Dayenu

“Dayenu, Barbie!” 

“Dayenu, Ken!” 

Oh, Dayenu — our annual opportunity to revisit a list of some of the miracles that followed the Exodus: from slavery in Egypt, traveling across the Red Sea and into the desert, where the Jewish people were gifted with the Torah, wandered for 40 years and eventually came to the land of Israel. And after every incident recounted, we repeat, “dayenu,” meaning “it was more than we deserved,” or “it would have been enough.” 

But what if you’re a little more introspective about Passover as a whole this year? Or need to lighten things up with a little pop culture alongside your contemplation?  

In Greta Gerwig’s highly entertaining film, Barbie (Margot Robbie) and Ken (Ryan Gosling) showed us the difference between the land of Barbies and our real world: what it’s like when doll-perfection in the land of no choices meets reality and provides different paths that, if taken, can shape our lives differently. Plus, they do journey through a desert and across an ocean to a promised land of sorts — Los Angeles — so that's prime Exodus material right there.

I couldn’t bring Gosling’s particular Kenergy to each of your seder tables — instead, here are some Passover-inspired lyrics for you to layer on top of the ear worm that is "I'm Just Ken.".

As you meditate on freedom, choice, song, longing, hope and challenge this year, know that you bring your own special Dayen-ergy to Passover. And whether your job is breaking the matzah or just "beach," whether you’re “Ken,” or “Lo,” or “Ulai” (that’s yes, no or maybe in Hebrew), whether you think the entire text is sacred or that there are some parts of the movie — er, the Haggadah — that should have been edited out in post, consider this your invitation to think about what challenges us and what brings us together under one roof, from my Mojo Dojo Casa House to wherever yours is, all over the world.

May your travels through the desert bring you closer to fine.

“Dayen-ergy” (It Would Have Been Ken-ough)

Lyrics by Esther D. Kustanowitz, in the style of “I’m Just Ken” (from the “Barbie” soundtrack)

Karaoke audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7OpLSunE_w

Gosling video version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIHExGaxfPE

At seder time, we're singing Dayenu

I don’t know what to do

My heart’s conflicted every time, oh why…

Matzah crumbs are lying on the floor

Elijah’s at the door

So fill another cup of wine

The Haggadah will be fine

Who knows ten? Why must we sing this song again?

Is it our destiny to overthink the details of our history?

We depend

On a Passover meal with friends

And family that will help us see ourselves as if we too / are truly free

[DANCE BREAK]

I wanna know what it’s like to feel, liberation?

And am I, the wicked child, feeling consternation?

And is that, the wrath of God, or constipatioooon?

[softly, ascending] It’s the matzah…

[KENS DANCE FIGHT]

Can you feel Dayen-ergy?

Feels so real, Dayen-ergy

That’s enough Dayen-ergy

It’s Big Seder Energy

[BACK TO JUST KEN]

Say Amen, how many plagues, it’s also ten

It’s so expensive getting matzah at the corner store or grocery.

Haggadot 

End with a song about a goat

Who was consumed by someone’s caaat who was then bitten by some-bo-dy’s dog

Dayenu (means that’s enough)

And God did a lot of stuff

Some stories may be rough, but let’s stay friends

Our amends (tikkun olam)

Let’s meet in Jerusalumm

Which means ‘city of peace’ so say amen.

And let’s saaaayyy Ahhhh Men!!!

Author's prayer: May all who are hungry find sustenance. Amen to homecomings, to health, to freedom, especially for the hostages, and to building toward peace, safety and wholeness in the region. Here's to next year in a "city of peace," wherever you are.

In every generation, each of us is obligated to see ourselves as if we personally left Egypt.

The story is not something that happened to other people a long time ago. It happened to us. It is still happening — every time someone is oppressed, every time someone is freed, every time we choose to notice suffering rather than look away.

We raise our glasses for the second cup of wine — for freedom.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, borei p'ree hagafen.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

(Drink the second cup, leaning to the left.)

Dayenu. The word simply means: it would have been enough.

The song lists everything God did for the Israelites on the way from slavery to freedom — and after each gift, we stop and say: even just that, on its own, would have been enough.

(Read responsively)

If You had only heard us crying in Egypt - Dayenu

If You had only helped us leave slavery behind - Dayenu

If You had only watched over us in the night - Dayenu

If You had only made a path for us through the sea - Dayenu

If You had only led us safely through the desert - Dayenu

If You had only given us food when we were hungry - Dayenu

If You had only given us water when we were thirsty - Dayenu

If You had only brought us to Mount Sinai - Dayenu

If You had only given us teachings to help us live with kindness and wisdom - Dayenu

If You had only taught us to remember the stranger and care for others - Dayenu

But You gave us so many gifts:

freedom, food, water, hope, and love.

For every gift, we say thank You.

For every step, we say Dayenu.

Dayenu. Dayenu. Dayenu.

(Sing Dayeinu)

Refrain

Dai, dayenu, dai dayenu,

Dai dayenu, dayenu, dayenu, dayenu (repeat)

1. Ilu hotzi hotzianu

Hotzianu mimitzrayim,

Hotzianu mimitzrayim,

Dayenu Refrain

2. Ilu natan natan lanu

Natan lanu et hatorah

Natan lanu et hatorah

Dayenu Refrain

3. Ilu natan natan lanu,

Natan lanu et hashabbat,

Natan lanu et hashabbat,

Dayenu Refrain

Dayenu. The word simply means: it would have been enough.

The song lists everything God did for the Israelites on the way from slavery to freedom — and after each gift, we stop and say: even just that, on its own, would have been enough.

If You had only heard us crying in Egypt - Dayenu

If You had only helped us leave slavery behind - Dayenu

If You had only watched over us in the night - Dayenu

If You had only made a path for us through the sea - Dayenu

If You had only led us safely through the desert - Dayenu

If You had only given us food when we were hungry - Dayenu

If You had only given us water when we were thirsty - Dayenu

If You had only brought us to Mount Sinai - Dayenu

If You had only given us teachings to help us live with kindness and wisdom - Dayenu

If You had only taught us to remember the stranger and care for others - Dayenu

But You gave us so many gifts:

freedom, food, water, hope, and love.

For every gift, we say thank You.

For every step, we say Dayenu.

Dayenu. Dayenu. Dayenu.

(Sing Dayeinu)

Refrain

Dai, dayenu, dai dayenu,

Dai dayenu, dayenu, dayenu, dayenu (repeat)

1. Ilu hotzi hotzianu

Hotzianu mimitzrayim,

Hotzianu mimitzrayim,

Dayenu Refrain

2. Ilu natan natan lanu

Natan lanu et hatorah

Natan lanu et hatorah

Dayenu Refrain

3. Ilu natan natan lanu,

Natan lanu et hashabbat,

Natan lanu et hashabbat,

Dayenu Refrain

In every generation, each of us is obligated to see ourselves as if we personally left Egypt.

The story is not something that happened to other people a long time ago.

It happened to us. It is still happening — every time someone is oppressed, every time someone is freed, every time we choose to notice suffering rather than look away.

We raise our glasses for the second cup of wine — for freedom.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, borei p'ree hagafen.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

(Drink the second cup)