For those interested, in honor of Shovues, I have transcribed and translated the words of “Oylem Habe,” a Yiddish song popular in Haredi circles which emphasizes the absolute, unparalleled importance of Torah study in the Jewish tradition (and perhaps goes a little overboard in doing so). Please see below.

Another classic Yiddish lullaby, “Unter Dem Kinds Vigele,” also stresses the importance of Torah learning and the Jewish mother’s hope that her children grow up to become talmidey khakhomim (תלמידי חכמים), Torah scholars. The song itself is the subject of a study by Ariela Krasny, “From Cradle to Sacrifice: On the Transmutation of a Song,” The Mendele Review: Yiddish Literature and Language 2,32 (December 1998), available in parts 1 and 2, as well as of an entire book by Moshe Geffen. The tune is available here and the words are reproduced below.

“Oylem Habe”

Oylem Habe iz a gute zakh/Lernen Toyre iz a beser zakh/Varf avek yeder yokh/Lern Toyre nokh un nokh/Oylem Habe iz a gute zakh

The World to Come is a good thing/[But] learning Torah is a better thing/Throw away every [other] yoke/[And just] learn Torah again and again/The World to Come is a good thing.

“Unter Dem Kinds Vigele”

Unter dem kinds vigele Shteyt a vayse tsigele/Di tsigele iz geforn handlen Rozhinkes mit mandlen/Rozhinkes mit mandlen iz zeyer zis/Mayn kind vet zayn gezunt un frish/Gezunt iz di beste skhoyre/Mayn kind vet lernen Toyre/Toyre vet er lernen/Sforim vet er shraybn/A guter un a frumer Vet er/im yirtse Hashem, blaybn. 

Under the baby’s cradle/There stands a white kid/The kid has gone away to trade In raisins and almonds/Raisins and almonds are sweet indeed/My child will be healthy and alert/Health is the best of goods/My child will study Torah/Torah will he study/Books will he write/Good and pious will he/God-willing, ever remain.