mainly in Yiddish and Hebrew. Among its pages one can find Zionist songs, Hasidic melodies, and holiday songs, alongside traditional drinking hymns such as "Gaudeamus" in Latin. The organized structure of the table of contents reflects a clear thematic division intended to serve the cultural life of Jewish students at that time. This is a fascinating testimony to the musical and social heritage of the Jewish academic community in Eastern Europe between the world wars. The introduction to the book emphasizes the importance of cultural preservation and the use of familiar melodies as a tool for strengthening communal bonds.

The book presented in the sources is the "Lider-bukh" (Songbook) published by the "Akademishen Farein far Yidishe Geshikhte un Literatur" (Academic Association for Jewish History and Literature) in the city of Dorpat (today Tartu in Estonia).

Below is an expansion on the details of the book, its contents, and its purpose as reflected in the sources:

Background and Dedication

• Circumstances of publication: The book was published in honor of the 40th anniversary of the Academic Association in Dorpat. The date indicated on the back of the book is February 24, 1924, and the preface of the committee was signed in June 1924.
• Purpose: According to the preface, the need for the book arose from the absence of an organized song collection in Yiddish and Hebrew for members of Jewish student associations. The book was intended to serve members for communal singing in social settings and at various celebrations.

Structure of the Book and Its Contents

The book is divided into several thematic sections representing the cultural world of Jewish students at that time:

1. Student Songs and Drinking Songs (Studenten-lider un Trink-lider): Includes the general student anthem "Gaudeamus" (in Latin), drinking songs in Yiddish and Hebrew, and songs unique to the Dorpat association.
2. Hasidic Songs and Holiday Songs (Hasidishe un Yom-Tov lider): Songs such as "Tsu der Rebbe Elimelech" and "Mai Ka Mashma Lan".
3. Songs of Zion (Tsiyones-lider): A broad section including national songs such as "Hatikvah", "Se'u Tsiyona", "Nes Tsiyona", and "Tsiyon Halo Tish'ali".
4. Folk Songs and Romantic Lyrics (Lirish-romantishe un folkstimlikhe lider): Includes well-known songs such as "Lo Bayom Velo Balayla" by H. N. Bialik and "Unter di Grininke Boymelekh".
5. Art Songs (Kinstlerishe lider): Songs of a more artistic character, such as "Herbst Lid" (Autumn Song).

Prominent Figures and Contributions

• The introduction expresses thanks to several individuals who assisted in editing and preparation, including Yaakov Jakobson, L. Lewisan, M. Basel, and R. Zalmanovitch.
• The book includes translations and adaptations of major Hebrew poets, such as H. N. Bialik and Shaul Tchernichovsky (mentioned as the translator of the song "Joshua Bin-Nun").

Additional Features

• • Language: The book combines songs in Yiddish and Hebrew, and at times presents versions of the same song in both languages or translations between them.
  • Music: The book includes an appendix of musical notation ("Notn Beylage") for some of the songs.

A particularly interesting song appearing in the sources is **"Joshua Bin-Nun"** (Song No. 34a), presented in a Hebrew translation by the renowned poet **Shaul Tchernichovsky**.

The song appears in the book in two parallel versions: the Yiddish version (p. 52) and the Hebrew translation (p. 53), and it is included under the section **"Songs of Zion" (Tsiyones-lider)**. The combination of the biblical-national theme together with the translation by one of the greatest Hebrew poets makes it a literary gem within the collection.

Below are the lyrics of the song in Tchernichovsky's translation as they appear in the original:

Another song that may be of interest due to its student character is "Kalim Kegalim" ("Light as waves" Song No. 4), which appears in Hebrew alongside a Yiddish version (titled "Slipen, vi veln…"). This is a typical student song dealing with the transience of life and the importance of joy and friendship.

List of Sources

• E18-1f : Songbook (Lider-bukh) published in Dorpat in 1924 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Academic Association for Jewish History and Literature, including student songs, folk songs, and songs of Zion in Yiddish and Hebrew.

E18-1f

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