Zumer iz Shoyn Vider Do – זומער איז שוין ווידער דאָ

Hey, vi zitstu, yatl, hey!

Du gist dokh oys di gantse tey!

Un du veyst nit, az kedey

Du zolst kenen trinken tey,

Vert in Khine onheyb may

A gelaf, a pilderay,

Un khinezelekh vi di hezelekh

Nokh anand yogn zikh,

Iber Khine trogn zikh.

Do un dort, vu an ort,

Vu es vaksn shtroykher tey —

Loyfn, loyfn Khine-layt,

Un biz heyzerik men shrayt,

Un men rayst di bleter tey,

Un men putst un reynikt zey,

Un in kerb, geflokhtn fayn,

Shit men zey dernokh arayn.

Un dernokhdem — eyns un tsvey,

Flink af tepekher fun shtrey,*

Shit men bleter un tseshit,

Un men zitst, un men hit

A sho tsvey, a sho dray

Pust-un-pas, frank-un-fray.

Hey, itst veystu, yatl, hey!

To trink zhe oys di gantse tey!

Hey, watch out, lad, don’t you see,

You’re going to spill out all your tea.

And you don’t even stop to think,

So that you’ll have tea to drink,

Over in China in early May

There’s hustle-bustle and a fray,

People running like the hares,

Racing, dashing everywhere.

Drifting, always on the go,

In every place where tea leaves grow,

Running, Chinese folks, of course,

Screaming, shouting till they’re hoarse,

They pick the tea, leaf and bud,

Clean and scrub it free of mud,

And in a basket woven tight,

They pour the leaves in, what a sight.

And one and two, then after that,

They spread the leaves out on a mat,

The leaves are crushed and dried and ground,

Folks sit and sift them round and round,

For an hour, two or three,

Idly chatting, fancy free.

So, that is how it’s done, you see,

Now go and drink your cup of tea!

*pronunciation of “shtroy” ‘straw’ in Lithuanian-Belarussian dialect

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Mir zaynen muziker di greste,

Fun a vaytn, vaytn land!

Zingen lider aykh di beste

Zaynen mir gekumen haynt!*

Di vos plogn zikh un laydn

Nemen mir arayn in kon!

Zorg un shoyder veln maydn,

Zise troymen kumen on!

Mir zaynen muziker di greste,

Fun a vaytn, vaytn land!

Zingen lider aykh di beste

Zaynen mir gekumen haynt!*

We are the greatest musicians,

Come from a land far away!

To sing our songs, only the best ones   

We have come to you today!

Those who toil and who suffer

We draw into our circle and embrace!

Fear and distress will be banished,

Sweet dreams will take their place.

We are the greatest musicians,

Come from a land far away!

To sing our songs, only the best ones

We have come to you today!      

Akh, printsesn Goldn-glekl,

Shtey shoyn uf fun bet, —

Kum mit undz, mir geyen vayter,

Bald vet vern shpet!

Eng un langvaylik dayn palats,

Kum in feld, in vald!

Zise klangen, sheyne lider

Vestu hern bald.

Afn lonke vestu hern

Vi di lerkhe zingt;

Un vest zen vi a volkn

Afn feld farzinkt.

Shpeter zaynen mir in derfl

Bay der alter por;

Un bay zeyer sheyner tokhter

Iz hokhtsayt hayntiks yor!…

Akh, printsesn Goldn-glekl,

Zam nit mit dayn gang!

Bum un Dreydl farn palats

Vartn dikh shoyn lang…

Ah, Princess Golden Bell,

Get up, we can’t wait…

Come with us, we’re going onward,

Soon it will be late. 

Your palace is cramped and tiresome,

Come to the woods, the clearing.

Sweet sounds and pretty songs

You will soon be hearing!

In the meadow you will hear

The singing of the lark;

And you’ll see a cloud

Descend over the park. 

Then we’ll go into the village

To our old friends so dear

And to see their lovely daughter

Whose wedding time draws near. 

Ah, Princess Golden Bell,

Hurry, don’t be late.

Bum and Dreydl wait for you

Outside the palace gate.

Leshone toyve meynt

Az gut zol zayn dos naye yor.

Zolst zayn gezunt un oysgerut,    }

Zolst zayn tsufridn nor.                } 2x

Az ale zoln lebn fray

In sholem un in freyd.

Say broyt zol zayn genug

Un say far yedern a kleyd.

