An old Yiddish ditty advises us about the drinking habits of a yid and a goy:

Shiker iz a goy

Shiker iz er, trinken miz er,

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Vayl er iz a goy.

Nikhter iz a yid

Nikhter iz er, davnen miz er

Vayl er iz a yid.

But this easy characterization of the drinking habits of Jews and Gentiles is refuted in other popular Yiddish songs, such as one titled “Eyn Kol, Eyn Kol, Eyn Kol Vayn,” that appears in a song collection by Ruth Rubin dating back to her recording in 1953. What follows is her transliterated Yiddish version and then her own translation into English.

Eyn Kol, Eyn Kol, Eyn Kol Vayn

Eyn kol, eyn kol, eyn kol vayn

Eyn kol, eyn kol, eyn kol vayn

Ikh kon on dir nit zayn.

Eyn kol vayn, ikh kon on dir nit zayn.

Eyn kol, eyn kol, eyn kol bir. (Repeat 3 times.).

Ikh ken on dir nit zayn

En kol, eyn kol, eyn kol yash (3x)

Kh’vil a fule flash.

Eyn kol, eyn kol, eyn kol konyak (3x)

Ay iz dos geshmak.

Eyn kol, eyn kol, eyn kol kvas, (3x)

Ikh vil a fule fas.

English Version

Sparkling, bubbling, lovely wine (3x)

You make me feel so fine

Fine, fine, fine, you make me feel so fine.

Gurgling, foaming, frothy beer (3x)

You fill me full of cheer

Cheer, cheer, cheer, you fill me full of cheer.

Good old whiskey strong and free (3x)

A bottle is just right for me

Right for me, a bottle is just right for me.

Cognac isn’t bad at all (3x)

It makes me feel so tall

Tall, tall, tall. It makes me feel so tall.

If only cider is around (3x)

I’ll drink that barrel down

Down, down, down.

Our own conclusion on the sobriety of the clans:

A shiker blaybt a shiker

No matter Jew or goy

If he’s in love with liquor

We say for him: “Oy, oy.”

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount