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The Bal Shem​‘​s Soup

from Manna by Shelley Posen

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To download PDF lyric sheets and credits visit: shelleyposen.com/lyrics/

lyrics

Now, the Bal Shem Tov was a very holy man
But a man of wealth by no means
And all that his wife could put in a pan
For his supper was a quart of soup beans.
With a scrap of onion and a dash of salt
That her one or two coins had bought her
And no one could find either flaw or fault
When she boiled up the beans in water.

CHORUS
And the Bal Shem danced (yom biddle biddle
bom)
And he laughed in his elation
And he praised the Lord for the fruits of the
earth
And the bounty of creation.

“Now, my dear,” said the Besht, “when the
cooking’s o’er
“The soup may be weak in savour
“I wonder if there’s anything more
“You can add for extra flavour?”
She recalled the roast they’d had that week
With a bone they’d gnawed since daily
So she put it in the beans at a slant oblique
Where it simmered away quite gaily.

Said she, “My dear, sure as dogs have pups
“And in Hebrew, ‘water’ is mayim
“The soup would be better for a drop of shnaps
That we use to drink lekhayim.”
To the top of the cupboard she reached in a
flash
(For the rebitzn, she was handy)
She took down a bottle and poured in a splash
Of the Bal Shem Tov’s best brandy.

Now, the very first spoonful of soup they tried
Was still a bisl shvakh and flaccid
Said the Besht, “It really can’t be denied
“It could use a bit of something acid.”
Said she, “Since Sukkis last year I’ve had
The esrog you shook with the lulav”—
[Oy! A lebn an dayn kep’!]
So a squeeze of lemon they agreed to add
By the hand of the Bal Shem’s true love.

And that’s how the soup was born, I hear
That’s named for the good Bal Shem Tov
It’s fine to eat any time of the year
Whether khol ha mo’ed or on yomtov.
Yes, lots of pleasure it’s sure to give
Whatever the week or the day is
And whether you’re Reform or Conservative
Or a khasid with a beard and peyis.

credits

from Manna, released January 10, 2003

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Shelley Posen Ottawa, Ontario

SHELLEY POSEN is a Canadian songwriter and performer of his own and traditional songs. He writes in many styles and on many subjects. His songs are widely recognized for their wit, craftsmanship, and the profound effect many seem to have on listeners.

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