The East End of London has always been a place of political protest and activism and this episode focuses on East End Jewish radicalism. From the union protests of the 1880s through to fighting fascism in the 1936 Battle of Cable Street, Nadia and Vivi discuss Yiddish-speaking activists in East End politics with historians Professor Ruth Livesey and Dr Sarah Glynn. Join us in listening to Morris Winchevsky’s attempts to cajole Victorian Jewish workers into action with one of his Meshugener Filozof (Crazy Philosopher) columns, read by Nick Cassenbaum, and Winchevsky’s angry ballad ‘London bay nakht’ (London at Night). Join in singing stirring protest songs with the Great Yiddish Parade and the strike songs of the Rego-Polikoff factory women!
The Cockney Yiddish Podcast is written and presented by Nadia Valman and Vivi Lachs
Produced by Natalie Steed at Rhubarb Rhubarb for Queen Mary University of London
Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council
Guests: Professor Ruth Livesey and Dr Sarah Glynn
Reader: Nick Cassenbaum
Featured story: Morris Winchevsky, ‘How Do You Become a Poet’, translated by Vivi Lachs, from East End Jews: Sketches from the London Yiddish Press (Wayne State University Press, 2025).
Featured songs:
- Klezmer Klub. ‘London bay nakht’. Words: Morris Winchevsky. Music: Vivi Lachs, 2024. http://www.klezmerklub.co.uk.
- ‘Mare Street, Hackney’ (1929) (Rego and Polikoff Strike Songs, 1983)
Theme music: Klezmer Klub, ‘Vaytshepl mayn vaytshepl’ (trad), and ‘Yiddisher Honga’ (trad). From the CD Whitechapel mayn Vaytshepl (Klub Records, 2009)
Podcast image: © Jeremy Richardson
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