Louis Keene discusses the problematic origins of a popular Purim melody, Mishenichnas Adar, which is sung to the tune of the folk song "Pick A Bale of Cotton," originally of African American origin and including offensive lyrics related to slavery.

Yiddish singer Adah Hetko, known for modernizing classic songs from ethnomusicologists like Ruth Rubin, collaborates with Allison Posner and Joe Hetko to perform a fresh rendition of the traditional Yiddish folk song "In Droysn Iz Fintster" (Its Dark Outside), which has a timeless appeal.

This episode of "Across the Pond" was recorded at Limmud Festival in Birmingham, U.K., featuring guests Anthony Mordechai Tzvi Russell and Gabby Edlin.