The tsimbl (trapeziform hammered dulcimer) formed the sonic backbone of many klezmer ensembles as early as the 16th Century, and was ubiquitous enough to have generated the Ashkenazi family name “Zimbalist.” It generated reams of engraved icons with Jews, Gypsies, cherubs, skeletons, tramps and thieves and even led to the emergence of the xylophone in the classical orchestra via the mysterious "Wood and Straw" man. The lore surrounding the instrument is full of references to the wandering Jew and the instrument itself has alternated as a symbol of both poverty and wealth, Jew and Gentile alike. Join Josh in a colorful lecture to find out why Poles still say, "Ty cymbały!" (you idiot) and what caused an instrument so common for hundreds of years to fall from grace and almost disappear from modern consciousness.