Az likht zol zayn in yedn hoyz

Un gants zol zayn der dakh,

Az vaksn zolstu klug un groys

Un hobn glik a sakh.

L’shana tova means

May you have a good new year.

May you be healthy and well rested

And only full of cheer.

May everyone live free

In peace and in joy.

Enough bread may there be,

Clothes for every girl and boy.        

May every house have light

And a roof that is sound.

May you grow strong and bright

With good luck all around.

Vayse khale, ziser vayn.

Kumt dos naye yor arayn.

— A gut yontef, kleyn un groys!  }

Freyd un glik in ayer hoyz!           } 2x

Zol di khale vays un frish,

Keyn mol nit arop fun tish.

Zis un loyter, vi der vayn,             }

Zol dos lebn shtendik zayn.         } 2x

White hallah, wine so sweet,

The new year is here to greet.

— Good wishes to young and old,

Let joy and happiness unfold.

May the hallah, baked so fine,

Be on the table when we dine.

As the wine is pure and sweet, 

So should life be such a treat.

Hobn mir a sheyne suke

Tsugedekt mit skhakh. } 2x

Veln zitsn in der suke           }

Kinderlekh a sakh.                } 2x

Un an esreg mit a lulev

Hobn mir fargreyt.

Kumt arayn in undzer suke    }

Mit gezang un freyd.             } 2x

We have a pretty sukkah

With branches overhead.

Lots of kids will come and sit

Inside our little shed.                                                                 An etrog and a lulav

Are waiting for you there.

So come inside our sukkah

With song and joy to share.

Simkhes-toyre! simkhes-toyre!

Zol geheylikt zayn der tog!

S’heyst fargesn haynt der boyre,

Yede tsore, yede plog.

In dem shvern yor, dem gantsn,

Lomir zayn khotsh eyn tog yung.

Lomir glaykh vi kinder tantsn

In hislayvesdikn rung!

Vos gevezn  —iz farfaln!

Breyter makht dem karahod!

Ver s’iz trinken nor a baln

Kumt geshvind tsu undz in rod!

Simkhes-toyre! simkhes-toyre!

Zol geheylikt zayn der tog!

S’heyst fargesn haynt der boyre,

Yede tsore, yede plog.

Varft avek di puste sfeykes!

Loz men vayzn vos men ken!

Hartsik-yidishlekh, mit dveykes,

Mitn knak un mitn bren!

Rut zikh op un nemt a koyse,

Ful mit branfn un mit vayn!

Gist zhe dafke on a groyse —

Nit gezhalevet zol zayn!

Simkhes-toyre! simkhes-toyre!

Groys un heylik iz der tog.

Hulyet ale! S’vil der boyre

Haynt nit hern undzer klog!

Simkhat Torah, Simkhat Torah,

Hallowed be the day,

When God commands that we forget

Our troubles for today.

Let’s be young, at least one day,

Of the whole demanding year.

Just like children, we can dance

In a circle full of cheer!

What is past is finished,

Let the karahod* expand.

Whoever’s eager to be drinking,

Join the circle, don’t just stand!

Simkhat Torah, Simkhat Torah,

Hallowed be the day,

When God commands that we forget

Our troubles for today.

Cast away those useless doubts,

Let us see what you can do.

Warmly Jewish, with devotion,

Zeal and snapping fingers, too.

Take a break and grab a goblet

Full of whiskey, full of wine.

Go and pour yourself a tall one,

Don’t hold back, there’s more, it’s fine.

Simkhat Torah, Simkhat Torah,

Great and holy is this day.

All make merry, God would like

Not to hear complaints today.

*karahod: circle dance

– Zing undz epes, bobenyu,

Zing undz epes, kroyn!

–  Kh’hob aykh ale lidelekh          }

Oysgezungen shoyn!                    } 2x

– Neyn, nit ale, bobenyu,

Tu undz nor tsu lib!

Veln mir dikh, bobenyu,               }

Hobn zeyer lib!                            } 2x

– Sing something for us, Grandma,

Oh sing us something, dear. dear.

– I have already sung all of the songs

You like to hear.                                                                  – No, not all, Grandma dear,

Would you be so kind?

We’d love it if you’d sing some more,

Oh, please, if you don’t mind.

Vos iz zeyde azoy groy?

Vayl a zeyde iz azoy!

Vos shpant zeyde trit bay trit?

Vayl a zeyde aylt zikh nit.

