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 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 Oy cuz it's a rebbe's life 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 because your love" 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 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