The Frieda Vizel Podcast

Riki Rose and Frieda Vizel play nostalgic Hasidic children's games

May 3, 2026·21 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Link to the video version: https://youtu.be/uvwSkTZbjOoYou can buy kugelech here:https://amzn.to/3YbJPTHCan you play this game? Do you know these chants?In this video, I explore kugela (plural: kugelach)—a simple game of five stones that carries centuries of history. With Yiddish singer Riki Rose, we try to play, reminisce about childhood games, and uncover a whole world of “oldies” that once shaped how children everywhere played.Before toy stores, before screens, children made their own fun—on stoops, in streets, with whatever they could find. Many of those games have faded from mainstream culture. But in Hasidic Brooklyn, they’re still alive.We talk about:– How kugela (five stones/knucklebones) is played– The culture of homemade play before modern toys– Street games, chants, and clapping rhymes– Why Hasidic communities preserved these traditions– The strange, funny, and sometimes dark songs we all grew up withThis is part nostalgia, part cultural anthropology, and part me failing at a children’s game.Watch more videos with Riki Rose:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhW2QoO54ycwpngXudOzA5as9MfS4Ss6ARiki Rose:--} YouTube:  @riki_rose  --} Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riki_rose/If you grew up with any of these games or chants, tell me in the comments—I’m collecting them.FriedaBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-frieda-vizel-podcast--5824414/support.

Podzilla Summary coming soon

Sign up to get notified when the full AI-powered summary is ready.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.

Listen to This Episode

Get summaries like this every morning.

Free AI-powered recaps of The Frieda Vizel Podcast and your other favorite podcasts, delivered to your inbox.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.