Helen wrote: Thanks Robert B. Waltz, you're probably correct. I did only say it reminds me of Jewish melodies, not that I think it is one of them.

Agreed, you did. But the point was worth a comment: It seems to me that Yiddish music is more likely to be in minor than are most other national musics. I don't have statistics, because I don't have a valid sample :-), but it is the impression I get from Ruth Rubin's books, e.g.

So a melody in minor is more characteristic of Yiddish music than of most other types.

I wonder if the "English folk song" bit arises from the fact that the tune was arranged by Mendelssohn, with someone assuming he picked up the tune in England. Wild speculation, that.