The Hopeful Solidarities research project in Brighton and Hove aims to work with community groups in the city to facilitate and support spaces of hope and solidarity in times of crisis. The project has received funding from the University of Brighton and is also funded by SHED as part of the Necessity network.
One of the groups we are working with is Yiddish singing workshops, a collaboration between students, university staff and Polina Shepherd’s former Brighton and Hove Yiddish Choir.
As much as possible the text consists of quotes from the interviews. The report is thus a case study of the choir through the voices of its members. It brings together choir members’ perspectives on the history of the choir; Jewishness and Yiddish; Brighton and other places; the role of music and singing; rehearsal and performance spaces; and the effects of the pandemic. The final sections of the report consist of choir members’ reflections on community, solidarity and hope.
Names of research participants have been changed except where people have requested in writing that their real name be used. More details on the research methods and the ethical approval received from the University of Brighton can be found here.
