INTRODUCTION

The long history of our people is one of contrasts — freedom and slavery, joy and pain, power and helplessness. Passover reflects these contrasts. Tonight as we celebrate our freedom, we remember the slavery of our ancestors and realize that many people are not yet free.

Each generation changes — our ideas, our needs, our dreams, even our celebrations. So has Passover changed over many centuries into our present

holiday. Our nomadic ancestors gathered for a spring celebration when the sheep gave birth to their lambs. Theirs was a celebration of the continuity of life. Later, when our ancestors became farmers, they celebrated the arrival of spring in their own fashion. Eventually these ancient spring festivals merged with the story of the Exodus from Egypt and became a new celebration of life and freedom.

As each generation gathered around the table to retell the old stories, the symbols took on new meanings. New stories of slavery and liberation, oppression and triumph were added, taking their place next to the old. Tonight we add our own special chapter as we recall our people’s past and we dream of the future.

For Jews, our enslavement by the Egyptians is now remote, a symbol of communal remembrance. As we sit here in the comfort of our modern world, we think of the millions who still suffer the brutality of the existence that we escaped thousands of years ago.

אֶחָד מִי יוֹדֵעַ?
אֶחָד אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ: אֶחָד אֱלֹהֵינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַים וּבָאָרֶץ.

שְׁנַיִם מִי יוֹדֵעַ?
שְׁנַיִם אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ: שְׁנֵי לֻחוֹת הַבְּרִית. אֶחָד אֱלֹהֵינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַים וּבָאָרֶץ.

שְׁלשָׁה מִי יוֹדֵעַ?
שְׁלשָׁה אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ: שְׁלשָׁה אָבוֹת, שְׁנֵי לֻחוֹת הַבְּרִית, אֶחָד אֱלֹהֵינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַים וּבָאָרֶץ

אַרְבַּע מִי יוֹדֵעַ?
אַרְבַּע אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ: אַרְבַּע אִמָהוֹת, שְׁלשָׁה אָבוֹת, שְׁנֵי לֻחוֹת הַבְּרִית, אֶחָד אֱלֹהֵינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַים וּבָאָרֶץ

חֲמִּשָּׁה מִי יוֹדֵעַ?
חֲמִּשָּׁה אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ: חֲמִשָׁה חוּמְשֵׁי תוֹרָה, אַרְבַּע אִמָהוֹת, שְׁלשָׁה אָבוֹת, שְׁנֵי לֻחוֹת הַבְּרִית, אֶחָד אֱלֹהֵינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַים וּבָאָרֶץ

שִׁשִָּׂה מִי יוֹדֵעַ?
שִׁשִָּׂה אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ: שִׁשָּׁה סִדְרֵי מִשְׁנָה, חֲמִשָׁה חוּמְשֵׁי תוֹרָה, אַרְבַּע אִמָהוֹת, שְׁלשָׁה אָבוֹת, שְׁנֵי לֻחוֹת הַבְּרִית, אֶחָד אֱלֹהֵינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַים וּבָאָרֶץ

שִׁבְעָה מִי יוֹדֵעַ?
שִׁבְעָה אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ: שִׁבְעָה יְמֵי שַׁבָּתָא, שִׁשָּׁה סִדְרֵי מִשְׁנָה, חֲמִשָׁה חוּמְשֵׁי תוֹרָה, אַרְבַּע אִמָהוֹת, שְׁלשָׁה אָבוֹת, שְׁנֵי לֻחוֹת הַבְּרִית, אֶחָד אֱלֹהֵינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַים וּבָאָרֶץ

שְׁמוֹנָה מִי יוֹדֵעַ?
שְׁמוֹנָה אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ: שְׁמוֹנָה יְמֵי מִילָה, שִׁבְעָה יְמֵי שַׁבָּתָא, שִׁשָּׁה סִדְרֵי מִשְׁנָה, חֲמִשָׁה חוּמְשֵׁי תוֹרָה, אַרְבַּע אִמָהוֹת, שְׁלשָׁה אָבוֹת, שְׁנֵי לֻחוֹת הַבְּרִית, אֶחָד אֱלֹהֵינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַים וּבָאָרֶץ

