Dayenu: It Would Have Been Enough

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!