Text: Pirkei Avot, Rabbi Hillel
Music and English Lyrics: Beth Schafer © 2008

If I don’t stand up for myself then who will stand for me?
If I don’t know me? Who’s gonna show me?
And if I don’t stand up for another, who is my brother,
How can I hold my head up high?

Chorus
Im ein ani li mi li uchsheani l’atsmi ma ani
V’im lo achshav eimatai, im lo achshav eimatai

And you know I’ve got your back if trouble should find you
I will remind you, that I am behind you
Could you please watch out for me if I go astray now.
Help make it ok now, show me the way.

Chorus
If not now when? This chance might never come again.
woh oh oh oh….
Chorus

Trans: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me, but if I am only for myself, what am I? And, if not now, when?”