Dayeinu: It Would Have Been Enough

We rejoice in the journey from slavery to freedom by rejoicing in the many blessings God bestowed upon us during this journey. We conclude each verse, loudly singing,  dayeinu  "It would have been enough", to acknowledge that even a single blessing would have been enough. The song's final verses reflect our hope for a future when human beings will act with the divine attributes of compassion and generosity-only then will we be able to say " Az y'hi dayeinu: It will be enough!" 

(The leader will introduce how to sing the dayeinu chorus)

Had God brought us out of Egypt
and not divided the sea for us, 
DAYEINU!


Had God divided the sea for us,
and not provided for all our needs
for forty years in the desert,
DAYEINU!

Had God provided for all our needs
for forty years in the desert,
and not fed us manna,

DAYEINU!

Had God fed us with manna,
and not given us the Sabbath,

DAYEINU!

Had God given us the Shabbath,
And not drawn us close to Mount Sinai,
DAYEINU!

Had God drawn us close at Mount Sinai,
And not given us the Torah,
DAYEINU!

Had God given us the Torah,
And not brought us into the land of Israel,
DAYEINU!

Had God brought us into the land of Israel,
And not given us prophets of truth and justice,
DAYEINU!

Had God given us prophets of truth and justice, 
And not been with us through our trials,
DAYEINU!

Had God been with our people throughout our trails,
And not kept alive our hope for return,
DAYEINU!

Had God kept alive our hope for return,
And not enabled us to make the dream a reality,
DAYEINU!

Had God enabled us to make the dream a reality,
And not given us the strength 
to build a vibrant diaspora,
DAYEINU!

When we see God in every human being,
AZ Y'HI DAYEINU!

When we honor the journey of every Jew,
​​​​​​​AZ Y'HI DAYEINU!

When our banner is tolerance and compassion,
​​​​​​​AZ Y'HI DAYEINU!

When, with all God's people,
We build a world of justice and peace,
​​​​​​​AZ Y'HI DAYEINU!

 


haggadah Section: -- Cup #2 & Dayenu
Source: The Open Door: A Passover Haggadah