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Late at night, as the children are put to bed, their grandmother (baba [Russian: бабушка] or grandfather zeyda [Russian: дедушка]) tells the children about "Baba Yaga", the Russian witch. All children know that Baba Yaga lives in a house that moves upon chicken legs, that Baba Yaga flies in the sky at night (or day) in a mortar and pestle, and finally, that Baba Yaga has teeth of iron, and when she "gnashes" her iron teeth together, there will be lightening and thunder.
However, it is difficult, even for American children with a Asian background to know what to believe when their grandparents tell them that in the deep winter on the Asian Steppes, when the temperature drops to –40°F, one slept on the "oven"? Has my grandparent (no disrespect intended) become senile?
There is a kind of "oven-bed" however that is used throughout
much of Asia. It is used in parts of Korea, China, Mongolia and
Japan, but in Russia as well. Sometimes called a "kang": a mound
of earth covering hot coals, with blankets over the earth. However,
in Russian peasant huts, the "oven bed" can be a more elaborate
affair. This Russian "oven bed" may be viewed by clicking the
following three links, and is called in Russian:
The "oven-bed" is significant as the "hearth" is the basis or focus of the family. This focus is true for all people, Jews no less than others. Thus learning, and understanding in an environment of pervasive persecution (pogroms) was formed here. Jewish attitudes of justice as well as hope had their focus around the hearth. A translation of the words to this song (music and lyrics by Mark Warshavsky) are instructive.
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Oyfn pripetshik brent a fayerl,
Un in shtub iz heys, Un der rebe lernt kleyne kinderlekh Dem alef-beys. |
On the oven/bed burns a little fire,
And the room is hot, And the rabbi teaches little children The Hebrew Aleph-bet. (in English: alpha-bet) |
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Refren:
Zet zhe, kinderlekh, gedenkt zhe, tayere, Vos ir lernt do; Zogt zhe nokh a mol, un take nokh a mol, Komets alef - o! |
Refrain:
So see, dear children, remember then, loving little ones, What you are learning here; Say again, and yet again, The komets (vowel under the) Aleph (is pronounced) - O! |
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Lernt, kinder, mit groys kheyshek -
Azoy zog ikh aykh on: Vers'vet gikher fun aykh kenen ivre, Der bakumt a fon. |
Study, children, with great desire -
This is what I am saying to you: The one among you who learns Ivrit (Hebrew) fastest, That one will receive a flag. |
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Refrain:
Zet zhe, kinderlekh, ... |
Refrain:
Listen carefully, ... |
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Lernt, kinder, hot nit moyre,
Yeder onheyb iz shver; Gliklekh iz der, vos hot gelernt toyre - Tsi darf der mentsh nokh mer? |
Study, children, have no fear,
Every beginning is hard, Happy is the one who studies Torah (the five books of Jewish law and ethics) - What person needs more? |
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Refrain:
Zet zhe, kinderlekh, ... |
Refrain:
Listen carefully, ... |
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Ir vet, kinder, elter vern,
Vet ir aleyn farshtey, Vifl in di oysiers lign trern Un vi fil geveyn. |
When, dear children, when you will be older
You will understand it all, How many tears lie in the letters And how much crying. |
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Refrain:
Zet zhe, kinderlekh, ... |
Refrain:
Listen carefully, ... |
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Az ir vet, kinder, dem goles shlepn,
Oysgemutshet zayn, Zolt ir fun di oysies koyekh shepn - Kukt in zey arayn! |
As you will, children, endure our exile (suffering),
You will be exhausted, You will draw strength from these letters - Look into the letters! |
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Refrain:
Zet zhe, kinderlekh, ... |
Refrain:
Listen carefully, ... |
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