Singer Releases Yiddish Classic “A Sukkahle”
Toronto-based chazzan and singer Chaim Freund has released a new rendition of the classic Yiddish Sukkos song “A Sukkahle” (A Little Sukkah), accompanied by a handmade papercut-style animated video.
by COLlive Editor · COLliveToronto-based chazzan and singer Chaim Freund has released a new rendition of the classic Yiddish Sukkos song “A Sukkahle” (A Little Sukkah), accompanied by a handmade papercut-style animated video.
The beloved Yiddish song tells the story of a small sukkah built from simple, mismatched boards and covered with a little schach. A cold wind blows through the cracks and extinguishes the candles, yet somehow the little lights continue to burn. The song then looks back at nearly two thousand years of Jewish history, with the sukkah still standing, before concluding with the prayer “HaRachaman Hu Yakim Lanu Es Sukkas Dovid Hanofeles” — asking Hashem to raise up the fallen Sukkah of David.
Freund, who has loved singing the song on Sukkos for years, wanted to bring its warm, heimishe feeling to life in a new way while keeping the simplicity and emotion of the original.
The lyrics are based on “In Suke,” the Yiddish poem by Avrom Reyzen (Abraham Reisen), with the familiar traditional melody.
The video, concept, art direction and animation were created by Lavi Klein, using a handmade papercut-inspired visual style to tell the story of the song.
Chaim Freund serves as Chazzan at Shaarei Shomayim in Toronto, where he brings together traditional chazzanus and contemporary Jewish music. In addition to his regular position, he travels to shuls and communities for Shabbosim and special programs throughout the year.
For bookings and inquiries: Chaimelfreund@gmail.com
Instagram: @chaim_freund
Watch “A Sukkahle”:
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