א דוּדעלע (אַיֵּה אֶמְצָאֶךָּ)‏ | A Dudele (Where shall I seek you?), by Rabbi Levi Yitsḥaq of Berditchev (ca. 18th c.)

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=31809

Date: 2020-06-02

Last Updated: 2025-04-11

Categories: Rosh haShanah (l’Maaseh Bereshit), Yom Kippur, Purim Qatan, 🤦︎ Taḥanun (Nefilat Apayim), Motsei Shabbat

Tags: 18th century C.E., 56th century A.M., creator within creation, Hebrew translation, non-dual theology, panentheism, Yiddish songs, אנה אמצאך ana emtsaeka, הבדלות havdalot, זמירות zemirot, חסידות Ḥasidut, תשובה teshuvah

Excerpt: A profound song invoking divine presence. . . .

Content:

Source (Yiddish)	Translation (Hebrew)	Translation (English)
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם! כ´װעל דיר אַ דוּדעלע זינגען! דוּ־דוּ־דוּ, דוּ־דוּ —	רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם! אֲנִי רוֹצֶה לָשִׁיר לְךָ שִׁיר! אַתָּה־אַתָּה־אַתָּה אַתָּה־אַתָּה —	Ribono shel Olam Ribono shel Olam Ribono shel Olam Ribono shel Olam Master of the Cosmos! I want to sing a little song for you You you you, you you —
אַיֵּה אֶמְצָאֶךָּ? וְאַיֵּה לֹא אֶמְצָאֶךָּ? װאוּ קאַן מען דיך יאָ געפֿינען? און װאוּ קאָן מען דיך נישט געפֿינען? דוּ־דוּ־דוּ, דוּ־דוּ —	אַיֵּה אֶמְצָאֶךָּ? וְאַיֵּה לֹא אֶמְצָאֶךָּ? אָנָה אֶמְצָאֶךָּ? אַךְ אָנָה לֹא אֶמְצָאֶךָּ? אַתָּה־אַתָּה־אַתָּה אַתָּה־אַתָּה —	Where shall I seek you?[1] cf. Proverbs 7:15. A short prayer on this theme in quoted in Ḥovot haLevavot by Bachya ibn Paquda (1050-1120): ונאמר על קצת מן החכמים שהיה אומר בתפלתו אלהי אנה אמצאך אך אנה לא אמצאך נסתרת ולא תראה והכל ממך מלא. דומה למה שאמר יתברך אֶת־הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת־הָאָרֶץ אֲנִי מָלֵא נְאֻם־יְהוָה (ירמיהו כג:כד) (It is said of one of the Sages who would say in his prayer: “My elo’ah, where can I find you, yet where can I not find you. You are hidden and invisible yet everything is filled with you, similar to the verse “‘Do I not fill heaven and earth,’ says YHVH” (Jeremiah 23:24)). Note also, Song of Songs 8:1.  And where shall I not seek you? Where can I find you? And where can I not find you? You you you, you you —
אָי, װאוּ איך געה – דוּ! און װאוּ איך שטעה – דוּ! רַק דוּ, נאָר דוּ, װידער דוּ, אָבער דוּ — דוּ־דוּ־דוּ, דוּ־דוּ!	אוֹי, אִם אֲנִי אֵלֵךְ – אַתָּה אִם אֲנִי נִשְׁאָר – אַתָּה רַק אַתָּה תָּמִיד אַתָּה פֹּה אַתָּה שָׁם אַתָּה — אַתָּה־אַתָּה־אַתָּה אַתָּה־אַתָּה!	Oy, if I go — You![2] cf. Megillat Yonah.  If I stay — You! Only you. Always you. Here: You. There: You — You you you, you you!
איז עמעצן גוט – דוּ, חָלִילָה שלעכט – אָי, דוּ; אָי, דוּ־דוּ־דוּ־דוּ־דוּ־דוּ! דוּ־דוּ־דוּ־דוּ־דוּ־דוּ־דוּ!	כְּשֶׁזֶּה טוֹב – אַתָּה כְּשֶׁזֶּה, חָלִילָה, רַע – אוֹי, אַתָּה; אוֹי, אַתָּה־אַתָּה־אַתָּה־אַתָּה־אַתָּה־אַתָּה! אַתָּה־אַתָּה־אַתָּה־אַתָּה־אַתָּה־אַתָּה־אַתָּה!	When it’s good — You, [When it’s,] Heaven forfend, bad — Oy, you;[3] cf. Birkat Yotser Ohr. A statement of non-duality.   Oy! You you you you you you! You you you you you you you!
מִזְרָח – דוּ, מַעֲרָב – דוּ, צָפוֹן – דוּ, דָּרוֹם – דוּ! דוּ־דוּ־דוּ, דוּ־דוּ־דוּ, דוּ־דוּ־דוּ!	מִזְרָח – אַתָּה, מַעֲרָב – אַתָּה, צָפוֹן – אַתָּה, דָּרוֹם – אַתָּה! אַתָּה־אַתָּה־אַתָּה אַתָּה־אַתָּה־אַתָּה אַתָּה־אַתָּה־אַתָּה!	In the east: You. In the west: You. In the north: You. In the south: You! You you you You you you You you you!
שָׁמַיִם – דוּ אֶרֶץ – דוּ מַעְלָה – דוּ מַטֶּה – דוּ! דוּ־דוּ־דוּ, דוּ־דוּ־דוּ, דוּ־דוּ־דוּ, דוּ־דוּ־דוּ, דוּ דוּ דוּ!	שָׁמַיִם – אַתָּה אֶרֶץ – אַתָּה מַעְלָה – אַתָּה מַטֶּה – אַתָּה! אַתָּה־אַתָּה־אַתָּה אַתָּה־אַתָּה־אַתָּה אַתָּה־אַתָּה־אַתָּה אַתָּה־אַתָּה־אַתָּה אַתָּה אַתָּה אַתָּה!	In the Heavens: You. On Earth: You. Above: You. Below: You! You you you You you you You you you You you you You you you!
װאוּ איך קער מיך און װאוּ איך װענד מיך – דוּ – דוּ!	לְאָן אֲנִי עוֹבֵר וּלְאָן אֲנִי חוֹזֵר – אַתָּה – אַתָּה!	Where I turn to, And where do I return to? You — you!

