Primary school pupils in Plymouth are being introduced to a centuries-old musical tradition originating from Eastern Europe, described as a 'first encounter' for many children with klezmer music and Jewish culture. This state-backed initiative, presented as part of the UK's first Jewish Culture Month, is framed as an effort to 'reconnect' the city with a heritage that is demonstrably new to its current native youth, raising questions about the focus of cultural education within national schools.
Elite Mandate
The project, organized by the Plymouth Jewish Community CIC, aligns with recent comments by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who called for "every part of society" to take responsibility against rising antisemitism. This top-down directive provides institutional backing for the cultural initiative.
The Klezmer Village Band has been actively taking this specific musical tradition into primary schools across Plymouth, complementing a sold-out public performance at The Drum at Theatre Royal Plymouth. These educational workshops and public events form a core component of the UK's first Jewish Culture Month.
Louise Clements, director of Plymouth Jewish Community CIC, articulated the project's objective to "bring Jewish culture back into the community," highlighting that this marks the "first time in many years that something like this has happened here." She further stated the project aimed to show "young people what Jewish life and music is like."
Cultural Re-education
At Woodfield Primary, the band's performance and workshops were attended by pupils from nearby St Peter's and Mount Street schools, facilitating a broad introduction to the culture.
Musician Ilana Cravitz provided context, explaining that klezmer music originates from Eastern Europe, specifically from communities that resided there when the region was part of the Russian Empire, with a significant portion of the music coming from areas now identified as Ukraine.
Cravitz characterized music as a "wordless language," observing, "People respond from inside - they stop thinking, they feel. And we really saw that today." She also mentioned that discussions during the sessions included themes of "people coming together... sometimes because they've felt excluded or persecuted, and finding connection through music."
Beyond the musical performance, the workshops were designed to open discussions among the participating children about concepts of identity, belonging, and shared experience, focusing on these themes through the lens of klezmer culture.
The etymology of the word "klezmer" was also shared, deriving from two Yiddish terms that translate to "vessel of song," a reference encompassing both the musical instruments and the musicians who perform the tradition.
The Cost to Native Identity
For a significant number of the children involved, this event marked their initial exposure to both klezmer music and Jewish culture, underscoring the novelty of the experience within their educational environment.
One pupil's comment, "No musicians have ever played live music to me before," suggests a broader lack of exposure to live cultural performances, rather than just this specific genre, within the current educational framework for native children.
Student responses to the performance were largely positive, with one pupil describing it as "lovely" and loving the "dancing and the singing," while another found the sound "really nice" and felt "happy and relaxed."
Musician John McNaughton offered his perspective on the children's engagement, noting their "innocence" and stating they are "not afraid to enjoy something new," framing their receptiveness in terms of a lack of prior conditioning.
Louise Clements also shared a personal connection to the music, stating, "It takes me back to family celebrations and weddings," and suggested that for others, the project aims to show "a different side of Jewish culture - something that sparks curiosity."