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

אִלּוּ הוֹצִיאָנוּ מִמְּצָרִים, דַּיֵּנוּ 

Ilu hotzianu m'mitzrayim, dayeinu

If G - d had only taken us out of Egypt , that would have been enough !

 אִלּוּ עָשָׂה בָּהֶם שְׁפָטִים, דַּיֵּנוּ

IIu asah vahem sh'fatim, dayeinu

If G - d had only brought justice to the Egyptians , that would have been enough !

אִלּוּ עָשָׂה בֶּאֱלֹהֵיהֶם, דַּיֵּנוּ
Ilu asah veiloheihem, dayeinu.

If G - d had dealt with their gods , that would have been enough !

אִלּוּ הָרַג אֶת בְּכוֹרֵיהֶם, דַּיֵּנוּ

Ilu harag et b'choreihem
If G - d had only slew their first - born , that would have been enough !

אִלּוּ נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת מָמוֹנָם, דַּיֵּנוּ

Ilu natan lanu et mamonam​

If G - d had only given us their wealth , that would have been enough !

אִלּוּ קָרַע לָנוּ אֶת הַיָּם, דַּיֵּנוּ

Ilu kara lanu et hayam

If G - d had only divided the sea for us , that would have been enough !

אִלּוּ הֶעֱבִירָנוּ בְּתוֹכוֹ בַּחָרְבָּה, דַּיֵּנוּ

Ilu heeviranu v'tocho vecharavah

If G - d had only allowed us to pass through to dry land , that would have been enough !

אִלּוּ שֶׁקַע צָרֵינוּ בְּתוֹכוֹדַּיֵּנוּ

Ilu shika tzareinu b'tocho

If G - d had only drowned the Egyptions , that would have been enough !

אִלּוּ סְפֵק צְרָכֵינוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה, דַּיֵּנוּ

Ilu sipeik tzor'keinu bamidbar arbaim shanah

If G - d had only given us the necessities for forty years in the desert , that would have been enough !

אִלּוּ הֶאֱכִילָנוּ אֶת הַמָּן, דַּיֵּנוּ

Ilu heechilanu et haman

If G - d had only fed us the manna , that would have been enough !

אִלּוּ נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת, דַּיֵּנוּ

Ilu natan lanu et hashabat

If G - d had only given us Shabbat , that would have been enough !

אִלּוּ קָרַבְנוּ לִפְנֵי הַר סִינִי, דַּיֵּנוּ

Ilu keir'vanu lifnei har Sinai

If G - d had only brought us to Mt . Sinai , that would have been enough !

אִלּוּ נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת הַתּוֹרָה, דַּיֵּנוּ

Ilu natan lanu et hatorah

If G - d had only given us the Torah , that would have been enough !

אִלּוּ הִכְנִיסָנוּ לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, דַּיֵּנוּ

Ilu hichnisanu l'eretz yisraeil

If G - d had only led us into the Land of Israel , that would have been enough !

Dayeinu tells the story of the Exodus as a series of miracles performed for us.

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


haggadah Section: -- Cup #2 & Dayenu