Dayenu: It Would Have Been Enough
This song, found in the Seder, thanks God for the myriad miracles that took place at the time of the Exodus. "Dayenu" can also allow us to express our gratitude for all that has taken place in recent times. When we celebrate the successes of the past, we can also remember the ongoing need to help those who are oppressed in other communities. Here are modern verisons of Dayenu to be incorporated into your Passover seder:
- Dayenu - For This, We are Grateful
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Hunger is a slavery of our times, a bondage from which we continue to struggle. Let us take time to reflect on those things we have already overcome and think of the changes yet to be made.
- A Modern Dayenu
by CLAL (The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership)
Had God upheld us throughout two thousand year of Dispersion
But not preserved our hope for return, Dayenu
Had God preserved our hope for return
But not sent us leaders to make the dream a reality, Dayenu
Had God sent us leaders to make the dream a reality
But not given us success in the U.N. vote, Dayenu
Had God given us success in the U.N. vote
But not defeated our attackers in 1948, Dayenu
Had God defeated our attackers in 1948
But not unified Jerusalem, Dayenu
Had God unified Jerusalem
But not led us toward peace with Egypt, Dayenu
Had God returned us to the Land of our ancestors
But not filled it with our children, Dayenu
Had God filled it with our children
But not caused the desert to bloom, Dayenu
Had God caused the desert to bloom
But not built for us cities and towns, Dayenu
Had God rescued our remnants from the Holocaust's flames
But not brought our brothers from Arab lands, Dayenu
Had God brought our brothers from Arab lands
But not opened the gates for Russia's Jews, Dayenu
Had God opened the gate for Russia's Jews
But not redeemed our people from Ethiopia, Dayenu
Had God redeemed our people from Ethiopia But not planted in our hearts a covenant of One People, Dayenu
Had God planted in our hearts a covenant of One People
But not sustained in our souls a vision of a perfected world, Dayenu!