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dayenu
Contributed by Cindy Marks

  • TOP HAGGADAHS FOR 2023

  • (raise second cup of wine)

    ּעֲבָדִים הָיִינוּ הָיִינו. עַתָּה בְּנֵי חוֹרִין  

    Avadim hayinu hayinu. Ata b’nei chorin.

    We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt. Now we are free.

    God promised Abraham that after 400 years of servitude, his descendents would leave the foreign land of their bondage and witness the judgment of their oppressors. This promise made to our ancestors hold true for us. In every generation, there are those who seek to destroy us, but the Holy One saves us from their hands. The fate of each of us is bound to the destiny of humanity. 

  • DAYENU

  • At the seder we say/sing that:

  • If we had been brought out of Egypt, Dayenu

    If we had received Torah, Dayenu

    If we had received Manna, Dayenu

    Dayenu means “it would have been enough.” The idea is to be grateful for what we have.We work to find the balance between being grateful for what is right with our lives and with the world, and also striving for more that fulfills us and increases justice in the world. 

    Ilu hotsi, hotsianu, hotsianu mi Mitzrayim, hotsianu  mi Mitzrayim

    Dayenu

    Day, Dayenu, day, dayenu, day dayenu, dayenu, dayenu

    Ilu natan, natan lanu, natan lanu et ha-Shabbat, natan lanu et ha-Shabbat

  • Dayenu

  • Ilu natan, natan lanu, natan lanu et ha-Torah, natan lanu et ha-Torah

    Dayenu

    Dayenu - the recognition of and giving of blessings of life, no matter what trials. No matter what we have been given to work with.

    It is after the telling of the parting of the Sea of Reeds and the Egyptian army has been turned back, after Miriam, Moses' sister, dances as she crosses over the shallow river bed that the Dayenu is sung. We are told that the Dayenu is a blessing for all that led to the deliverance of the Jewish people. The traditional Dayenu has 15 verses, shaped and modified over the centuries:15 different thanks and praises.

  • had God....

  • Brought us out of Egypt                                                Dayenu

    Punished the Egyptians and destroyed their idols        Dayenu

    Divided the sea and led across on dry land                  Dayenu

    Gave us Shabbat                                                          Dayenu

    Brought us to Mount Sinai and gave us the Torah        Dayenu

    Brought us to the land of Israel and built the Temple    Dayenu

    For all of these - alone and together - we say              Dayenu

    One rabbi has said that it is a Zen Koan in the midst of a bible story. Even before we are freed, we are given enough, we are given what we need. In the story of the Exodus, even before we are given the tablets of laws, we are given enough, we are given what we need. Even before we cross into the Promised Land, even if we never reach it, we are given what we need.

THE PASSOVER SYMBOLS

Rabbi Gamliel said that in telling the story of the Exodus, we must explain the meaning of the three most important symbols.

Pesach

The roasted bone is called  the Pesach (Passover). It recalls the lamb our ancestors sacrificed and ate in the days of the Temple. As as symbol on our seder plate, it reminds us that during the tenth plague, God "passed over" the homes of the Israelites and spared their first born.

Matzah

We eat the matzah to remind us of our days of poverty in Egypt when our ancestors had to leave in such haste that the dough did not have time to rise.

Maror

We eat this maror to remind us how bitter the Egyptians made the lives of our ancestors by forcing them to be slaves. Today, as well, wherever oppression remains, we taste its bitterness.

IN EVERY GENERATION

בְּכָל־דּוֹר וָדוֹר חַיָּב אָדָם לִרְאוֹת אֶת־עַצְמוֹ, כְּאִלּוּ הוּא יָצָא מִמִּצְרָֽיִם

B’chol dor vador chayav adam lirot et-atzmo, k’ilu hu yatzav mimitzrayim.

In every generation, everyone is obligated to see themselves as though they personally left Egypt.

The seder reminds us that it was not only our ancestors whom God redeemed; God redeemed us too along with them.

We praise God, Ruler of Everything, who redeemed us and our ancestors from Egypt, enabling us to reach this night and eat matzah and bitter herbs. May we continue to reach future holidays in peace and happiness.

THE SECOND CUP OF WINE

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, borei p’ree hagafen.

We praise God, Ruler of Everything, who creates the fruit of the vine.

Drink the second cup of wine!

haggadah Section: -- Cup #2 & Dayenu

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