Echad Mi Yodea
  Israeli music |
|---|
| Religious |
| Secular |
| Israel |
| Dance |
| Music for holidays |
Echad Mi Yodea (Yiddish: ווער קענ זאָגן ווער קענ רעדן ver ken zogn ver ken redn) (Ladino: "ken supyese i entendyese") (Hebrew: אחד מי יודע ekhád mi yodeá) (Bukhori: Yakumin ki medonad?) (Who Knows One?) is a traditional cumulative song sung on Passover and found in the haggadah. It enumerates common Jewish motifs and teachings. It is meant to be fun and humorous, while still imparting important lessons to the children present.
Recitation varies from family to family. The song, first has versions in Yiddish and Hebrew, and many other vernacular languages. Sometimes it is played as a memory game, recited without looking. Sometimes the goal is to recite the entire verse in one breath.[1]
Meaning
Although it can appear to be simply a juvenile children's song, an important message is being imparted to those present at the Passover table. The main theme of Passover, and particularly of the Seder, is not only the physical freedom of a nation of slaves. More importantly, it is the spiritual and mental freeing of this people, to become a nation unto God, His "Chosen People". As His people, the Jewish Nation is expected to be wholly at one with God, and to relate everything in their lives to Him. It is well known that psychologists use word association to reveal the subconscious. Thus, it is at this point in the Seder that the Jews sing this cumulative song. After relating God's wonders and kindness, and the events of the Exodus, the song demonstrates how everything can and should relate to God: "If I say 'One', you think 'God!', if I say 'Five', you think 'Books of Moses!'"
History
According to the Encyclopaedia Judaica, this song is first found in Ashkenazi Haggadot of the 16th century. It is believed to have originated in Germany in the 15th century, possibly based on a German folk song "Guter freund ich frage dich", which means "Good friend which I ask".
Structure and text
"Echad Mi Yodea" is a cumulative song, meaning that each verse is built on top of the previous verses. There are thirteen verses.
The first verse runs:
- Who knows one?
- I know one.
- One is our God, in heaven and on earth.
The second verse:
- Who knows two?
- I know two.
- Two are the tablets of the covenant;
- One is our God, in heaven and on earth.
...and so forth. The last verse is:
- Who knows thirteen?
- I know thirteen.
- Thirteen are the temperaments of God;
- Twelve are the tribes of Israel;
- Eleven are the stars of Joseph's dream;
- Ten are the [Ten] Commandments;
- Nine are the months of pregnancy;
- Eight are the days of circumcision;
- Seven are the days of the week;
- Six are the books of the Mishnah;
- Five are the books of the Torah;
- Four are the Matriarchs;
- Three are the Patriarchs;
- Two are the tablets of the covenant;
- One is our God, in heaven and on earth.
There are variations of this song. This includes where the sixth verse pertains to either the six books of the Mishnah or the six days of creation . Also, the eighth verse can either pertain to the eight days before a circumcision, or the eight candles of a Chanukah menorah. The ninth verse can either pertain to the nine months it takes to make a baby or the number of festivals in Judaism. The thirteenth verse can refer to Divine attributes or the age of bar mitzvah.
