"Had god but split the sea, and not passed us through it on dry land - it would have been enough."

How could it have been enough? Had Israel not escaped through the Red Sea, they would have been slaughtered by the Egyptians!

The point of the poem is to express gratitude for every facet of God's miraculous deliverance. There is a sense that the Exodus, which reached its fulfillment in the entry into the Land and the building of the Temple (a process of over 400 years!) unfolded in many steps, each constituting a miracle in itself. The poet feels the living power of each gesture of divine favor, irrespective of the total result. Had You only done this and no more - it would have been enough for me to feel Your divine love.

The principle of "dayeinu," of giving thanks even for the partial and incomplete, is crucial for living in this uncertain world in which few dreams ever come to full fruition. We thank God every day for the miracle of being alive. In learning gratitude to God we also learn to show gratitude to parents, teachers, loved ones and friends, even when their efforts fall short on completeness. 


haggadah Section: -- Cup #2 & Dayenu