I can't believe you did this whole interview without mentioning the documentary film on this subject - the history of H.N. starting with the niggun in the Ukraine - Where they meet a descendent of the Rabbi taking his students to the same dilapidated shul - serendipitously (?) - It premiered in the San Francisco International Jewish film festival last Summer, and it has since played in others. Go look for it!

Did you happen to see the story that the Wall St. Journal did on the subject of Hava Negila - several weeks ago? Wondered if it inspired the story.

If you are Jewish, no matter what age you are, you will always think of Hava Nagila as corny and uncool, but you will lovingly associate it with your family and people.

My neighbor attended that Harry Bellafonte concert at Carnegie Hall mentioned this evening. As I child I overheard her ecstatically describing Bellfonte's concert. I remember her telling my mom how she began to cry when he sang Hava Nagila, touched by the recognition of this Jewish song,a tender gesture, a recognition of Jewish culture much more rare in public venues then than now. Thanks for bringing the memory back!