Let's rejoice
Jewish songs should not become inaccessible because their words are locked inside a language most listeners do not understand. Here they live again in English, with the meaning intact.
New Jewish songs, and Yiddish and Hebrew classics reborn in English. Developed, produced and released by Walter J. Kin (RIGLI), with collaborating writers and performers.
4.2 million streams (LANDR) and 4.5 million YouTube views of the Russian-language versions, as of June-July 2026.
I am Walter J. Kin, and in music I go by RIGLI
For nine years I have been bringing old Jewish songs back to life for people who never got to hear them: Yiddish and Hebrew classics, holiday songs, and new songs of Jewish joy, reborn in a language the world can understand. First in Russian, where they reached millions. Now in English.
What still amazes me: the poet and the voice who first carried these songs to those millions came to them from outside the tradition, and they found themselves in the songs anyway. That is the whole idea. These songs were never only ours.
Old songs, new lives, for all.
Catalog streams: LANDR, June 2026, led by Russian-language Jewish releases. YouTube: public RIGLI channel total, July 14, 2026. The English chapter is next.
Now in English
Songs from the growing English-language collection. Press play, they run right on this page.
Hanukkah
The English chapter
The songs already exist. My job is to finish them beautifully. This year I am producing eight new English-language releases from the catalog: finished audio, original cover art, a YouTube release, and a story page for each.
The target format is a series of intimate artist portraits: singers, bands, and ensembles who take these songs into their own repertoire, telling how audiences receive them and weaving the telling with performance.
An open call for artists is coming: singers, bands, ensembles, and producers looking for Jewish repertoire in English will be invited to send a demo.
People hear it. All people
Real voices from our listeners. Collected from 583 comments, in the original Russian with English translations. Most of these writers are not Jewish. A song moved them first, and then they asked what the words mean.
"I am Tatar. I cry to this song. Prosperity to the Jewish people!"
@Almaz-o8l, on Hava Nagila"I don't understand it either, why any Jewish melody makes me feel life so intensely and rejoice in this life. I am Orthodox Christian."
@ЕленаАбакунчик, on Hava Nagila"I am Russian for as many generations back as I know, but I cannot hold back my tears. Maybe other nations also cry from our Russian songs?"
Елена Быкова, on TumbalalaikaBehind the songs
Walter J. Kin
Producer, writer, director. New York City. Member of The Dramatists Guild of America.Elechka
The voice behind Russian-language releases heard through millions of plays.Olga Anikina
Poet. Her Russian adaptations opened Jewish songs to Russian-speaking listeners across many countries.One mission, three doors: the encyclopedia, the songs and stories, the author. One open seat: I am building a team to take Jewish songs to the top of the charts. And one invitation: write new Jewish songs with us.
The goal is a living online home where people can create, understand, enjoy, and develop Jewish songs in English and Russian, until the best Jewish songs in English become part of modern mainstream culture.