Zeyde tut di briln on,

Vayl a zeyde darf es ton.

Zeyde lernt toyre fil,

Vayl a zeyde ken un vil.

Why is Grandpa’s hair so gray?

Just ’cause grandpas are that way!

Why is Grandpa slow to climb?

Because a grandpa takes his time.         

Grandpa must put on his glasses,

So that he can see what passes.

Torah learning is Grandpa’s plan,

Because he wants to and he can.

Zaynen gegangen tsvey laytishe gramen,

Azoy vi di hener mit goldene kamen.

Zey zaynen gegangen trit bay trit

Zukhn a voynung far zikh in a lid. } 2x

Un vi nor zey zaynen mit mi koym gekumen,

Hot men zey zeyer nisht fayn ufgenumen.

Men hot zey gezogt, az di hayntike lider

Zaynen mit gramen shoyn lang kider-vider. } 2x

Nor eyn mol far nakht hobn di gramen getrofn

Tsu a bokherl vos makht kinderishe strofn;

Er hot zey genumen vi zey shteyen un geyen, } 2x

Hot er zey genumen tsu tsveyen, tsu tsveyen.

Hobn zey mit zeyere glekelekh geklungen,  }

Un kinderlekh hobn tsum gram gezungen.    } 2x

A graml arayn un a graml aroys,

Di mayse iz oys.

Two proper rhymes went walking abreast,

Like roosters strut with a bright orange crest.

They walked along side by side, Seeking a poem in which to reside. 

And when they arrived, they were sorely aggrieved

To find out how poorly rhymes were received.

They were promptly informed that the poems of our times, Have long found themselves at odds with such rhymes.  

But one afternoon they just happened to meet

A chap writing verses for children, a treat!  

He agreed to take them

just as they are,

In groups of two they would really go far.

And so with bells a-ringing,

The children rhyming, singing,

A little rhyme, a little laughter,

They lived happily ever after.

Mit di plishtim hob ikh gefirt krig,

Un undzers iz der zig.

Ikh bin Shimshen-hagiber, der groyser held,

Ikh bin Shimshen-hagiber, der groyser held,

Der groyser held.

Er iz Shimshen-hagiber, der groyser held,

Er iz Shimshen-hagiber,

Der groyser, der groyser, der groyser held.

I have battled with the Philistines,

And the victory is ours. 

I am the mighty Samson, the great hero.

He is the mighty Samson, the great hero.

Di feygelekh flien avek af lang,

Ahin vu s’iz varem un sheyn.

Zey zingen mir oys a letst gezang,

Un lozn mikh iber aleyn.

Der vint tsetrogt dos grins fun vald,

Un lozt im a naketn shteyn.

S’kumt on der vinter bleykh un kalt,

Fardekt im in a laylekh fun shney.

Di feygelekh zaynen af lang avek,

Un mitgenumen mayn troym.

Ikh shtey af der shvel

fun mayn langn veg,

In vint a naketer boym.

The birds are flying away for a time,

To where it is pleasant and warm. 

They sing for me a farewell song,

And leave me alone, forlorn.

The wind carries off the green from the forest,

And leaves it standing naked. 

Winter arrives paleand cold,

Enrobes it in a snowy blanket.

The birds will be gone for quite a long while,

And with them went my dream. 

I stand on the threshold of my lengthy road,

In the wind – a naked tree.

Feygelekh, feygelekh, kumt do tsu flien,

Ikh hob far aykh krishkelekh broyt.

Harbst hot mit regn fargosn di vegn,

Laydt ir fun kelt un fun noyt.

Vint mit gevoy rayst di bleter fun beymer,

Blaybn zey nakete shtayn.

In nestn in kalte — shver oystsuhaltn,

Kumt in mayn shtibl arayn.

Unter mayn dekhele oysboyen vel ikh

A hiltsern nestl, far aykh,

Federn nemen fun kishele maynem —

Aykh zol zayn varem un vaykh.

Ven s’vet der friling mit gildene shtraln

Faryogn dem shney un di kelt —

Der gortn vet blien, mit aykh vel ikh flien

Antkegn der freydiker velt.

Little birds, little birds, fly over here,

I have some bread crumbs for you.

Autumn rains have flooded the roads.

You’re cold, and hungry, too.  

A howling wind tears the leaves from the trees,

Leaving them standing bare.

In a cold nest it is hard to endure.

Come into my house, I will share.

