Tsvey shayles
[Two questions]
Also entitled "Tayerer rebenyu" [Dear Rabbi]
See Lecture: "Ashkenazi Food"
| - Tayerer rebenyu, oy rebe Reb Shneyer, | - Dear Rabbi, oh, Rabbi Shneyer, |
| Oy, a tsore a groyse hot mir getrofn zeyer. | Oh, a terrible thing has happened to me: |
| Di shkheyne shikse, a make ir in kepl, | The gentile woman next door, a plague on her head, |
| Hot arayngeton di milkh in fleyshikn tepl. | Went and put the milk in the meat cup. |
| Bin ikh gekumen, rebenyu, tsu dir oyf a vayle, | I have come to you, Rabbi, for a while, |
| Du zolst mir paskenen di dozike shayle. | That you might rule on this question for me. |
| Der rebe hot ufgehoybn di oygn tsu Got | The rabbi raised his eyes to God |
| Un hot gemakht a gantsn mishpot. | And pronounced a judgement. |
| - Oy, dos tepl tu a gutn vash, oy, | - Oh, give the cup a good wash, oh, |
| Un tu dos oykh a gutn rayb, oy, | And give it a good rub, too, oh, |
| Du zolst zikh gor nisht foyln, | Don't be lazy, |
| Gli dos oys oyf koyln. | Heat it over coals. |
| In der end zolstu dos araynshtekn, | Bury it in the ground, |
| Mit shtroy zolstu dos badekn. | Cover it with straw. |
| Vet es mirsehem, | In a year, God willing, |
| Oy, iber a yor kosher vern. | It will be kosher. |
| - Tayerer rebenyu, oy rebe Reb Shneyer, | - Dear Rabbi, oh, Rabbi Shneyer, |
| Oy, a tsore a groyse hot mir getrofn zeyer. | Oh, a terrible thing has happened to me. |
| Di shkheyne shikse, a make ir in ponim, | The gentile woman next door, a plague on her face, |
| Iz gevorn mit mayn man gor gantse mekhutonim. | Has become very familiar with my husband. |
| Bin ikh gekumen, rebenyu, tsu dir oyf a vayle, | So I have come to you, dear Rabbi, for a while, |
| Du zolst mir paskenen di dozikhe shayle. | That you might rule on this question for me. |
| Der rebe hot ufgehoybn di oygn tsu Got | The rabbi raised his eyes to God |
| Un hot memakht a gantsn mishpot. | And pronounced a judement. |
| - Oy, dem man zolstu gibn a gutn vash, oy, | - Oh, give the man a good wash, oh, |
| Un tu im oykh a gutn rayb, oy, | And give him a good rub, too, oh, |
| Du zolst zikh gor nisht foyln, | Don't be lazy, |
| Gli im oys oyf koyln, | Heat him over coals, |
| In der erd zolstu im araynshtekn, | Bury him in the ground, |
| Mit shtroy zolstu im badekn, | Cover him with straw. |
| Vet er mirsheshem, | In a year, God willing, |
| Oy, iber a yor kosher vern. | He will be kosher. |
Source: Rebecca kaplan & Pete Rushefsky, "Oyf di Vegelekh" - CD
