Badchen

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A badchen (plural: badchonim) (meaning "joker" or "clown") traditionally entertains before and after Ashkenazic Jewish weddings. They are generally learned men comparable to a maggid or sermonizer.^[1] Currently they are only common in the Hasidic world.

Wedding parties were one of the few contexts in which Jewish tradition allowed music and dance.^[1]

In addition to a badchen, but the rabbi who actually performs the wedding, an elaborate traditional wedding might also involve a letz (a jongleur/musician) and a marshalik (a master of ceremonies).^[1]

The badchen has to be able both to provide the energy for a party before and after the ceremony itself and also to make the transition to a more serious tone immediately before the ceremony.^[1]

Some famous badchonim include Chaim Menachem (Mendel) Mermelstien (born March 2, 1920 in Munkacz, died November 7, 1985), considered the father of modern day badchonus,^{[citation needed]} and the present-day performer Yankel Miller.

The 19th century Broder singers began as badchonim, but began to perform outside of the context of weddings. They, in turn, are usually seen as the forerunners of Yiddish theater.

On the Jewish holiday of Purim many young men undertake to be badchanim during Purim spiels.

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• Liptzin, Sol, A History of Yiddish Literature, Jonathan David Publishers, Middle Village, NY, 1972, ISBN 0-8246-0124-6, 22-23.