Under the eaves, I’ll build for you

A little wooden nest. 

I’ll take feathers from my pillow,

Warm and soft for your rest.

When spring comes with golden rays

To drive out the snow and the cold —

The yard blooms anew, I’ll fly off with you,

The joyous world to behold.           

Vider brent dos alte lempl

Afn hoykhn sheynem ort.

Yedes hayzl iz a templ,

A mizbeyekh finklt dort.

Vifl tsayt iz shoyn ariber,

S’klapt di elter shoyn in tir.

Nor mir dakht zikh az der liber

Zeyde vider redt tsu mir:

“Zest, mayn kind, akht groyse shtern

Geyen uf in zisn prakht.

Un di shotns bleykher vern,         

Heler vert di shvartse nakht.”

The candelabra is again ablaze

In its lovely spot up high.

Every house is a temple

When an altar gleams thereby.

How much time has gone by,

Old age is knocking at the door.

But I have the feeling that

Dear Grandpa speaks to me once more:

“Look, my child, eight great stars

Are rising up in splendor sweet.

And the shadows fade away;

The dark night is in retreat.”     

Mir zaynen shtoltse likhtelekh,

Tsuzamen ale akht.

Mit tantsndike fayerlekh

Balaykhtn mir di nakht.

S’iz khanike, haynt khanike,

Af der gantser velt.

In dreydl shpiln darf men nokh

Un krign khanike-gelt.

Der shames fun di likhtelekh,

Dos bin ikh, libe fraynd,

Ikh hit di shtoltse fayerlekh

Vayl khanike iz haynt.

Un esn latkes darf men oykh,

Un tantsn in a rod.

S’iz khanike, haynt khanike,

Zol freylekh zayn in shtot.

We are proud little candles,

Altogether eight.

With our dancing flames,

We will the night illuminate.

It’s Khanuka, Khanuka

Everywhere today.

We’ll get Khanuka gelt 

And with our dreydls play.

The shamash of the candles –

That is I, dear friends.

I guard the little candles

As Khanuka descends.

We’ll have to eat some latkes,

And together dance around.

It’s Khanuka now, Khanuka,

Let’s hear the joy resound.

Nem in hant dos kleyne dreydl,

Nem es on mit finger tsvey.

Afn tishl, zeyer eydl,

Gib es flink a shtarkn drey.

Es vet loyfn mitn fisl

In a redl, breyt un vayt.

Es vet loyfn, a kleyn bisl    }

Ongeboygn af a zayt.       } 2x

Gikher, gikher, koym tsu khapn

Mit dem oyg dos brekl vint,

Un dayn harts vet klapn, klapn:

Ver farshpilt, un ver gevint?

Itster, kuk: iz giml, hey iz?

Shlekhter shin? tsi efsher nun?

Nem dos dreydl, vider drey es,      }

Un hanoe hob derfun!                   } 2x

Pick up the little dreydl now,

Hold it with your fingers, two.

On the table, careful how

You nimbly spin the dreydl, do.

On its bottom it will run

In a circle far and wide.

Slower now when it’s begun

Tilting over on its side.

Faster, faster – now it’s jumping,

Your eye can hardly see it spin.

And your heart is thumping, thumping

Who will lose and who will win?

Now look! – is it a gimel, hey,

That rotten shin, or nun that came?

Spin again, your turn to play,

And enjoy the dreydl game!

Dreydele, dreydele, dreydl fun blay;

Drey zikh, baveg zikh flinker un fray,

Dertseyl undz dayn mayse,

Dertseyl af dos nay,

Dreydele, dreydele, dreydl fun blay.

Dertseyl fun a zig, dertseyl fun a nes,

Vi a krigele boyml

Gebrent hot akht mes-les.

Dertseyl fun amol, dertseyl af dos nay,

Dreydele, dreydele, dreydl fun blay.

Dreydl, dreydl, made of lead,

Don’t stay still, spin faster instead,

Tell us your story,

Repeat what you said,

Dreydl, dreydl, made of lead.

Tell of a victory, a miracle, too,

When a pitcher of oil

burned eight full days through.

Tell of the past, leave nothing unsaid,

Dreydl, dreydl, made of lead.

In Erets-yisroel iz dos geven,

A groyser nes iz dort geshen.

Yidn veynik un shtark di shlekhte,

Gezigt hobn dokh di gerekhte!