| Popular version | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Hebrew | Yiddish | |||
| 1. | One is our God, in heaven and on earth | אחד אלוהינו שבשמיים ובארץ | .א | איינער איז הקדוש ברוך הוא אויף דער ערד און הימעל איינער ביסטו | .א |
| 2. | Two are the tablets of the covenant; | שני לוחות הברית | .ב | צוויי לוחות פון ספיר שטיין געשריבען האָט זיי דער אייבערשטער אליין | .ב |
| 3. | Three are the Papas | שלושה אבות | .ג | דריי אבות זענען ביי אונז דאָ אברהם, יצחק, יעקב, זכרונם לברכה | .ג |
| 4. | Four are the mamas | ארבע אימהות | .ד | פיר אימהות זענען ביי אונז דאָ שרה, רבקה, רחל אוּן לאה! | .ד |
| 5. | Five are the books of the Torah | חמישה חומשי תורה | .ה | די תורה איז צוטיילט אויף פינף ספרים בראשית, שמות, ויקרא, במדבר, דברים | .ה |
| 6. | Six are the books of the Mishnah | שישה סידרי משנה | .ו | זעקס חלקים, עפען אויף און זע ווערט צוטיילט די תורה שבעל פה | .ו |
| 7. | Seven are the days of the week | שיבעה ימי שבתא | .ז | א גאנצע וואָך גרייט מען זיך צו דער זיבעטער טאָג שבת, שטעלט זיך אָפ אין רוּ | .ז |
| 8. | Eight are the days of the circumcision | שמונה ימי מילה | .ח | אכט טעג ווען א קיד איז אלט מאכט מען איהם א ברית, און ער ווערט געמַל'ט | .ח |
| 9. | Nine are the months of the pregnant | תישעה ירחי לידה | .ט | ניין מאנאטען ווערט איינגעשטעלט אייעדער א קינד קומט אויף דער וועלט | .ט |
| 10. | Ten are the Commandments | עשרה דיבריא | .י | אויף באַרג סיני האָט אונזער גאָט אונז געגעבען די צען געבאָט! | .י |
| 11. | Eleven are the stars of the Joseph's dream | אחד עשר כוכביא | .יא | אחד עשר לאָזט אונז הערען יוסף'ס חלום און די עלף שטערען | .יא |
| 12. | Twelve are the tribes of Israel | שנים עשר שיבטיא | .יב | יעקב'ס קינדער פון דור צו דור די צוועלף שבטים, און ראובן איז דער בכור | .יב |
| 13. | Thirteen are the temperaments of God | שלושה עשר מידיא | .יג | א גאָט פון רחמנות איז אונזער בורא דרייצען מידות לערנט אונז די תורה | .יג |
| Rhyming version | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Hebrew | ||
| 1. | One is Hashem, one is Hashem, one is Hashem! In the Heaven and the Earth | אחד אלוהינו שבשמיים ובארץ | .א |
| 2. | Two are the tablets that Moshe brought; | שני לוחות הברית | .ב |
| 3. | Three are the Fathers | שלושה אבות | .ג |
| 4. | Four are the Mothers | ארבע אימהות | .ד |
| 5. | Five are the books of the Torah | חמישה חומשי תורה | .ה |
| 6. | Six are the books of the Mishnah | שישה סידרי משנה | .ו |
| 7. | Seven are the days of the week ooh-ah | שיבעה ימי שבתא | .ז |
| 8. | Eight are the days til the Brit Milah | שמונה ימי מילה | .ח |
| 9. | Nine are the months til the baby's born | תישעה ירחי לידה | .ט |
| 10. | Ten are the ten Commandments | עשרה דיבריא | .י |
| 11. | Eleven are the stars in Joseph's dream | אחד עשר כוכביא | .יא |
| 12. | Twelve are the tribes of Israel | שנים עשר שיבטיא | .יב |
| 13. | Thirteen are the attributes of Hashem | שלושה עשר מידיא | .יג |
Spanish version
Showing the last complete paragraph, as an example. First and Last verses would be sung in Hebrew.
Shloshá Asar, Mi Yodea? Shloshá Asar, Ani Yodea!
Trece años del Bar Mitzvá Doce Tribus de Israel Once Estrellas del Firmamento Diez Mandamientos Son Nueve Meses del Embarazo Ocho Días del Milá Siete Días de la Semana Seis Libros de la Mishná Cinco Libros de la Torá Cuatro Madres de Israel Tres Nuestros Padres Son Dos Tablas de La Ley Uno es el Creador
Eloheinu, Eloheinu, Eloheinu, Eloheinu, She-bashamaim uva'aretz
Judaeo-Ladino version
Ken supyese y entendyese alavar al Dio kreyense?
Kuale es el uno?
Uno es el Kriador, Baruch Hu Baruch shemo
Kuales son loz dos?
Dos Moshe y Aron
Kuales son los tres?
Trez padrez muestros son, [Avram, Itzhak y Yaakov]
Kuales son los kuatro?
Kuatro madrez muestras son, [Sara, Rivka, Leah, Rahel]
Kuales son los sinko?
Sinko livroz de la Ley
Kuales son los seish?
Seish diaz de la semana
Kuales son los syete?
Syete dias con Shabbat
Kuales son loz ocho?
Ocho diaz de la mila
Kuales son loz mueve?
Mueve mezes de la prenyada
Kuales son los diesh?
Diez mandamientoz de la Ley
Kuales son loz onze?
Onze trivoz in Yisrael
Kuales son loz doze?
Dosay trivos kon Yosef
Judaeo-Tajik or Bokharian version
Yakumin kie medonad? Yakumin man’ medonam! Yakumin: Khudoyi pabun olamin.
Duyumin kie medonad? Duyumin man’ medonam! Duyumin: du’u lavchie gavkhar. Yakumin: Khudoyi pabun olamin.
