[Avodah] dayenu (from areivim)

[Saul Mashbaum]

Rabbi Menachem Leibtag of Yeshivat Har Etzion has a beautiful shiur on
dayenu on his website

http://www.tanach.org/special/dayenu.htm


I'm taking the liberty to quote part of it; of course, seeing the
whole shiur on the website is most worthwhile

Saul Mashbaum

A PREP FOR HALLEL
In the Haggadah, "dayenu" does not 'stand alone'. Rather, we recite
(or sing) "dayenu" towards the conclusion of Maggid; after we tell the
story of the Exodus, but before we sing the Hallel.

Following the guidelines of the Mishna (in the tenth chapter of
Mesechet Pesachim), in Maggid - we tell the story of the Exodus by
quoting (and then elaborating upon) the psukim of "arami oved avi"
(see Devarim 26:5-8). But that very same Mishna also instructs us to
begin the story with a derogatory comment, and conclude it with praise
["matchilin b'gnut - u'msaaymim v'shevach"/ see Pesachim 10:4).

Taking this Mishna into consideration, we find that "dayenu" is
recited in Maggid - precisely when we finish telling the story of the
Exodus (with the discussion of the Plagues) - and right at the spot
where we are supposed to begin our "shevach" [praise].

Therefore, "dayenu" should be understood as a poem that was written as
a form of praise, to conform with the guidelines set by the Mishna.
This consideration will allow us to explain its full meaning - in a
very simple manner:

Within this context, the refrain of "dayenu" has an implicit suffix.
In other words, - "dayenu" should not be translated simply as 'it
would have been enough'; rather, "dayenu" means 'it would have been
enough - to PRAISE God, i.e. to say Hallel - even if God had only
taken us out of Egypt, or only if He had split the Sea, etc.

In this manner, the poem poetically summarizes each significant stage
of redemption, from the time of the Exodus until Am Yisrael's conquest
of the Land - stating that each single act of God's kindness in that
process obligates us to praise Him: e.g.

- Had He only taken us out of Egypt and not punished the Egyptians, it
would have been reason enough to say Hallel

- Had He split the sea,but not given us the 'manna', that alone would
have been reason enough to say Hallel...

... And so on.

With this background, the next paragraph of that poem makes perfect sense:

"`al achat kama vekhama," - How much more so is it proper to thank God
for performing ALL these acts of kindness, as He took us out of Egypt,
and punished them, and split the sea, and gave us the manna etc.


"Dayenu" relates a total of fifteen acts of divine kindness, each act
alone worthy of praise - even more so we must praise God, for He had
performed all of them!