Kissin, Gale
Gale Kissin, a.k.a. Gishe Reyzl, is a Yiddish folksinger and guitarist.
- Listing ID: 1447
- Background: Gale Kissin (Gishe Reyzl) has been singing Yiddish music since before she was fluent in English. In childhood, she was exposed to a Yiddish education in the Workmen’s Circle / Arbeter Ring tradition. Years later, she studied Yiddish at the YIVO Institute and in 2012 co-founded the Sonoma County band Mama Loshn. In 2014, Gale co-founded the first two-day Sonoma County "YiddishLand!” Festival. She has served as Musical Director for the annual Sonoma County-wide Yom HaShoah commemoration for several years, and has stage-managed the Sonoma County JCC's annual Simcha Sunday. Gale is frequently invited to present workshops, including a JCC Sonoma County-sponsored workshop entitled “Where Did Yiddish Come From and How Do I Put It to Music?" Gale serves on the Sonoma County Jewish Film Festival Committee and is a member of the JCC Sonoma Board of Directors.