Alef sounds like olive but it really means ox,
Bays is for Bagel, enjoy one with lox.

Gimmel means Camel, a funny looking horse,
But it works in the desert for Arabs of course.

Dollid is for David, the great Jewish king,
He wrote all the psalms to study and sing.

Hay is for Haman, the bad guy of Purim,
Although he was hung, no sympathy for him.

Vuv is for Vanishkas, we eat it with kasha,
If you ask for seconds, they'll call you a nosher.

Zion is the town we call Yerushalayim,
People who live there are no better than I am.

Ches is for Chanukah, a word Goyim can't say,
So you'll hear Hanukah when they refer to that day.

Tess is for Torah, the book of the Jews,
Follow its laws, and you'll never lose.

Yud is for Yidden and that's who we are,
Our language our customs our six-pointed star.

Kuff is for Kosher, the path we have taken,
No milk with our meat, no lobster, no bacon.

Lamed is for Leaven, the real name for yeast,
It's a big no-no at the Passover Feast.

Mem is for Minyan, ten davvin together,
Three times each day no matter the weather.

Nun is for Noah, the father of Shem,
We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them.

Samech is for Samson, his hair made him strong,
But one look at Delilah and it didn't last long.

Ayan is for Apple, hey Eve put it back!,
Advice from a snake? You're on the wrong track!

Fay is for Failures, and we've had a few,
Nobody's perfect, so what else is new?

Raish is for Reason it always wins out,
So just speak it softly there's no need to shout.

Shin is a letter, the first in Shalom,
Hello and good-bye and peace in your home.

Tuff the last letter in Hebrew and Yiddish,
Like Omega to the Greeks and Zed to the British.

by Lewis Fox