A groyser nes iz dort geshen,

A groyser nes iz dort geshen.

Nes gadol, nes gadol,         }

Nes gadol haya sham.        } 2x

A sof af sonim zol kumen gikher.

Yisroel zol lebn ruik un zikher.

Der vunder, der groyser, zol shtendik bashtayn.*

Mir zaynen geven un mir veln nokh zayn!

A groyser nes iz dort geshen,

A groyser nes iz dort geshen.

Nes gadol, nes gadol,         }

Nes gadol haya sham.        } 2x

The Land of Israel, that is where,          

A great miracle happened there.

The Jews were few, the enemy strong,

And yet right triumphed over wrong.

A great miracle happened there.

Nes gadol haya sham.   

Let the rule of the enemies speedily cease,

That Israel may live secure and in peace. 

The marvelous wonder will always endure, 

We have survived, and we’ll continue, I’m sure.

A great miracle happened there.

Nes gadol haya sham.

*pronunciation of “bashteyn” ‘endure’ in Polish / Ukrainian / Southern Yiddish dialect

O, feygelekh, blaybt af a regele shteyn,

Un lozt zikh arop tsu mir.

Tsi veyst ir vuhin ikh volt zikh gelozt  }

Ven ikh hob oykh fligl vi ir?                } 2x

Ikh volt oykh gefloygn antkegn der zun

Tsum heymland fun undzer amol,

Gefloygn bay tog un gefloygn bay nakht, }

Gekumen keyn Erets-yisro’l.          } 2x

Oh, little birds, stop for a moment,

And fly on down to me.

Do you know where I would go

If I, too, had wings to flee?                                                                  I, too, would fly towards the sun,

To our homeland from the past,

Flying by day as well as by night,

To arrive in Israel at last.

Haynt iz tu bishvat!

Haynt iz tu bishvat!

Lomir ale nit fargesn,

Erets-yisroel-frukht tsu esn.

Kinder, kinder, nemt aykh, nat,

Nemt aykh, nat:

Faygn, teytlen on a shir,

Eyns far dir un eyns far mir,

Far di kinder, fun der vayt,

Un far ale gute layt.

Haynt iz tu bishvat!

Haynt iz tu bishvat!

Haynt iz tu bishvat!

Today is Tu Bishvat!

Today is Tu Bishvat!

Don’t forget, there’s a treat,

Fruit from Israel for us to eat.

Children, children, take some, here.

Take some, here:

Figs, dates, there’s plenty, see,

One for you and one for me, 

For the children, from afar,

For good people, here you are.

Today is Tu Bishvat!

Today is Tu Bishvat!

Today is Tu Bishvat!

Der gast:

Gut-morgn dir, du sheyner vald,

Gut-morgn dir, du mandlboym,

Vos hostu zikh azoy farputst?

Ikh kuk un ikh derken dikh koym.

Vos iz es far a yontef haynt?        

Dertseyl, ikh bet dikh zeyer, zog. } 2x

Der mandlboym:

Der beymer-yontef iz dokh haynt,

Khamishoser heyst der tog.          

Der beymerkhor:

Der beymer-yontef iz dokh haynt,

Khamishoser heyst der tog.

Der mandlboym:

Na, nem fun mayne peyres, es,

A brokhe makhn nit farges.

Der beymerkhor:

Na, nem fun zayne peyres, es,

A brokhe makhn nit farges.

Der gast:

A dank dir, mandlboym, a dank,

Zolst vaksn un zolst lebn lang.

Der gast un beymerkhor:

Zolst vaksn un zolst lebn lang.

The guest:

Good morning to you, lovely woods,

Good morning to you, almond tree.

Why are you all dressed up so?

What I’m seeing, I don’t know.

What holiday is it today?

I beg of you, do tell me, pray.

The almond tree:

Today is the Trees’ birthday.

It falls on the fifteenth.

The tree choir:

Today is the Trees’ birthday.

It falls on the fifteenth.

The almond tree:    

Here, take of my fruit and eat,

But say the blessing for this treat

The tree choir:

Here, take of his fruit and eat,

But say the blessing for this treat. 

The guest:

Thank you, thank you, almond tree,

Growth and long life may you see.

The guest and tree choir:

Growth and long life may you see.

Mir zaynen ale akhashtronim,

Pritsim, grafn un baronen,

Undzer gvure iz in yash,

Undzer koyekh ligt in flash.

