Our penultimate podcast of 2025 delves into the rarified and mysterious mystical musical form, Khazones. Khazones is Yiddish term for the work of the synagogue cantor, or Khazn. It is music, prayer, speech, and more all at once.

Today we talk with two incredible musicians, Judith Berkson and Jeremiah Lockwood. They have banded together to create an a new cultural organization and record label, Khazones Underground. KU is celebrating 3(!) inaugural releases featuring classic and new Khazones sung by the most dedicated musicians of the craft today.

Dan talks with Judith and Jeremiah about the depth and the beauty of Khazones, their personal histories in relationship with it and why they’re putting all of their considerable musical might behind this new endeavor. We take time to shout out.the Khazentes, the women of the past and present, who sang Khazones with awe inspiring might This is a chance to open your mind to a vast mystical world of Jewish music with a storied past and thanks to Khazones Underground, a bright future.

Music on this episode:



* L’olom Yehey Odom – Yoel Kohn

* Ike Benk Aheym – Rachel Weston (with Fran and Flora)

* Berditchever Kadish – Shahanna McKinney-Baldon (Stephanie Lippert, piano)

* V’hu Yashmiyeynu – Judith Berkson (with Kronos Quartet)



https://khazonesunderground.com/

https://khazonesunderground.bandcamp.com/

Radiant Others is produced by Dan Blacksberg and Beila Ungar. The podcast aims to be the internet’s central space for important conversations in Yiddish and Klezmer music. Please support our work on https://www.patreon.com/RadiantOthers, and tip us as https://tiptopjar.com/RadiantOthers







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