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Echad
Mi Yodea |
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Echad Mi Yodea, meaning ‘Who Knows One’, is a traditional cumulative song which enumerates common Jewish motifs and teachings. 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.
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’ – ‘Good friend I ask you’.
Recitation varies from family to family and has versions in Yiddish, Hebrew, and many other vernacular languages. Similar in form to the Twelve Days of Christmas, it can be played as a memory game. A peculiar feature of Echad Mi Yodea is that it proceeds to the unlucky number thirteen and stops there as if to make the Jew feel that with him thirteen is a holy, and therefore lucky, number.
Click here to download the English translation of the song (12Kb PDF)
Click here to download the Hebrew translation of the song (420Kb PDF)
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