Kumzits

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Kumzits" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Kumzits (קומזיץ) is used to describe a musical gathering that Jews partake in. Everyone sits together, be it on the floor or on chairs, and sings spiritually moving songs. To establish a certain ambiance the lighting is often low and candles are primarily used, or if taking place outdoors it is usually around a campfire.

If it is not the Jewish Sabbath then there will usually be musical instruments, such as guitar or violin. An orator will usually tell short inspirational folk-stories between songs.

Among Slonimer Chassidim, a similar gathering is called a "zitzen", which is Yiddish for "sitting", is conducted by the Chassidim after the Rebbe's Tish, without the presence of the Rebbe.

It is a compound word in Yiddish composed of קום (come) and זיץ (sit). Originally the word was coined by the Biluim. Despite the opposition of some who preferred to use the more distinctly Hebrew שב-נא Shev-na "please sit" or Persian/Arabic טוזיג "Tozig" (via the Talmud),^[1] the word has stuck and is used mainly by the religious but sometimes also the secular public.