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Mameloshn: Ale Mentshn: Shvester, Breeder
Ale Mentshn: Shvester, Breeder
by Y. L. Perets, to Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” adapted and translated by Hershl Hartman, ©2010
![2010+ALE+MENTSHN++SHVESTER+BREEDER[2]](http://archive.jewishcurrents.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/2010-ALE-MENTSHN-SHVESTER-BREEDER2.jpg)
Ale mentshn: shvester, breeder —
broyn, royt, gele, shvartse, vayse —
felker, lender un klimatn,
s’iz an oysgetrakhte maynse.
vayse, shvartse, broyn, royt, gele,
misht dee farbn oys tsuzamen.
ale mentshn: shvester, breeder,
fun eyn tatn, fun eyn mamen.
ale mentshn: shvester, breeder —
shvartse, vayse, broyn, royt, gele —
andersh zaynen nor di farbn:
dee natur iz dokh dee zelbe.
Human beings: sisters, brothers —
brown, red, yellow, black or white.
Peoples, countries, diff’rent climates
do not change what’s wrong or right.
White and black, red, brown and yellow:
Stir the many hues together.
Human beings: sisters, brothers,
From one mother, from one father.
Human beings: sisters, brothers —
Black and brown, red, yellow, white.
All that’s different are the colors —
All of us must now unite!
Hershl Hartman is education director of the Sholem Community and School and a Secular Jewish vegvayzer (leader) in Los Angeles.
Our Mameloshn column is supported by the Atran Foundation.
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