Chamisha Asar Ani Yodeah: Dayeinu and the Most Central Number in the Pesach Experience

I never understood why Echad Mi Yodea stops at just 13. Yes, the hour is getting later around our Seder tables, but there are so many more significant numbers, and wouldn’t it be great to get to Chai and end at 18 to celebrate life as we conclude the evening?   

We can definitely count 14 as 14 are the books of Rambam’s Yad Chazakah, the Mishneh Torah. 

And that would take us to 15. At 15, we would have a whole host of choices on how to best answer the question of chamisha asar mi yodeah?   

R. Eli Sadan, head of the mechina Bnei David, discusses Dayeinu in his Hagadat Kamah Maalot. He tells us that Dayeinu has 15 lines and he takes the opportunity to tell us many concepts that are significant to the number 15, elements that teach us so many lessons needed for Pesach and beyond.

Fifteen is the Story of our National and Religious Journey

R. Sadan begins by telling us that the Dayeinu elucidates fifteen levels from the Exodus to the building of the Temple: המעלות מיציאת מצרים ועד בניין בית המקדש. 

When we read the Dayeinu, we realize that we are part of a bigger picture, part of a people who were able to rise, step by step, to the highest step, which is the encounter with the Shekinah. 

He points out that there are three sets of five in the Dayeinu. From leaving Egypt, הוצאנו ממצרים to the miracles in the desert and the destruction of our enemies, קרע לנו את הים, all culminating in the spiritual gifts of Shabbat, Torah, and the building of the Beit HaMikdash, בנה       

 לנו את בית הבחירה. The 15 steps took us from slavery to a life of gratitude and of serving the Divine. 

On the broader level, 15 reminds us of the trajectory of our national religious development, as there are 15 generations from Avraham Avinu to Shlomo HaMelekh.  There are 15 steps from the birth of the idea of ethical monotheism to the culmination of a Temple to serve God (whose name yud/heh is 15) here on earth. 

Fifteen Represents the Ups and Downs of the Human Condition and of our National Story 

As we are a people whose calendar is so connected to the phases of the moon, R. Sadan points out that the moon grows  הירח הולך וגדל. From the tiniest sliver at the beginning of the month, it grows for 15 days until it reaches its fullness. The 15-day cycle of the moon reminds us of the nature of the human condition and of our national story. 

As we know so well from this most trying year, the story of Am Yisrael and of individuals has phases of joy, war, sorrow, desperation and laughter. Life waxes and wanes. The fifteen-day rhythm of the moon reminds us of this ongoing dynamic of ups and downs.  

It is no wonder that the two longest, and arguably most central chagim in the rhythm of our year, chagim which teach of God’s protection and strength and the fragility of our lives, Sukkot and Pesach, both take place on the 15th day.

Fifteen Steps of Elevation and Emotion

According to Chazal, there were 15 steps leading up to the Beit HaMikdash. For each one of these ma’alot, there is a Shir. These Shirei HaMaalot, of which we are all familiar, according to some, were sung by the Leviim as they ascended the steps to the Beit HaMikdash. Many also say that these songs were sung as “travel songs” recited on the way to Yerushalayim by Am Yisrael as they would make a pilgrimage to the Beit HaMikdash. 

These Shirei Ha Maalot are a critical part of the fabric of our lives, especially these last few months. From the lows of Esah Einay of 121 and Mi'ma'amakim of 130 to the triumph of return to Israel, B’shuv HaShem et Shivat Tzion of 126, these Shirei HaMaalot connect us to the big picture of the Jewish story. 

This year, on Pesach, when we sit for the 15-step experience of the Seder, we must keep in mind to constantly remember the 15’s and rededicate our personal, familial, national, and religious selves to a life of appreciation of our many gifts, recognition of our deep challenges, and the strong connection to our bigger story.   

A rededication that we each need to take one rising step at a time.