It uses texts taken from the collection Jewish folk songs, compiled by I. Dobrushin and A. Yuditsky, edited by Y. M. Sokolov (Goslitizdat, 1947).
[1] The cycle is just one of many works by Shostakovich to incorporate elements of Jewish music; he said that he was attracted by "a jolly melody on sad intonations".
[2] The first eight songs of the piano version was composed in August 1948, after Shostakovich's denunciation in the Zhdanov decree of that year.
Three more songs, which explore the great life Jews enjoyed under the Soviet regime, were added in October 1948 in order to allow the cycle to pass the censors.
[3] The composer's situation made a public premiere impossible until January 15, 1955, when it was performed by Shostakovich himself on piano with Nina Dorliak (soprano), Zara Dolukhanova (mezzo-soprano) and Aleksei Maslennikov (tenor).