Hay ta ra ray, hay ta ra ray,                    

Hay ta ra ray, ta ra ray, ta ra ray ram.    

Zingt a lid farn kinig dem shiker,

Vayn un bronfn iz der iker,

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!

We are all couriers royal,

Lords, counts and barons loyal,

Our valor is in the liquor,

In the bottle lies our vigor.

Hay, ta ra ray…

Sing a song for the drunken king,

Wine and whiskey is the thing,

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!

Makht a vare!          } 4x

S’kumt der kinig!     } 4x

Der groyser khokhem Akhashveyresh,

Der groyser khokhem Akhashveyresh!

Make way! 

The king is coming! 

The great sage Ahasuerus,

The great sage Ahasuerus!

Zingt a loyb! Zingt a loyb

Dem kinig Akhashveyresh!

Grist mit freyd! Grist mit freyd

Dem kinig Akhashveyresh!

Ver iz mekhtik, klug,

Bakant umetum,

In gantsn land?

Der kinig Akhashveyresh,

Der kinig Akhashveyresh,

Der kinig Akhashveyresh!

Sing praises! Sing praises

To King Ahasuerus!

Hail joyously, hail joyously

King Ahasuerus!

Who is mighty, clever,

Renowned everywhere

In the whole land?

King Ahasuerus,

King Ahasuerus,

King Ahasuerus!

Esther:

– Oyb kh’hob gefunen kheyn bay dir }2x

Loz mir zikh firn vi mayn mame hot zikh gefirt. }  2x

Shabesdike bentshlikht, dos iz mayn bager,

Un a korbn-minkhe-sider un gornit mer.

Oyb kh’hob gefunen kheyn bay dir,

Oyb kh’hob gefunen kheyn bay dir.

Esther’s maids:

– Oyb zi hot gefunen kheyn bay dir } 2x

Loz ir zikh firn vi ir mame hot zikh gefirt. } 2x

Esther:

– Shabesdike bentshlikht, dos iz mayn bager,

Un a korbn-minkhe-sider un gornit mer.

Oyb kh’hob gefunen kheyn bay dir.

Esther’s maids:

– Oyb zi hot gefunen kheyn bay dir.

Esther:  

– If you find me pleasant,

Let me lead my life as my mother did.

Sabbath candlesticks, that is my desire,

And a Korbn-minkhe siddur*

And nothing more.

If you find me pleasant,

If you find me pleasant.

Esther’s maids:

– If you find her pleasant,

Let her lead her life as her mother did. } 2x

Esther:

– Sabbath candlesticks, that is my desire,

And a Korbn-minkhe siddur, and nothing more.

If you find me pleasant.

Esther’s maids:

– If you find her pleasant.

A loyb der kinign Ester!

A loyb, a loyb, a loyb 

Der shenster un der bester,

A loyb, a loyb, a loyb!

Kudos to Queen Esther, the prettiest and the best!

Undzer tfile her!

Got in himl hoykh,

Undz bafray fun Homens hent,

Homens plan tseshter.

Tsetrayb im vi a roykh!

Zol zayn di gzeyre opgevendt!

Listen to our prayer,

God high in heaven there,

Free us from Haman’s hands,

Disrupt Haman’s plans. 

Drive him away like smoke!

And the decree revoke!

Iz vider gevorn bay yidn a freyd. 

Di zun iz ufgegangen.

Derfar iz der yontef purim groys

Mit sudes un gezangen.

Azoy zol trefn ale faynd, ale faynd,

Vi Homenen hot getrofn,

Un ale vos trakhtn shlekhts af undz

Zoln hobn Homens sofn.

The Jews are joyous once again,

The sun a new day’s bringing.

The holiday of Purim’s here

With feasting and with singing.

May all our enemies find themselves

Like Haman on this date,

And all who wish to do us harm

Should suffer Haman’s fate.

S’iz der tog haynt shener, likhtiker a sakh,

S’flatern di fener iber yedn dakh.

S’flatern di fener iber yedn hoyz,

Di vays-bloye fener, un di freyd iz groys.

(Yam ta ra ra ta…)

Kinder, froyen, mener, ale in Yisro’l,

Ale trogn fener, zingen afn kol.

Iz der tog haynt shener, un mit likht farzeyt.

S’flatern di fener mit Yisroels freyd.

(Yam ta ra ra ta…)

*S’iz yontef, freylekh, a mekhaye, akh vi gut!

