Oyfn Pripetchik – Esther Ofarim
All time favorite yiddish song. Music and Lyrics by Mark Warshawsky.
Oyfn Pripetchik
(written by Mark Warshavsky)
Oyfn pripetchik brent a fayerl,
un in shtub is heys.
Un der rebe lernt kleyne kinderlekh
dem alef-beyz.
Zet zhe kinderlekh,
gedenkt zhe, tayere, vos ir lernt do.
Zogt zhe nokh a mol un take nokh a mol:
“Komets-alef: o!”
Lernt kinderlekh, lernt mit freyd,
lernt dem alef-beyz.
Gliklekh is der Yid, wos kent die toyre
un dos alef-beyz.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
At the fireplace
(Yiddish Translation)
At the fireplace a little fire burns
And in the room it’s warm.
And the Rabbi teaches little children
the aleph-bet
See you children-dear,
remember dear, what you’re learning
here.
Say once again, and then once again,
“Komets-alef: o!”
Children, learn with happiness,
learn the aleph-bet.
Lucky is the jew who knows the Torah.
and the aleph-bet.
Note: At the end of the video are TWO POLISH JEWS paintings. “‘Samuel Goldenburg and Schmuyle’ were two Polish Jews and were originally the subjects of two separate paintings by Victor Hartman. Mussorgorsky combined the essence of the two paintings into one movement, perhaps to emphasize a rich man/poor man contrast. Samuel Goldenburg, probably large, well dressed and rich, is represented by the first tune in the movement. Schmuyle on the other hand is represented by a piercing, troubled-sounding melody, making him ‘appear’ to be thin and poor.” MUSSOGORSKY : PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION.