On Sunday, December 23rd, the Kishinev Jacobs Jewish Campus gathered together to celebrate the life and work of renowned musician and Yiddish cultural activist Sergo Bengelsdorf and to honor the recent publication of his new book Моя Жизнь в еврейской культуре, known in English as My Life in Jewish Culture.
The evening began with a presentation on Bengeldorf’s late mother, the distinguished Birobidzhan poetess Luba Wasserman. Bengelsdorf himself recited several of her poems in Yiddish and Russian, visibly moving the crowd as he perfectly evoked the characteristic interplay between strength and delicacy in Wasserman’s poetry. Interspersed between readings were performances by Bengelsdorf and some of his most talented students and colleagues. As one of the most respected names in the overlooked tradition of Yiddish art-song, Bengelsdorf showcased a number of high caliber performers, some of who traveled from Israel in order under him.

Beloved Yiddish singer Slava Farber also performed, writing new lyrics to the Yiddish vaudeville standard A briv funem khosid tsu dem rebn, praising Bengelsdorf, a number of local Moldovan Jewish organizations and the Joint Distribution Committee for their continued support of Jewish cultural activity.
The true highlight of the evening, however, came towards the night’s end when Bengelsforf’s friends and colleagues came to the front of the stage and offered personal words of warmth and gratitude. One of the speakers was particularly eloquent, stating that while Bengelsdorf’s memoirs had been published, his “life in Jewish culture” was far from over. The standing ovation he received seemed to echo the same sentiment. Tsu lange yorn! Here’s to many more productive years!