11/22/2021
A friend asks about the well known Yiddish song, Shnirele Perele, "I'm curious about the meaning of this part: 'If he comes by riding, good years are ahead, If he comes by horse, good times are ahead, If he comes by foot, every Jew will be settled in the land of Israel.' "
My answer:
First of all, the results of the various means of arrival are dependent on finding pairs of words that rhyme.
Vet er kumen tsu forn, veln zayn gute yorn,
If he comes traveling in a vehicle (presumably a carriage, wagon, fiery chariot, even a train, depending on when the song was written, etc.) there will be good years.
Vet er kumen tsu raytn, veln zayn naye tsaytn,
If he comes riding (presumably on horseback, but could be a donkey, camel, etc.) there will be new times.
Vet er kumen tsu geyen, veln di Yidn in Erets Yisroyel aynshteyn.
If he comes walking, the Jews will stay in the land of Israel.
What is the difference is between good years and new times.
Perhaps good years means we'll live peaceful lives with sufficient sustenance for everyone. Perhaps new times means a new political system, equality, justice, and end to exploitation. For the Jews to be settled in the land of Israel means self-determination, and end to being subject to anti-Semitism, the dream of living in an Earthly paradise. Remember that this was written before there was a State of Israel, possibly even before there was a Zionist movement and there are all sorts of dreams associated with the Messiah leading us back to Erets Yisroel, as many dreams as there are strains of Jewish thought.
My guess is that the origin of the song is khasidik, and therefore centered on hopes for the well being and spiritual redemption of the Jewish people. Centuries of oppression and persecution tended to narrow the focus of Jewish hopes to caring mostly about our own well being, but Jews also pray for the time when, becoming established in our own land will bring the opportunity to teach the values of peace and justice to the whole world. And as Sholem Aleykhem wrote in the story that "If I Were a Rich Man" was based, "Even the enemies of Israel should have the means to sustain themselves. For what is it that causes people to hate us Jews? It’s hunger and war and leaders who blame those things on us."
Along with the progression of results from the arrival of the Messiah in the song is the progression of means of getting here. It goes from fancy -- some sort of vehicle, to simpler -- riding on a horse, to the simplest and most humble -- walking on foot. It teaches that we should not be impressed by wealth and power and fancy trappings, but to value simplicity and humility.
zayt gezunt -- be well,
Yosl
Shnirele Perele (folk song, arranged by Lisa Gallatin and the Klezmatics), sung by the Klezmatics and A Besere Velt at their anniversary concert on December...