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Set to music by Leo Low (1878-1960) and performed by Mordechai Hershman (1888–1940) in 1921, “A Dudele” is a song attributed to Rabbi Levi Yitshaq of Berditchev, which he sung during havdallah, and on Rosh haShanah and Yom Kippur. The Diaspora Yeshiva Band adapted the song in Hebrew for their album Melave Malkah (1977). A direct antecedent for the panentheist concept of divinity expressed here can be found in a short prayer quoted in Ḥovot haLevavot by Bachya ibn Paquda (1050-1120) (see annotation below).

Source(s)

A Dudele of Rabbi Levi Yitshaq of Berditchev (lyrics included with the sheet music of Leo Low, 1921)

Recordings

 

Notes

Notes

1	cf. Proverbs 7:15. A short prayer on this theme in quoted in Ḥovot haLevavot by Bachya ibn Paquda (1050-1120): ונאמר על קצת מן החכמים שהיה אומר בתפלתו אלהי אנה אמצאך אך אנה לא אמצאך נסתרת ולא תראה והכל ממך מלא. דומה למה שאמר יתברך אֶת־הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת־הָאָרֶץ אֲנִי מָלֵא נְאֻם־יְהוָה (ירמיהו כג:כד) (It is said of one of the Sages who would say in his prayer: “My elo’ah, where can I find you, yet where can I not find you. You are hidden and invisible yet everything is filled with you, similar to the verse “‘Do I not fill heaven and earth,’ says YHVH” (Jeremiah 23:24)). Note also, Song of Songs 8:1.
2	cf. Megillat Yonah.
3	cf. Birkat Yotser Ohr. A statement of non-duality.

Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (translation)

Co-authors:

• 
  Name: Levi Yitsḥaq Derbarmdiger Rosakov of Berditchev
  Bio: Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev (1740–1809), also known as the holy Berdichever, and the Kedushas Levi, was a Hasidic master and Jewish leader. He was the rabbi of Ryczywół, Żelechów, Pinsk and Berdychiv, for which he is best known. He was one of the main disciples of the Maggid of Mezritch, and of his disciple Rabbi Shmelke of Nikolsburg, whom he succeeded as rabbi of Ryczywół. Levi Yitzchok was known as the "defense attorney" for the Jewish people ("Sneiguron Shel Yisroel"), because he would intercede on their behalf before God. Known for his compassion for every Jew, he was one of the most beloved leaders of Eastern European Jewry. He is considered by some to be the founder of Hasidism in central Poland. And known for his fiery service of God.
  Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levi_Yitzchok_of_Berditchev
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/levi-yitshaq-rosakov
• 
  Name: Aharon N. Varady (translation)
  Bio: Aharon Varady (M.A.J.Ed./JTSA Davidson) is a volunteer translator for the Open Siddur Project. If you find any mistakes in his translations, please let him know. Shgiyot mi yavin; Ministarot Naqeni שְׁגִיאוֹת מִי־יָבִין; מִנִּסְתָּרוֹת נַקֵּנִי "Who can know all one's flaws? From hidden errors, correct me" (Psalms 19:13). If you'd like to directly support his work, please consider donating via his Patreon account. (Varady also transcribes prayers and contributes his own original work besides serving as the primary shammes for the Open Siddur Project and its website, opensiddur.org.)
  Website: https://aharon.varady.net
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/aharon-varady-translation

Featured Image:

Title: Moorish synagogue tile with Atah (Morocco, ca. 18th c.)
Caption: Blue and white synagogue tile decorated with Moorish arch and floral motif and inscribed with the Hebrew word אתה “atah” (you), Morocco, 18th century. This tile is most likely from one of the four imperial cities: Fez, Meknes, Marrakesh, or Rabat. Original record notes that this tile came from a Moroccan synagogue. Possibly from the formula “barukh atah bevo’echa uvarukh ata btsetekha” (ברוך אתה בבואך וברוך אתה בצאתך), Deuteronomy 28:6; cf. tiled inscriptions in Lazama synagogue, Marrakech. (From the Magnes Museum collection, Tile [77-275].)