A Zemerl, written by Leib Rozental and sung here by his sister, Chayela Rosenthal (Chajele Rozental) (1924-1979). Chayela was born in Vilna, Lithuania. Her brother Leib (Leyb Rozental 1916-1945) was a famous Yiddish poet and lyricist. His songs include: "Mir Leybn Eibeck" / "Yisroilik" / "Ich Benk Aheim" /"Shotns"/"Tsu Eyns Tzvey Dray"/"Susie"/ "Vilna"/ "Veyn Nisht Narele"/ "Pak Zich Eyn"/ " Bayrn Geto-Toyer"/ songs from "Peshe Fun Reshe"and other Ghetto musicals he collaborated on. Chayela performed his songs in the Vilna Ghetto, and soon earned the title of "Wunderkind of the Vilna Ghetto".
The songs written by Leyb Rosenthal accompanied many Vilna Jews on their final destination to extermination camps. Leyb was deported to Klooga Camp in Estonia where he was brutally murdered just one day before the Soviet Troops liberated that camp. Chayela’s mother was separated from her in a selection and taken away to be killed. Chayela and her sister Mary were deported to the labor camp Kaiserwald, in Riga, and were thankfully, eventually liberated.
Chayela survived the Holocaust concentration camp horrors, and went on to perform in Displacement Camps around Europe. Molly Picon discovered Chayela in Poland and elicited the help of Sol Hurok to get Chayela to France. In Paris (1949) Chayela married Xavier Piat-ka (formerly Israel Jutan) and continued starring in Yiddish musicals and theatre productions in Europe, Israel, USA (on Broadway) and in South Africa. In 1951 Chayela and Xavier went to live in South Africa where Chayela continued her world wide concert tours as well as adding English stage shows and work in Film and television. Chayela and Xavier had two daughters, Naava and Zola. Naava (1952-2007) wrote the musical “ Better Don’t Talk”, based on Chayela’s life and Zola is an award-winning singer-songwriter and recording artist with multiple CD releases ( www.zola.us ). Read more on Chayela at: [ Ссылка ] [ Ссылка ]
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