LYNN —   A Russian-speaking senior citizen’s chorus, Fargenign, will perform in Yiddish, Russian and English at the World Folk Festival at Lynn Heritage State Park on the Lynnway on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 2 and 3:20 p.m.

Fargening, Yiddish for pleasure or joy, was founded 15 years ago by the late Lubov Pievskaya, a Ukrainian immigrant. An enthusiast of the Yiddish language, Pievskaya wanted to preserve the everyday voice of the Ashkenazic Jewish people from Eastern Europe. Under her direction they evolved into a chorus that educates, entertains and delights audiences. After Pievskaya’s death in 2000, the chorus was barely able to survive due to lack of funds and no practice space.

Now, thanks to the enthusiasm and strong will of its current leader, Elizabeth Ratner, the chorus has returned to its guiding mission of maintaining and transmitting to others the legacy of the Jewish people’s history and culture through music.

Ratner has led the 15-person Fargenign for three years and has recruited new voices, organized and conducted performances.

Fargenign is comprised of members from all walks of life and different geographical regions of the vast Former Soviet Union. They are engineers, teachers, inventors, mathematicians and biophysicists who came together to share a common love of Jewish and Russian music. They are not professional singers, but they possess feisty personalities and contagious congeniality. This enthusiastic group of people religiously meets every week in the common room of the Leisure Towers apartment building in Lynn.  

“We act as one big family,” said Bronislava Barats, formerly of Ukraine. “I am 77-years-old and I can say, that the chorus gave me a second chance at life.”

Former Moscovites, Bella and Alexander Shurucht, engineers and veterans of the chorus, had been bard singers since youth in Moscow. Both agree that performing in the chorus has helped them combat nostalgia for their homeland.

Other members are Nella Zaitchik, from Belaruss, and a niece of Rabbi Samuel Zaitchik; Igor Starikov, from St. Petersburg, an inventor and author of more than 100 scientific works; Elizabeth and Vladimir Romm, who worked in Harvard and MIT, and many more.  

Under Ratner’s leadership Fargenign expanded its repertoire and increased performances. Included are old favorite Russian songs, folk songs, and songs from movies. The audience, mostly senior citizens, relates to the familiar songs. Many, who have shared experiences and survived WWII, appreciate the wartime songs. At a summer concert, listeners laughed, cried and sang along.

“Life is to be lived everyday. Our performances give people joy, and maybe even prolong their lives,” Ratner said.

Ratner, although not a professional musical director, has done an excellent job of blending voices and developing stage presence. She admits that the group needs a professional choirmaster, someone who knows Yiddish and Jewish music and lyrics and can help the chorus achieve a higher level. The chorus is also looking for sponsors.

This Saturday Fargenign will sing Tum Balalaika, Sunrise-Sunset, Russian song Kalinka-Malinka and other songs.