The Little Leaf

A vivid description of the Baal Shem
Tov’s teaching,
That Divine Providence controls
The
Destiny of everything in creation,
Even a little leaf falling from a tree.


On the side of the road,
A tree stands high,
Branches reaching for the sky,
A little leaf without a sound,
Flutters to the ground.
 
A Tzaddik there is passing by,
Stops and asks the little leaf
“Why”?
“What made you leave your leafy
Abode,
And lie here in the road”?
 
Says the leaf,
“Don’t ask me,
I am not the authority,
The twig I was on gave a sudden
Shake,
It was more than I could take.”
 
צווייגעלע” Twig, O authority,
Perhaps you can explain to me,
Why you gave a sudden shake,
More than the leaf could take”?
 
Says the twig,
“Don’t ask me,
I am not the authority,
A sudden wind a mighty blow
The Bleteleh had to go.”
 
ווינטעלע ״ , wind, authority,
Perhaps you can explain to me,
Why the wind,
A mighty blow
The Bleteleh had to go?”
 
Says the wind,
“Don’t ask me,
I am not the authority,
My angel told me what to do,
And with all my might I blew.”
 
מלאך״, angel
Authority,
Perhaps you can explain to me,
Why you told the wind what to do,
And mightily it blew”?
 
Says the angel
“Don’t ask me,
I am not the authority,
The Creator of me and you,
Told me what to do.”
 
“באשעפער , Creator,
Authority,
Surely You can explain to me,
Why a leaf is shaken free,
And falls down from the tree”?
 
The Creator reveals His plan,
And makes it known to this holy
Man
“Take the Bleteleh in your hand,
And you’ll understand.”
 
“See the worm that’s lying there,
It was suffering, was in despair,
It was up there on the tree,
Breathing heavily.”
 
“The rays of the sun were so
Intense,
It’s discomfort so immense,
Creator, “Mercy! was it’s plea,
The sun is roasting me!”
 
“I commanded the Malach right
Away,
To send the wind out on its way,
And the twig began to sway,
And the leaf was torn away,
Protecting the worm from the
Blazing sun
And My master plan was done.”

And for the little worm
The Tzaddik did meet,
Sleep was oh so sweet.

Composed by :R’ Yom Tov Ehrlich Z”L
Originally in Yiddish.
English translation :Rabbi Eliyahu Friedman(Tzfas, Israel)
Arranged by :Avrumi Berko
Mixed by :Mendy Friedman
Recording and vocal production :Yossi Tyberg
Mastered by :Alan Silverman
Animation by :Rivkin Media


My heartfelt thanks to the Ehrlich family and the M’chon Yiddish Nachas for permission to bring this gem to an English-speaking audience. Written by R’ Yom Tov Ehrlich, of blessed memory, the great master of Yiddish song, it can now be enjoyed by those who don’t understand Yiddish.

This is the second of his songs I have recorded in English, following Shabbos Kodesh.

Stay tuned for the big one—Yakov!
Coming soon, G‑d willing.