Pete Seeger’s 7 most Jewish songs
The great folk singer was also a great spokesinger for Jewish culture
For Pete?s Sake: Iconic singer Pete Seeger died on January 27 at the age of 94. Image by Getty Images
Editor’s Note: The original version of this article was published May 3, 2014.
Pete Seeger, who was born May 3, 1919, may have been a far greater believer in organizing people than he was in organized religion. “I feel most spiritual when I’m out in the woods,” he said when he was the subject of a PBS American Masters documentary. But growing up in the Jewish enclave of West Rogers Park in Chicago, I always viewed him as a patron saint (or rabbi, if you will). And for many of us who grew up in secular households — religiously checking his albums out of the Nortown Public Library, listening to him on the “Midnight Special” on WFMT, sitting in circles to sing his songs in kindergarten, then later teaching our kindergarten children to sing those — we often felt most spiritual when we were listening to Pete Seeger. In honor of his memory, we offer 7 classic Jewish Pete Seeger songs.
Dayenu
Pete Seeger recorded the Pesach classic on his 1959 “Folk Songs For Young People” album.
Hinei Ma Tov
Pete Seeger performed this hymn to brotherhood and harmony with Theodore Bikel and Rashid Hussain.
Forever Young
Legend had it that Seeger was the one responsible for pulling the plug on Bob Dylan at Newport. But this recording of the song Dylan wrote for one of his sons suggests that, at some point, all was forgiven.
Tzena, Tzena, Tzena
During Seeger’s Greenwich Village Llewyn Davis days, he recorded this song with his quartet The Weavers.
Tumbalalaika
Seeger recorded this song with Ruth Rubin for the album “Jewish Songs and Games”
If Not Now, When?
Seeger mused on the words of Rabbi Hillel when he recorded this for the Isabella Freedman Retreat Center.
Turn, Turn Turn
The words came from Ecclesiastes; the melody was provided by Seeger.
Listen to That Jewish News Show, a smart and thoughtful look at the week in Jewish news from the journalists at the Forward, now available on Apple and Spotify:
I’m personally matching all gifts to the Forward, up to $36,000. Can I match your gift now?
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
