One of the most beloved customs of the Seder is closing the evening by singing several songs which have become synonymous with the Seder. Chad Gadya, Adir Hu and, of course, Echad Mi Yodea, “Who knows One”?

         Found in Haggadot dating back to the 15^th century and a staple in most contemporary haggadot, Echad Mi Yodea is a “counting song” enumerating from 1 to 13 aspects of Jewish tradition which correspond to those numbers. The song is not specifically related to Pesach but has found its way into the Seder as a way of keeping children entertained and interested in the rituals of the holiday.  

         The fact that Echad Mi Yodea is particularly directed at the children should cause us to re-think the song’s place in the Seder. The prospect of singing the song with a lively melody and with, at some Seder tables, humorous hand motions associated with each of the phrases, might be enough to maintain kids presence at the table throughout the lengthy Seder ritual. But, if you want the children to enjoy the song, perhaps it is more appropriate to sing it in the middle of the Seder. I might suggest singing it right after the meal to inject some energy into sleepy children and to ensure that those who can’t stay up until the end of the Seder will have had their chance to sing the fun song. You might even want to consider interrupting the flow of the Seder by splitting the song up and singing one “number” at a time throughout the evening.  

         But however you sing it, I am convinced that the song isn’t just fun. In fact, I have come to believe that Echad Mi Yodea is profoundly meaningful. 

         Let’s look at the 13 answers to the song’s questions: 

         Who knows one? I know one. One is our God of heaven and earth.

         2 … the Tablets of the Covenant at Sinai.

         3 … the Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

         4 … the Matriarchs: Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah.

         5 … the books of the Torah.

         6 … the sections of the Mishna (the first code of Rabbinic Law).

         7 … the days of the week leading to Shabbat

         8 … eight days until brit milah (ritual circumcision). 

         9 … the months of pregnancy.

         10 … the Ten Commandments.

         11 … the Stars in Joseph’s dream (identified with Joseph’s brothers, Jacob’s sons).

         12… the Tribes of Israel. (named for Jacob’s children and two grandchildren)

         13… the attributes of God (from Exodus chapter 34)

         Now, let’s divide the 13 into pairs (Even though 13 is an odd number, it still works as you will see.) Each of the pairs contain two aspects which are directly connected with each other.

         1-2 God is creator of heaven and earth and also is the giver of Torah at Sinai through the process of revelation.

         3-4 The Patriarchs and the Matriarchs

         5-6 The Mishna explains and expands the meaning of the laws in the Torah.

         7-8 Both Shabbat and Brit Milah are referred to in the Torah as an “ot”, a “sign” of the covenant.

         9-10 Both concern parenting. The 5^th of the 10 commandments is: Honor Your Father and Mother.

         11-12 Both enumerate the descendants of Jacob. 

         13 doesn’t have a pair. It can, however, be paired with #1 as an expansion of the concept of God, leading us back to the beginning and transforming the song into a continuous, never-ending circle. 

         So, I see the song as intricately written to show how different elements of our faith are connected to each other. 

         But the significance doesn’t stop there. Seen together, the subjects of these pairs, comprise a brilliant summary of the foundations of our faith. In addition, each of these factors of Judaism is clearly reflected in the Seder. 

         1-2 (and 13) God…The Seder is an evening in which we sit comfortably, reclining in the presence of God with an awareness of the importance of that relationship, historically at the Exodus and in our lives today.

         3-4 The Patriarchs and Matriarchs: Personal Identification with our History…We sit at the Seder cognizant of the roles of mothers and fathers throughout the ages. We think of all the parents and teachers who have taught their children and students about the Exodus throughout the ages and, for many of us, we recall our own parents and grandparents who sat with us at Seder Tables and whose presence we still feel around the table today as we share our stories and family traditions. And, we during the Seder we focus on the verses from Deuteronomy beginning with the phrase: “My father was a wandering Aramean.”

         5-6 Torah and Mishna: Learning as a Priority. Our tradition values the wisdom of the ancient texts as we seek to make them meaningful in today’s world. The ancient tradition of basing the Maggid, the storytelling section of the Seder, on midrashim, textual commentaries, on the verses from Deuteronomy beginning with “My father was a wandering Aramean” teaches us that even in the midst of the most complex ritual of the year, we take significant time to study. Torah study is a ritual in and of itself.

         7-8 Shabbat and Brit Milah: Ritual… The observance of Shabbat and the rituals of circumcision, naming ceremonies, Jewish weddings and so many others form the roadmap of our lives as Jews. And no ritual is as complex and beloved as the Pesach seder. 

9-10 Parenthood and the 10 Commandments: Living an ethical life…The responsibility to teach our children and our students to embrace the ethics found not only in the 10 commandments but in all the commandments of the Torah and guidelines our tradition has taught over the centuries is a solemn obligation. At Pesach we consider the horrors of slavery and our commitment to care for the stranger and free the oppressed of all who suffer degradation or persecution. Our rituals and traditions are meaningless unless we are committed to these and so many other moral and ethical teachings as the basis of our lives.

11-12 The children and grandchildren of Jacob: Our People and the Land of Israel… We are reminded of the critical importance of connecting with our people wherever they are as we sit at our individual Seders knowing that Jews throughout the world are doing the same. We renew our commitment to work to free those who can not observe the Seder and commit ourselves to concern for the well-being of our people everywhere. And we are reminded once again that the promise of redemption is tied, physically or conceptually, to the importance of the land of Israel in our lives as Jews. 

So, the song enumerates the foundational aspects of our lives as Jews: God, History, Learning, Ritual, Ethics, Peoplehood.

This simple song reminds us of what brings us together on the Seder nights and I urge you to ask yourself this question: Each of these values are critical but which of these are most important to you as you sit at the Seder this year? They all are important and indispensable as we consider our connection with our people and our faith. But which one or two are paramount to you this year? Is this year’s answer the same as you might have answered last year?

Echad Mi Yodea is such a fun song. So, sing it with joy. But realize how significant it is to be sung on a night on which so much of what we believe and practice as Jews comes to light in just a few hours.

I wish you a meaningful and memorable holiday.