Echad Mi Yodea, recorded in Tel Aviv in 1966 (nusach Corfu)
"Echad Mi Yodea" (Hebrew: אחד מי יודע?, lit. 'One, Who Knows?') 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 has versions in Hebrew, Yiddish, Arabic, 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]
Names
The song is known in several languages.
Yiddish as Ver ken zogn ver ken redn (ווער קען זאָגן ווער קען רעדן)
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 sometimes thought that word association reveals the unconscious mind. 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, I ask you".
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.
Thirteen is a bar mitzvah, twelve are the tribes, eleven are the stars, ten are the Commandments, nine months you're carried, eight days till the bris, seven are the weekdays, six are the books of the Mishnah, five are the fifths of the Torah, four are the Mothers, three are the Fathers, two are the tablets, and one is God, and God is one, and there is no other. Hey!
Draytzn iz men bar mitzvah, tzvelf zenen di shvotim, elf zenen di shterm, tzen zenen di gebot, nayn khedoshim trogt men, akht teg iz der bris, zibn zenen di vokhnteg, zekst zenen di Mishnayes, finf zenen di Khamushim, fir zenen di Imes, dray zenen di Oves, tzvey zenen di lukhes, un einer is Got, un Got is einer, un vayte keyner. Oy!
דרײַצן איז מען בר מצווה, צװעלף זענען די שבֿוטים, עלף זענען די שטערן, צען זענען די געבאָט, נײַן חודשים טראָגט מען, אַכט טעג איז דער ברית, זיבן זענען די װאָכנטעג, זעקסט זענען די משניות, פינף זענען די חמושים, פיר זענען די אימהות, דרײַ זענען די אבֿות, צװײ זענען די לוחות, און אײנער איז גאָט, און גאָט איז אײנער, און װײַטע קײַנער. אוי!
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 de Iaakov Diez Mandamientos Son Nueve Meses de la preñada 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
Min ya'elam wumin yidri Allah rab el mijalli Hda'hinen il tleta'ash tleta'ash il bar misba tna'ash shibte Yisrael hda'ash kokab bisama 'asher qilmat itorah tisa'at ishhor il hible tmint-iyyam il mila sab'at-iyyam il hupa site sdadir il Mishna khamse msahaf itorah. Arba'a imatna wutlate abatna wutnen Musa waAharon wahid yalli ilkhalana, Allah hu Allah hu, la illah illahu
Translation
Who knows, and who understands? God is the master of the revealed universe God is the one and the only Creator. God, God, there is no God but God. (some say: Blessed be He and Blessed be His Name) (some say: God is one) Thirteen is bar mitzvah twelve tribes of Israel eleven stars in the sky ten commandments nine months of pregnancy eight days for circumcision seven days for huppa six orders of the Mishna five books of the Torah four mothers three fathers two are Moses and Aaron God is the one and the only Creator. God, God, there is no God but God.
The Judaism section of the Stack Exchange Network of question-and-answer websites is named Mi Yodeya after this song.[2]
Entebbe (titled 7 Days in Entebbe in the U.S.), a 2018 crime thriller film directed by José Padilha and written by Gregory Burke, features a dance on the tunes of the Echad Mi Yodea song, choreographed by Ohad Naharin of the Batsheva dance company.[3]
During an episode of the interactive cartoon "Charlie Gets Fired", the user has the chance for Charlie to sing the whole song. This much chagrin to his boss.[citation needed]
