By the Stove
Mark Warshawsky's Oyfn Pripetshik, reimagined in Russian.
Listen to the recordingJewish Songs in Russian · Project archive
Russian-language archive
I founded «Еврейские песни. По-русски» (Jewish Songs in Russian) as its concept creator and creative producer, not as the writer of its Russian lyrics.
Olga Anikina wrote the Russian poetic adaptations and original texts featured here; Elechka performed many of the recordings. This archive preserves the recordings, their sources and listener memories. My new English-language songwriting is a separate chapter.
Listener comments retain their original language and English translations.
Earlier recordings
Jewish songs in Russian
Russian poetic adaptations and original texts by Olga Anikina, including recordings sung by Elechka and produced by Walter J. Kin. Credits and source notes distinguish adaptations from literal translations.
Hava Nagila
Olga Anikina's Russian poetic adaptation, performed by Elechka.
Listen to the recordingHold On · Russian recording
Ступенька раз-два ступенька
Olga Anikina's Russian words to the melody of Hevenu Shalom Aleichem. Performed by Riglis Band; arrangement and production by Walter J. Kin (RIGLI).
Listen in RussianA record of earlier work
12M+ Verified Views & Streams
Russian-language versions, as of July 2026. Combined plays and views, not unique listeners or results for the new English series.
Explore the sources
Keep the names and the history with the music
Not every song in this collection was written in a ghetto or camp. The linked entries distinguish historical sources, testimony, adaptations and later remembrance.
Vilna ghetto · Historical song
Spring in the Ghetto
Friling, by Shmerke Kaczerginski and Avrom Brudno. Russian adaptation by Olga Anikina.
Story, credits & recordingLodz ghetto · Testimony
Children on the Train
A work rooted in Miriam Harel's testimony, carried by a familiar children's melody. Read the source context before listening.
Story, credits & recordingLater work of remembrance
Summer Day
Olga Anikina's original Russian text in dialogue with Rikle Glezer's history. Not presented as a literal translation.
Story, credits & recordingVilna ghetto · Historical song
Yisrolik
Leyb Rozental and Misha Veksler's portrait of a boy selling cigarettes and saccharine in the ghetto.
Story, credits & recordingCamp history & remembrance
Freedom Tango
A song with Polish, Yiddish and Russian layers. Its encyclopedia entry follows the history and attribution.
Story, credits & recordingHatikvah
“Our anthem is wonderful. It's heartfelt, un-warlike, steeped in love for one's country.”
A Handful of Happiness
“All a person needs is a handful of happiness. And that's really how it is.”
Dreidel
“How your songs change one's mood. Jewish songs celebrate life. Even in everyday moments they find a connection to the Universe, to Truth, and accept everything that fate hands them.”
Children on the Train
“Thank you so much, it is very sad. But this must be remembered forever, so that it never happens again.”
A memory from the Russian-language catalog
By the Stove: a grandfather and an ABC book
@medeo911, commenting on the Russian recording. Preserved in the listener archive; this is one personal response, not a representative audience survey.
English translation
It reminded me of myself by the stove, with my grandpa... and the ABC book... I shed a few tears ((
Russian original
вспомнила себя у печки, с дедулей.. и Азбукой... Всплакнулось ((
Source recording and comments · Song history and attribution