Presenter: Rabbi Jeff Roth
Event & Date: N/A
Podcast Notes:
One approach to addressing the Divine was offered by Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, a Hasidic rebbe in the second generation of followers of the Baal Shem Tov. He offered his theology in the form of a song, known as a dudele (from the Yiddish word du for “you”). Levi Yitzchak presents us a way of looking at the world through the eyes of the teaching “Everything is God and nothing but God.” And in doing so, he personalizes the experience of mindfulness.
The dudele is originally written in Yiddish; the translation below is mine. It stays close to the text, except for the beginning and the end. The opening address to God, Riboyno shel oylom, literally means “Master of the world,” but I replaced it with the metaphor I have been using in this book. I also added the last three stanzas to include formal mindfulness practice experiences. Here is a recorded version of the dudele:
Riboyno shel oylom (3x)
Ich vil dir a dudele zingen:Du du du du du
Holy Being of the World (3x)
I want to sing a dudele for You
Du du du du, You You You You
Where shall I seek You?
And where shall I not seek You?
Where can I find You?
And where can I not find You?
Du du du du, You You You You
If I go, You, if I stay, You
Only You, always You
Here You, there You
Du du du du, You You You You
Az iz gut, du,
choliloh shlect oich, du
When it’s good, You
Forfend sorrow, You
Du du du du, You You You You
Tingle You, pressure You
Warm You, cold You
Du du du du, You You You You
Judgment You, Hesed You
Pleasant You, unpleasant You
Du du du du, You You You You
Walking You, sitting You
Standing You, eating You
Du du du du, You You You You
Praise You, blame You
Fame You, ill repute You
Du du du du, You You You You
Below is a talk Rabbi Jeff Roth gave at a Three Week Retreat in 2014, which includes the Dudele.
You Are Love (Rabbi Jeff Roth)
Jeff starts by talking about Moses at the Burning Bush, and how God teaches us
to live in the here and now. Jeff looks at talking directly to God, and paying
loving attention to each moment of life.
EMAIL: info@awakenedheartproject.org
Shiviti YHVH Le'negdi Tamid (Psalms 16:8)
I aim to recognize the Holy Source of Being within me and surrounding me at all times.
May every image, word and sound on this website bring about more compassion and more awareness.
Have a question about Jewish meditation? info@awakenedheartproject.org