"The Jewish People" (20'56" to 21'58"). On O Little Town of East New York (1991), filmed on location at the Dance Theater Workshop in New York City. Text by Shelley Hirsch; music by Shelley Hirsch and David Weinstein; film and slides, Shelley Hirsch and Eric Muzzy; camera, Eric Muzzy; decor, Shelley Hirsch, Gail O'Keefe, Liz Prince; costumes, Liz Prince; lighting, Lori Dawson; audio, Brooks Williams and David Weinstein. Courtesy Shelley Hirsch, David Weinstein, and the Dance Theater Workshop.

In this early, staged performance of O Little Town of East New York, Hirsch's text of the vignette titled "The Jewish People" differs slightly from the version she recorded for New American Radio the following year. See PURL 5.7. "The Jewish People” (7'29" to 8'26"). Radio version of "O Little Town of East New York" (1992).

The Jewish people in the projects, they looked so tiny there inside of all the big buildings they had. They used to sneak out of there to go to synagogue on the High Holy Holidays. I wanted to go downstairs with the men, with the nice silk shawls they had. But we had to sit upstairs. We had to sit upstairs.

"Cantorial" singing

And it was such a beautiful song the cantor was singing.

"Cantorial" singing

You know, the projects, where it is now, there used to be a big, beautiful synagogue, with marble. I thought stone was forever.