The plagues and our subsequent redemption from Egypt are but one example of the care God has shown for us in our history. Had God but done any one of these kindnesses, it would have been enough – dayeinu.

Had God brought us out of Egypt and not split the Red Sea.              dayeinu

Had God split the sea and not brought us through on dry land.            dayeinu 

Had God brought us through on dry land and not drowned the oppressors in the sea.           dayeinu 

Had God drowned our oppressors and not sustained us in the wilderness for forty years.           dayeinu 

Had God fed us manna and not given us the Sabbath.           dayeinu 

Had God given us the Sabbath and not brought us to Mount Sinai.           dayeinu 

Had God brought us to Mount Sinai and not given us the Torah.           dayeinu 

Had God given us the Torah and not led us into the land of Israel.          dayeinu 

Had God led us into Israel and not built the Temple.          dayeinu 

אִלּוּ הוֹצִיאָֽנוּ מִמִּצְרַֽיִם, דַּיֵּנו

Ilu hotzi- hotzianu, Hotzianu mi-mitzrayim Hotzianu mi-mitzrayim, Dayeinu

If God had only taken us out of Egypt, that would have been enough!

אִלּוּ נָתַן לָֽנוּ אֶת־הַתּוֹרָה, דַּיֵּנוּ

Ilu natan natan lanu, natan lanu et ha-Torah, Natan lanu et ha-Torah , Dayeinu

If God had only given us the Torah, that would have been enough.

The complete lyrics to Dayeinu tell the entire story of the Exodus from Egypt as a series of miracles God performed for us.

Dayeinu also reminds us that each of our lives is the cumulative result of many blessings, small and large.


haggadah Section: -- Cup #2 & Dayenu