Can Someone Help with a Russian or Yiddish Rhyme with the Word “Meesala” or “Misala” In It?
July 31st, 2007

Sharon wrote:

Hi,

I am hoping that someone out there remembers an old game that mothers, grandmothers, aunts and friends used to play with little ones. I think the rhyme is either Russian or Yiddish.

The baby’s hand is held palm up and the mother points her finger into the middle of the child’s hand and says, Meesala, Misala, or something like that, while making circles in the child’s palm. As the poem is repeated, the fingers march up the child’s arm and then tickle the back of the neck.

I remember the action and the feeling, but not the poem.

Help! I want to play this with my grandchildren, and my Grandmother played this with me almost 70 years ago.

Any help would be appreciated.

Best,

Sharon

If anyone knows about this rhyme, please comment below or email me.

Thanks!

-Mama Lisa

This article was posted on Tuesday, July 31st, 2007 at 6:03 pm and is filed under Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Finger Plays, Israel, Languages, Nursery Rhymes, Questions, Readers Questions, Russia, Russian, Russian Children's Songs, USA, Yiddish, Yiddish Children's Songs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

102 Responses to “Can Someone Help with a Russian or Yiddish Rhyme with the Word “Meesala” or “Misala” In It?”

  1. Jeffrey Says:
    November 22nd, 2023 at 11:55 pm

    Is it possible that its ketzelah, a kitten, and a mouse meyselah?

  2. Sarah Says:
    April 16th, 2024 at 3:28 am

    Here it is- link below- seems there are versions all over the world! I also got the Russian/Yiddish version- here a bissel, Dee a bissel, as she went up my arm.But I don’t remember any of the other words anymore.

    https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/can-anyone-help-with-a-rhyme-with-the-line-round-a-bit-it-may-be-originally-polish/

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