This week Jews around the world celebrate Passover, the biblical story of Exodus from slavery in Egypt. One of my favorite songs at the seder is Dayenu, a song that roughly translates from Hebrew as “it would have been enough” and thanks God for freeing the Israelites from bondage under Pharoah. My family celebrates Passover as a recognition of all people’s desire for freedom. With the new American Pharoah turning the county and the world upside down, this year we sing a new variation of Dayenu, “This is much too much.” You can listen to the rapper Reeces Pieces version on YouTube.
Dayenu starts Ilu hotzianu, hotzianu, hotzianu mimitzrayim, hotzianu mimitzrayim, dayeinu.
If He had brought us out from Egypt, Dayenu, it would have been enough!
This is my new version.
- If Trump had only pardoned the January 6th insurrectionists, Dayenu, it would have been much too much.
- If Trump had only anointed antivaxxer RFK Jr. as health czar, Dayenu, it would have been much too much.
- If Trump had only unleashed Elon Musk on the American people, Dayenu, it would have been much too much.
- If Trump had only attacked DEI and history, Dayenu, it would have been much too much.
- If Trump had only defunded universities and medical research, Dayenu, it would have been much too much.
- If Trump had only illegally arrested political protesters, Dayenu, it would have been too much.
- If Trump had only ignored the law and undermined the Constitution, Dayenu, it would have been much too much.
- If Trump had only cozied up to the world’s autocrats, Dayenu, it would have been much too much.
- If Trump’s tariffs had just broken the global economy …You know all those things are just way too much. Dayenu!
