Ruach - New Jewish Tunes by Transcontinental Music Publications

RABBI BEN BAG-BAG
Jeff Klepper
Ruach 5763

[Jeff Klepper writes:] Pirkei Avot (Chapters of the Fathers) is a section of the Mishnah [book from approximately 200 C.E. of Jewish religious legal teachings] and a treasure trove of wise and wonderful sayings, many of which have been set to music, becoming popular Jewish songs. (Just check out the back of the Complete Shireinu to see how many of the songs you know come from Pirkei Avot!) Many prayer books include them in Hebrew or English. We have all learned about Rabbis Hillel and Shammai, but many other important teachers of that time had wise things to say, often commenting on, and adding to, what was said before. As is the style of the Talmud [book of interpretation and elaboration on the Mishnah ], the names of who said what are recorded for posterity. We don’t know much about Rav Ben Bog-Bog (that’s the Hebrew pronunciation) but a Midrash suggests that his name, spelled Bet-Gimel, stands for the words “Ben Ger”, son of a convert to Judaism. If this is true it adds even greater meaning to one of the most elegant teachings in our tradition on the importance of Torah study. By the way, Bag-Bag’s words may be serious but the song is meant to be silly, so have fun with it!

VERSE 1
Oh, Rabbi Ben Bag-Bag, he had a double name name.
'Cause his last name was the same same, but I never heard him brag.
So here's a little song song. It's kind of like a tribute.
I hope you don't think that it's too cute, and I hope you sing along.

CHORUS
You gotta turn it, turn it, turn it again.
Turn it around your mind.
You gotta turn it, turn it, turn it again.
You'll never know what secrets you might find.

VERSE 2
For Rabbi Ben Bag-Bag there was always more to learn learn.
Words of Torah he would turn turn all the night and all the day.
And when the other rabbis went to bed 'cause they were done done,
Bag stayed late 'cause it was fun fun! he would turn to them and say:

CHORUS

VERSE 3
For Rabbi Ben Bag-Bag the Torah was the be all.
It also was the end all, and not a word was wrong.
So thank you, Rabbi Ben Bag-Bag, for your cool and pithy quote quote.
It's the best in Pirkei Avot, and now it's in a song!

CHORUS