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In a new album, Yiddish becomes a language of queer belonging

JL;DR SUMMARY Ira Khonen Temple's debut album, "Strange Tongue/Mistame Loshn," intertwines Yiddish and queerness, reflecting the artist's journey through diverse gender experiences and Jewish musical heritage. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

Jewish MusicYiddishJewish CommunityOrthodox JudaismGender IdentityKlezmerQueer IdentityCultural ReclamationIra Khonen TempleStrange Tongue

Places mentioned

Brooklyn, New York, United States
"Brooklyn-based Yiddishist and musician Ira Khonen Temple sings on the first track on their debut album, Strange Tongue/Mistame Loshn."
Budapest, Hungary
"Temple describes visiting a Budapest synagogue pre-transition and, not realizing that a gender divide was in effect, sat among the men and was offered a kippah."
Massachusetts, United States
"Raia, a 21-year-old Yiddishist in Western Massachusetts, agrees."
Queens, New York, United States
"Temple will next perform the album at Stone Circle Theater in Ridgewood, Queens, on Feb. 15."

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Retrieved 2025-12-24 18:00:41 UTC
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