Seyumin kie medonad? Seyumin man’ medonam! Seyumin: se’e padaron. Duyumin: du’u lavchie gavkhar. Yakumin: Khudoyi pabun olamin.
Chorumin kie medonad? Chorumin man’ medonam! Chorumin: chor’ modaron. Seyumin: se’e padaron. Duyumin: du’u lavchie gavkhar. Yakumin: Khudoyi pabun olamin.
Panjumin kie medonad? Panjumin man’ medonam! Panjumin: panj sifrey Toro. Chorumin: chor’ modaron. Seyumin: se’e padaron. Duyumin: du’u lavchie gavkhar. Yakumin: Khudoyi pabun olamin.
Shashtumin kie medonad? Shashtumin man’ medonam! Shishtumin: shash sidrey mishno. Panjumin: panj sifrey Toro. Chorumin: chor’ modaron. Seyumin: se’e padaron. Duyumin: du’u lavchie gavkhar. Yakumin: Khudoyi pabun olamin.
Khaftumin kie medonad? Khaftumin man’ medonam! Khaftumin: khaft rouzi khafta. Shishtumin: shash sidrey mishno. Panjumin: panj sifrey Toro. Chorumin: chor’ modaron. Seyumin: se’e padaron. Duyumin: du’u lavchie gavkhar. Yakumin: Khudoyi pabun olamin.
Khashtumin kie medonad? Khashtumin man’ medonam! Khashtumin: khasht rouzi millo. Khaftumin: khaft rouzi khafta. Shishtumin: shash sidrey mishno. Panjumin: panj sifrey Toro. Chorumin: chor’ modaron. Seyumin: se’e padaron. Duyumin: du’u lavchie gavkhar. Yakumin: Khudoyi pabun olamin.
Nokhumin kie medonad? Nokhumin man’ medonam! Nokhumin: noch mochie zanon. Khashtumin: khasht rouzi millo. Khaftumin: khaft rouzi khafta. Shishtumin: shash sidrey mishno. Panjumin: panj sifrey Toro. Chorumin: chor’ modaron. Seyumin: se’e padaron. Duyumin: du’u lavchie gavkhar. Yakumin: Khudoyi pabun olamin.
Dakhumin kie medonad? Dakhumin man’ medonam! Dakhumin: dakh sukhanon. Nokhumin: noch mochie zanon. Khashtumin: khasht rouzi millo. Khaftumin: khaft rouzi khafta. Shishtumin: shash sidrey mishno. Panjumin: panj sifrey Toro. Chorumin: chor’ modaron. Seyumin: se’e padaron. Duyumin: du’u lavchie gavkhar. Yakumin: Khudoyi pabun olamin.
Yozdakhum kie medonad? Yozdakhum man’ medonam! Yozdakhum: yozdah sitoracho. Dakhumin: dakh sukhanon. Nokhumin: noch mochie zanon. Khashtumin: khasht rouzi millo. Khaftumin: khaft rouzi khafta. Shishtumin: shash sidrey mishno. Panjumin: panj sifrey Toro. Chorumin: chor’ modaron. Seyumin: se’e padaron. Duyumin: du’u lavchie gavkhar. Yakumin: Khudoyi pabun olamin.
Duvozdakhum kie medonad? Duvozdakhum man medonam! Duvozdakhum: duvozdah shivtocho. Yozdakhum: yozdah sitoracho. Dakhumin: dakh sukhanon. Nokhumin: noch mochie zanon. Khashtumin: khasht rouzi millo. Khaftumin: khaft rouzi khafta. Shishtumin: shash sidrey mishno. Panjumin: panj sifrey Toro. Chorumin: chor’ modaron. Seyumin: se’e padaron. Duyumin: du’u lavchie gavkhar. Yakumin: Khudoyi pabun olamin.
Sezdakhum kie medonad? Sezdakhum man’ medonam! Sezdakhum: sezdah khislatcho. Duvozdakhum: duvozdah shivtocho. Yozdakhum: yozdah sitoracho. Dakhumin: dakh sukhanon. Nokhumin: noch mochie zanon. Khashtumin: khasht rouzi millo. Khaftumin: khaft rouzi khafta. Shishtumin: shash sidrey mishno. Panjumin: panj sifrey Toro. Chorumin: chor’ modaron. Seyumin: se’e padaron. Duyumin: du’u lavchie gavkhar. Yakumin: Khudoyi pabun olamin.