Dayenu means “it would have sufficed” or “it would have been enough.” Dayenu is a song of our gratitude. A Jewish philosopher was once asked,“what is the opposite of hopelessness?”And he said,“Dayenu.”

Had God brought us out of Egypt

And not divided the sea for us, Dayenu

Had God divided the sea

And not permitted us to cross on dry land, Dayenu

Had God permitted us to cross the sea on dry land

And not sustained us in the desert, Dayenu

Had God sustained us for forty vears in the desert

And not fed us with manna, Dayenu

Had God fed us with manna

And not given us the Sabbath, Dayenu

Had God given us the Sabbath

And not brought us to Mount Sinai, Dayenu

Had God brought us to Mount Sinai

And not given us the Torah, Dayenu

Had God given us the Torah

And not led us into the land of Israel, Dayenu

Had God led us into the land of Israel

And not built for us the Temple, Dayenu

Had God built for us the Temple

And not sent us prophets of truth, Dayenu

Had God sent us prophets of truth

And not made us a Holy People, Dayenu




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