Yontef, freylekh, yom-ha’atsmaut!

*In the coda, I added these two lines to the end of the poem. – D. B.

Today is somehow finer, brighter, a delight,       

Over every roof there flies a flag of blue and white.                    

The flags are waving freely on every house and gate,     

The white-blue flags are flying, and our joy is great.       

Children, men and women, in Israel all are proud,

All are holding flags, each one sings aloud.

The day is somehow nicer, and with light imbued.

The flags are waving gaily, with Israel’s joy renewed.

*It’s festive, joyous, a delight, I say!

It’s festive, joyous, Independence Day!

Fir furn forn,

Fir furn forn,

Fir furn forn

Firn korn barg-aruf

Un barg-arop.

Four freights ferry rye up the hill and down again.

Sender iz a voyler bokher,

Zoln ale visn,

Vintsht im ale mazl-tov

Un lomir im bagrisn.

Sender iz a voyler bokher,

Zoln ale visn,

Lomir ale freylekh zayn

Un trinken glezlekh vayn.

Sender iz a voyler bokher,

Lomir im bagrisn, bagrisn.

Sender iz a voyler bokher,

Lomir trinken, trinken vayn.

Ta ra ray, la la, lay lay, lay lay,

Ta ra ray, lay, la la la la, lay.

Ta ray, la la, ta ra ray,

La la, lay lay, la la, lay lay lay…

Tsu dayn simkhe, tsu dayn yontef

Zaynen mir gekumen

Un gebrakht dir, vi men darf,

A fule shtub mit blumen.

Du zolst vaksn, du zolst blien,

Zol dayn nomen shaynen —

Nemt zikh, brider, tsu der sude,

Trinkt fun ale vaynen.

Sender is a fine fellow, everyone should know,              

Let us wish him mazl–tov and greet him with “Hello!”

Sender is a fine fellow, everyone should know,

Let us all rejoice, and let the wine flow.

To your simkha, to your yontef, all of us have come,

And we’ve brought you, as we should, flowers by the ton.

May you grow, may you bloom, let your name shine,

Come on brothers, to the banquet, drink up all the wine.

I

Der fremder vos kumt keyn Khelem:

– Ver zhe zent ir?

Di khelemer: – Ver mir zenen?

S’iz den shver undz tsu derkenen?

Az mir zenen di khakhomim

Un di kluge layt fun Khelem?

Der fremder: – Yeder? Yeder?

Di khelemer: – Yeder, yeder!

Der fremder: – Yeder? Yeder?

Di khelemer: – Yeder, yeder!

Yeder hot a kop af reder.

Vilt ir seykhl — zayt zhe moykhl,

Kumt keyn Khelem! } 3x

Khelem, Khelem, Khelem…

II

Der fremder: – Yede shtot hot ire shpitskep,

Yedes land hot zayne blitskep.

Di khelemer: – Ober keyner, keyner kumt nit

Tsu di kluge layt fun Khelem.

Der fremder: – Keyner? Keyner?

Di khelemer: – Keyner, keyner!

Der fremder: – Keyner? Keyner?

Di khelemer: – Keyner, keyner!

Vayl bay undz iz yeder eyner

Say a shpitskop, say a blitskop,

Un dertsu a kop fun Khelem. } 2x

Khelem, Khelem, Khelem…

III

Der fremder: – ‘Shto bay aykh keyn eyn idiotl?

Di khelemer: – Yeder iz an Aristotl!

Yeder iz a khokhem-atek do bay undz

In shtot fun Khelem.

Der fremder: – Yeder eyner?

Di khelemer: – Yeder eyner!

Der fremder: – Yeder eyner?

Di khelemer: – Yeder eyner!

Alt un yung un groys un kleyner.

Yeder iz a meylekh Shloyme

Do bay undz in shtot fun Khelem,

In shtot fun Khelem. Khelem, Khelem, Khelem…

I

The stranger who comes to Khelem:

– So who are you?

The Khelemer: – Who are we?

Is it hard to recognize us?

That we are the sages

And the wise people of Khelem?

The stranger: – Everyone? Everyone?

The Khelemer: – Everyone! Everyone!

The stranger: – Everyone? Everyone?

The Khelemer: – Everyone! Everyone!

Everyone has a head on wheels.

If you want wisdom — excuse us please,

Come to Khelem! } 3x

Khelem, Khelem, Khelem…

II

The stranger: – Every town has its eggheads,

Every land has its whiz-kids.

