I see him at the cheder
I see him all the time
And even when I leave him
Can't get him off my mind
אוי כי הם חיינו
Oy cuz it's a rebbe's life
The times that he's successful
The times I watch him fail
The learning and the struggle
The nachas and the pain
אוי כי הם חיינו
Oy cuz it's a rebbe's life
I've tried rewards and prizes
And the wisest of advisors
Just to find out what he needs
For Yankele ben Gittel
Let me say one more kappitel
Gonna pray that he'll succeed
Cuz it's a rebbe's life
We understand
We've got the future of the world in our hands
For tinokos shel bais rabban are the leaders tomorrow we'll see
Yes, it's a rebbe's life
We know every child
Has got a spark of something special inside
And the Torah we teach
Is a flame that will reach
Every heart and soul
For generations to be
It's so many years later
I've left it all behind
But Yankele in cheder
Will sometimes cross my mind
אוי כי הם חיינו
Oy cuz it's a rebbe's life
Then I attend a dinner
I meet the honoree
I say, "You look familiar"
And Yankel says "It's me!"
אוי כי הם חיינו
אוי ואורך ימינו
My Yankel's dedicated
To assisting kids in cheder
For whom learning's really tough
He says "Rebbe I can guide ’em
Cuz I see the good inside ’em
And it's all cuz of your love".
