Dayenu

Sources

כַּמָּה מַעֲלוֹת טוֹבוֹת HOW MUCH GOOD,
LAYER UPON LAYER,
THE OMNIPRESENT HAS DONE FOR US: Had He brought us out of Egypt
without bringing judgment upon
[our oppressors],
that would have been enough for us. Had He brought judgment upon them
but not upon their gods,
that would have been enough for us. Had He brought judgment upon their gods
without killing their firstborn sons,
that would have been enough for us. Had He killed their firstborn sons
without giving us their wealth,
that would have been enough for us…

Pesach Haggadah, Magid, Dayenu 1-15

Background
At first glance Dayyenu is a strange poem. What does it mean to say that each of these divine acts of grace is “enough for us?” Would it really have been enough for God to take us out of Egypt but not allow us to cross the Red Sea? Would it have been enough to bring us to Mount Sinai but not give us the Torah once we got there? So we are left wondering: what makes each of these acts of divine favor so significant and important that even if this was all that God had done for us we would be able to say…

Maaseh Nissim on Pesach Haggadah, Magid, Dayenu 2:1

Preface to Dayyenu
How many are the good things God has done for us: Maimonides, in his Guide for the Perplexed, Part III, chapter 59, explains that there are four types of perfection which a person can strive for. 1) One can strive for material perfection by acquiring wealth and other property. 2) One can gain physical perfection by working to improve one's body. 3) Personal perfection is reflected in developing virtues and character. 4) Human perfection is reflected in the development of the mind and attaining knowledge of Torah and wisdom…

Ephod Bad on Pesach Haggadah, Magid, Dayenu 1:1

עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה HOW MANY
AND MANIFOLD THEN,
THE OMNIPRESENT’S KINDNESSES
ARE TO US –
for He brought us out of Egypt
and brought judgment upon
[our oppressors]
and upon their gods,
and He killed their firstborn sons
and gave us their wealth,
and He split the sea for us
and brought us through it on dry land
and drowned our enemies there,
and He provided for our needs
for forty years in the desert
and fed us manna,
and He gave us Shabbat,
and He drew us close
around Mount Sinai
and gave us the Torah…

Pesach Haggadah, Magid, Dayenu 16

Explore Topicsנושאים כלליים

Jewish Calendar

Biblical Figures

Talmudic Figures

More

Sheetsדפי מקורות

We use cookies to give you the best experience possible on our site. Click OK to continue using Sefaria. Learn More.OKאנחנו משתמשים ב"עוגיות" כדי לתת למשתמשים את חוויית השימוש הטובה ביותר.קראו עוד בנושאלחצו כאן לאישור