The Khelemer: – But nobody, nobody comes close

To the wise people of Khelem.

The stranger: – Nobody? Nobody?

The Khelemer: – Nobody! Nobody!

The stranger: – Nobody? Nobody?

The Khelemer: – Nobody! Nobody!

Because here, everybody is

Both an egghead and a whiz-kid,

As well as a mind from Khelem. } 2x

Khelem, Khelem, Khelem…

III

The stranger: – Isn’t there even one fool here?

The Khelemer: – Everyone is an Aristotle!

Everyone is a great sage here in our town of Khelem.

The stranger: – Everyone? Everyone?

The Khelemer: – Everyone! Everyone!

The stranger: – Everyone? Everyone?

The Khelemer: – Everyone! Everyone!

Old and young and big and small.

Every one is a King Solomon

Here in our town of Khelem.

Khelem, Khelem, Khelem…

Haynt iz khanike bay undz,

Haynt iz khanike bay undz,

Lomir ale, Lomir ale,

Lomir ale freylekh zayn.

Lomir ale, Lomir ale,

Lomir ale freylekh zayn.

Ta-la-la-la-la, ta-la-la-la-la,

Ta-la-la-la-la, freylekh, freylekh!

Ta-la-la-la-la, ta-la-la-la-la,

Zayt gezunt, zayt gezunt!

Lomir tantsn, lomir shpringen,

Lomir lakhn, lomir zingen,

Tay, day, ray, ray,

Ta-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la, lay!

Lomir tantsn, lomir shpringen,

Lomir lakhn, lomir zingen,

Tay, day, ray, ray,

Ta-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la, lay!

Today it’s khanuka for us,

Today it’s khanuka for us,

Let us all, let us all,

Let us all be full of joy!

Let us all, let us all,

Let us all be full of joy!

Ta-la-la-la-la, ta-la-la-la-la,

Ta-la-la-la-la, merry, joyful!

Ta-la-la-la-la, ta-la-la-la-la,

All be well, all be well!

Let us dance, let us jump,

Let us laugh, let us sing!

Tay, day, ray, ray,

Ta-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la, lay!

Let us dance, let us jump,

Let us laugh, let us sing!

Tay, day, ray, ray,

Ta-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la, lay!

Vi nor shabes kumt tsu geyn,

Vert arum alts frum un sheyn,

Alts vert heylik un farhilt in ru.

Geyt uf a freyd in ale shtiber:

“Sholem-aleykhem, shabes liber,

Shabes liber, heylik bistu.”

Refren:

Sholem-aleykhem, shabes-lebn,

Brengen ru hot dikh Got gegebn,

Ale mide tsu baglikn,

Likht un freyd zey shikn.

“Sholem-aleykhem, shabes shenster,”

Shvebt a gezang durkh ale fentster.

Shabes shenster, shabes libster,

Tayerer, heyliker du.

Vi nor shabes kumt tsu geyn,

Vert arum alts frum un sheyn,

Alts vert heylik un farhilt in prakht.

Di likht in shtub mit tsoyber finklen,

Di shkhine rut in ale vinklen, Un s’harts tsu Got iz ufgevakht.

Refren:

Sholem-aleykhem, shabes-lebn,

Brengen ru hot dikh Got gegebn,

Ale mide tsu baglikn,

Likht un freyd zey shikn.

“Sholem-aleykhem, shabes shenster,”

Shvebt a gezang durkh ale fentster,

Shabes shenster, shabes libster,

Tayerer, heyliker du.

Shabes, shabes, shabes, shabes.

As soon as Shabbat arrives,

Reverence and beauty are everywhere,

Everything becomes holy and is enveloped in tranquility. 

Joy arises in every house:

“Welcome, Shabbat,

Beloved Shabbat, holy are you.”

Refrain:

Welcome, dear Shabbat,

Given by God to bring us rest,

To gladden those who are tired,

To send them light and joy.

“Welcome, loveliest Shabbat,”

The song drifts from every window. 

Loveliest Shabbat, dearest Shabbat,

Precious, holy one.

When Shabbat arrives,

Reverence and beauty are everywhere,

Everything becomes holy and is enveloped in splendor.

The candles in the house twinkle enchantingly,

The divine presence nestles in every corner, 

And the heart is awakened to God.

Refrain…

Shabbat, Shabbat, Shabbat, Shabbat.