Mascha Benya

Mascha Benya was a Russian-born Jewish singer who made significant contributions to the world of music, particularly in the realm of Yiddish and Hebrew folk and art music. Born Masha Benyakonsky in 1908, she began her career as an opera singer in Berlin during the 1930s, performing with the Jüdischer Kulturbund. However, her time in Berlin was cut short due to the rising tensions of the time, and she emigrated to New York after the Kristallnacht.

In the United States, Benya became a prominent figure in promoting and preserving Yiddish and Hebrew music. She worked with various organizations, including the Workman's Circle and the Kaufman Music Center, to teach and share her knowledge of these musical traditions. As a touring singer, radio performer, and recording artist, Benya helped to introduce these genres to a wider audience, leaving a lasting legacy in the music world. She passed away in 2007, at the age of 99, leaving behind a remarkable body of work that continues to inspire and educate people about the richness of Yiddish and Hebrew music.