I have always striven to raise the voice of hope for a world where hate gives way to respect and oppression to liberation.

But, when I toil in the field of Jewish culture which I frequently do, I am indeed a Jewish artist.

After the advent of the written word, the masses who could not - or were not permitted to - read, were given sermons by the few who could.

In my world, history comes down to language and art. No one cares much about what battles were fought, who won them and who lost them - unless there is a painting, a play, a song or a poem that speaks of the event.

I am determined to give the Yiddish language a fighting chance to survive.

I prefer to choose which traditions to keep and which to let go.

If I have one vanity wish, it would be to direct. It's the only thing I haven't done yet that I would like to.