תִּשְׁעָה מִי יוֹדֵעַ?
תִּשְׁעָה אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ: תִּשְׁעָה יַרְחֵי לֵדָה, שְׁמוֹנָה יְמֵי מִילָה, שִׁבְעָה יְמֵי שַׁבָּתָא, שִׁשָּׁה סִדְרֵי מִשְׁנָה, חֲמִשָׁה חוּמְשֵׁי תוֹרָה, אַרְבַּע אִמָהוֹת, שְׁלשָׁה אָבוֹת, שְׁנֵי לֻחוֹת הַבְּרִית, אֶחָד אֱלֹהֵינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַים וּבָאָרֶץ

עֲשֶָרָה מִי יוֹדֵעַ?
עֲשֶָרָה אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ: עֲשָׂרָה דִבְּרַיָא, תִּשְׁעָה יַרְחֵי לֵדָה, שְׁמוֹנָה יְמֵי מִילָה, שִׁבְעָה יְמֵי שַׁבָּתָא, שִׁשָּׁה סִדְרֵי מִשְׁנָה, חֲמִשָׁה חוּמְשֵׁי תוֹרָה, אַרְבַּע אִמָהוֹת, שְׁלשָׁה אָבוֹת, שְׁנֵי לֻחוֹת הַבְּרִית, אֶחָד אֱלֹהֵינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַים וּבָאָרֶץ

אַחַד עָשָׂר מִי יוֹדֵעַ?
אַחַד עָשָׂר אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ: אַחַד עַָשָׂר כּוֹכְבַיָּא, עֲשָׂרָה דִבְּרַיָא, תִּשְׁעָה יַרְחֵי לֵדָה, שְׁמוֹנָה יְמֵי מִילָה, שִׁבְעָה יְמֵי שַׁבָּתָא, שִׁשָּׁה סִדְרֵי מִשְׁנָה, חֲמִשָׁה חוּמְשֵׁי תוֹרָה, אַרְבַּע אִמָהוֹת, שְׁלשָׁה אָבוֹת, שְׁנֵי לֻחוֹת הַבְּרִית, אֶחָד אֱלֹהֵינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַים וּבָאָרֶץ

שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר מִי יודע?
שנים עָשָׂר אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ: שְׁנֵים עֶָשָׂר שִׁבְטַיָא, אַחַד עַָשָׂר כּוֹכְבַיָּא, עֲשָׂרָה דִבְּרַיָא, תִּשְׁעָה יַרְחֵי לֵדָה, שְׁמוֹנָה יְמֵי מִילָה, שִׁבְעָה יְמֵי שַׁבָּתָא, שִׁשָּׁה סִדְרֵי מִשְׁנָה, חֲמִשָׁה חוּמְשֵׁי תוֹרָה, אַרְבַּע אִמָהוֹת, שְׁלשָׁה אָבוֹת, שְׁנֵי לֻחוֹת הַבְּרִית, אֶחָד אֱלֹהֵינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַים וּבָאָרֶץ

שְׁלשָׁה עָשָׂר מִי יוֹדֵעַ?
שְׁלשָׁה עָשָׂר אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ: שְׁלשָׁה עָשָׂר מִדַּיָא. שְׁנֵים עֶָשָׂר שִׁבְטַיָא, אַחַד עַָשָׂר כּוֹכְבַיָּא, עֲשָׂרָה דִבְּרַיָא, תִּשְׁעָה יַרְחֵי לֵדָה, שְׁמוֹנָה יְמֵי מִילָה, שִׁבְעָה יְמֵי שַׁבָּתָא, שִׁשָּׁה סִדְרֵי מִשְׁנָה, חֲמִשָׁה חוּמְשֵׁי תוֹרָה, אַרְבַּע אִמָהוֹת, שְׁלשָׁה אָבוֹת, שְׁנֵי לֻחוֹת הַבְּרִית, אֶחָד אֱלֹהֵינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַים וּבָאָרֶץ

Echad mi yodeah? Echad ani yodeah: Echad eloheinu shebashamayim uva'aretz.

