Professor Kun and Idelsohn Society release compilation holiday album

On Nov. 13, communication professor Josh Kun and the Idelsohn Society for Musical Preservation released a holiday music set that features both Hanukkah and Christmas music.

The 2-disc compilation includes a Hanukkah disc, featuring traditional Jewish songs and other eccentric selections, and a Christmas disc that features Christmas songs by artists that have ties to Judaism.

According to an article in The New York Times, the album is meant to showcase Hanukkah’s history and significance in America, as well as the influence of Jewish songwriting on American Christmas music.

In the article, Kun said, “the way Jewish songwriters tried to transform Christmas into a secular celebration reflects their desire to become American, to embrace the giddiness of the season.”

The Idelsohn Society for Musical Preservation is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization that aims to incite conversation about Jewish history through the preservation of its music. The society was founded seven years ago by Kun, as well as Roger Bennett, Courtney Holt, and David Katznelson, all of whom are passionate Jewish record collectors.