Page 12 - Mizrachi RZC Sefer Berachot 5778 (2017-2018)

Zionist endeavor are less than ideal. Significant numbers of both the original and
current protagonists in the story of Israel were and are distant from traditional Torah
values, and at times even antagonistic. In many ways, Zionism was one of the
ideological "isms" of the late 19th century, growing out of Western, romantic
nationalism and the era of the Emancipation and Haskalah. Much of the cultural
milieu, both then and now, is at times challenging to reconcile with Torah and
Halacha. This dichotomy and complexity causes confusion for many and creates
doubt as to the appropriate spiritual context within which to place these events, and
hence how to relate to these days of deliverance.

The Dayeinu Song – Shifting Paradigms

I believe that the Dayeinu song in the Haggadah that we all sing with luster on the
original night of deliverance for the Jewish people, Leil Haseder - Seder night – is a
most powerful guide as to the art of appreciation in general and can specifically shed
light as to the appropriate attitude to the State of Israel in general and to Yom
Haatzmaut and Yom Yerushalayim in particular. The reason is twofold. Firstly, this
song forms the very first words of praise and gratitude that we utter on the Seder
night and is said immediately after completing the story of the Exodus from Egypt.
As such it forms the basis and foundation of Hallel – praise and thanking G-d at our
original deliverance. Secondly, the song is all encompassing in nature. It reflects not
only on the beginning of the journey of redemption , the Exodus from Egypt and the
theme of Pesach, but on the entire journey of Jewish history and destiny culminating
with the building of the Temple in Jerusalem centuries later. It describes 15 stages of
this process of historical redemption and gives us a critical insight into the process as
a whole and what our attitude at each stage should be.

The secret to revealing the profundity of this song lies in attempting to understand its
apparent absurdity. A closer look at the song of Dayeinu reveals that many stanzas
don’t seem to make any logical sense at all. After each and every one of the 15
stanzas, the Hebrew word Dayeinu appears. Dayeinu means in English, ‘It would
have been enough’ and is the key phrase and chorus of the song.

If Hashem would have brought us out of Egypt and not split the sea, Dayeinu – ‘It
would have been enough’.

If Hashem would have split the sea and not given us food and water to drink in the
desert, Dayeinu – ‘It would have been enough’. These are 2 examples of the 15
stages mentioned in the song.

This seems ludicrous.