Shenayim mi yodeah? Shnayim ani yodeah: Shnei luchot habrit. Echad eloheinu shebashamayim uva'aretz.

Shelosha mi yodeah? Shelosha ani yodeah: Shelosha avot. Shnei luchot habrit. Echad eloheinu shebashamayim uva'aretz.

Arba mi yodeah? Arba
ani yodeah: Arba imahot. Shelosha avot. Shnei luchot habrit. Echad eloheinu shebashamayim uva'aretz.

Hamisha mi yodea? Hamisha ani yodeah. Hamisha humshe torah. Arba imahot. Shelosha avot. Shnei luchot habrit. Echad eloheinu shebashamayim uva'aretz.

Shisha mi yodea? Shisha ani yodeah. Shisha sidrei mishna. Hamisha humshe torah. Arba imahot. Shelosha avot. Shnei luchot habrit. Echad eloheinu shebashamayim uva'aretz.

Shivah mi yodeah. Shivah ani yodeah. Shivah yemei shabta. Shisha sidrei mishna. Hamisha humshe torah. Arba imahot. Shelosha avot. Shnei luchot habrit. Echad eloheinu shebashamayim uva'aretz.

Shemona mi yodeah? Shemona ani yodeah: Shemona yemei milah. hivah yemei shabta. Shisha sidrei mishna. Hamisha humshe torah. Arba imahot. Shelosha avot. Shnei luchot habrit. Echad eloheinu shebashamayim uva'aretz.

Tishah mi yodeah? Tishah ani yodeah. Tisha yarchei leida. Shemona yemei milah. hivah yemei shabta. Shisha sidrei mishna. Hamisha humshe torah. Arba imahot. Shelosha avot. Shnei luchot habrit. Echad eloheinu shebashamayim uva'aretz.

Asarah mi yodeah? Asarah ani yodeah. Asarah dibrayah. Tisha yarchei leida. Shemona yemei milah. hivah yemei shabta. Shisha sidrei mishna. Hamisha humshe torah. Arba imahot. Shelosha avot. Shnei luchot habrit. Echad eloheinu shebashamayim uva'aretz.

Achad asar mi yodeah? Achad asar ani yodeah. Achad asar cochbaya. Asarah dibrayah. Tisha yarchei leida. Shemona yemei milah. hivah yemei shabta. Shisha sidrei mishna. Hamisha humshe torah. Arba imahot. Shelosha avot. Shnei luchot habrit. Echad eloheinu shebashamayim uva'aretz.

Shneim asar mi yodeah. Shneim asar ani yodeah. Shneim asar shivtaya. Achad asar cochbaya. Asarah dibrayah. Tisha yarchei leida. Shemona yemei milah. hivah yemei shabta. Shisha sidrei mishna. Hamisha humshe torah. Arba imahot. Shelosha avot. Shnei luchot habrit. Echad eloheinu shebashamayim uva'aretz.

Shelosha asar mi yodeah? Shelosha asar ani yodeah: Shelosha asar midaya. Shneim asar shivtaya. Achad asar cochbaya. Asarah dibrayah. Tisha yarchei leida. Shemona yemei milah. hivah yemei shabta. Shisha sidrei mishna. Hamisha humshe torah. Arba imahot. Shelosha avot. Shnei luchot habrit. Echad eloheinu shebashamayim uva'aretz.

Translation:

Who knows one? I know one! One is our God in the heavens and the earth.

Who knows two? I know two! Two are the tablets of the covenant,​​​​​​​​​​​​ and one is our God in the heavens and the earth.

Who knows three? I know three! Three are the fathers, two are the tablets of the covenant,​​​​​​​​​​​​ and one is our God in the heavens and the earth.

Who knows four? I know four! Four are the matriarch​​​​​​​​​​s, three are the patriarch​​​​​​​​​​s, two are the tablets of the covenant,​​​​​​​​​​​​ and one is our God in the heavens and the earth.

Who knows five? I know five! Five are the books of the Torah, four are the matriarch​​​​​​​​​​s, three are the patriarch​​​​​​​​​​s, two are the tablets of the covenant,​​​​​​​​​​​​ and one is our God in the heavens and the earth.

Who knows six? I know six! Six are the orders of the Mishnah, five are the books of the Torah, four are the matriarch​​​​​​​​​​s, three are the patriarch​​​​​​​​​​s, two are the tablets of the covenant,​​​​​​​​​​​​ and one is our God in the heavens and the earth.

Who knows seven? I know seven! seven are the days of the week, six are the orders of the Mishnah, five are the books of the Torah, four are the matriarch​​​​​​​​​​s, three are the patriarch​​​​​​​​​​s, two are the tablets of the covenant,​​​​​​​​​​​​ and one is our God in the heavens and the earth.

Who knows eight? I know eight! Eight are the days until circumcis​​​​​​ion, seven are the days of the week, six are the orders of the Mishnah, five are the books of the Torah, four are the matriarch​​​​​​​​​​s, three are the patriarch​​​​​​​​​​s, two are the tablets of the covenant,​​​​​​​​​​​​ and one is our God in the heavens and the earth.

Who knows nine? I know nine! Nine are the months of pregnancy​​​​​, eight are the days until circumcis​​​​​​ion, seven are the days of the week, six are the orders of the Mishnah, five are the books of the Torah, four are the matriarch​​​​​​​​​​s, three are the patriarch​​​​​​​​​​s, two are the tablets of the covenant,​​​​​​​​​​​​ and one is our God in the heavens and the earth.

Who knows ten? I know ten! Ten are the commandme​​​​nts, nine are the months of pregnancy​​​​​, eight are the days until circumcis​​​​​​ion, seven are the days of the week, six are the orders of the Mishnah, five are the books of the Torah, four are the matriarch​​​​​​​​​​s, three are the patriarch​​​​​​​​​​s, two are the tablets of the covenant,​​​​​​​​​​​​ and one is our God in the heavens and the earth.

Who knows eleven? I know eleven! Eleven are the stars [in Joseph's dream], ten are the commandme​​​​nts, nine are the months of pregnancy​​​​​, eight are the days until circumcis​​​​​​ion, seven are the days of the week, six are the orders of the Mishnah, five are the books of the Torah, four are the matriarch​​​​​​​​​​s, three are the patriarch​​​​​​​​​​s, two are the tablets of the covenant,​​​​​​​​​​​​ and one is our God in the heavens and the earth.

Who knows twelve? I know twelve! Twelve are the tribes [of Israel], eleven are the stars in Joseph’​​s dream, ten are the commandme​​​​nts, nine are the months of pregnancy​​​​​, eight are the days until circumcis​​​​​​ion, seven are the days of the week, six are the orders of the Mishnah, five are the books of the Torah, four are the matriarch​​​​​​​​​​s, three are the patriarch​​​​​​​​​​s, two are the tablets of the covenant,​​​​​​​​​​​​ and one is our God in the heavens and the earth.

Who knows thirteen?​ I know thirteen!​ Thirteen are the attribute​s [of God's mercy], twelve are the tribes [of Israel], eleven are the stars in Joseph’​​s dream, ten are the commandme​​​​nts, nine are the months of pregnancy​​​​​, eight are the days until circumcis​​​​​​ion, seven are the days of the week, six are the orders of the Mishnah, five are the books of the Torah, four are the matriarch​​​​​​​​​​s, three are the patriarch​​​​​​​​​​s, two are the tablets of the covenant,​​​​​​​​​​​​ and one is our God in the heavens and the earth.

Trans​lation by Eve Levavi