By Cantor David Reinwald
One year ago, I included this activity for my 7th grade class in connecting with the idea of ‘Dayeinu’ in our own modern times. Try it yourself and see how you connect with the idea and experience of creating your own ‘Dayeinu.’
Start by filling in the following statements to warm up your mind to the idea of the freedoms we enjoy and sometimes take for granted.
1) If I could only learn one subject, it would be _____.
2) If I could only read one book, it would be _____.
3) If I could only listen to one song, it would be _____.
4) If I could only eat one type of food, it would be _____.
5) If I could only say one prayer, it would be ______.
6) If I could only watch one TV show, it would be _______.
7) If I could only own one piece of technology, it would be ______.
8) If I could only have one off from school each week, it would be ______.
9) If I could only be one religion, it would be ________.
10) If I could only speak one language, it would be _______.
11) If I could only go to one other place in the world, it would be _______.
12) If I could only wear one color, it would be _____.
13) If I could only go to one concert, it would be ______.
14) If I could only play one sport, it would be ______.
15) If I could only celebrate one Jewish holiday, it would be ______.
16) If I could only receive one present for my birthday, it would be _____.
17) If I could only eat one dessert for the rest of my life, it would be _______.
18) If I could only go to one other city in the United States, it would be ______.
19) If I could only wake up at the same time every day, it would be _______.
20) If I could only spend 5 dollars every week, I would spend it on _______.
21) If I could only live one place my entire life, it would be ________.
22) If I could only go to Israel once, I would go with ________.
23) If I could only have one pair of shoes, they would be ______.
24) If I could only eat one thing at the Passover seder, it would be _______.
25) If I could only do one relaxing thing each weekend, it would be _______.
How did filling in these statements make you feel. Did you come to appreciate things that you have in your life that you otherwise sometimes take for granted? Dayeinu.
Now, with your mind warmed up to the themes of freedom and Pesach, continue on to write a modern Dayeinu that you could even use in a seder.
Dayeinu 2014/5774
Fill in the Blanks with ideas that create a meaningful modern Dayeinu
following the suggested topics
If we only had the right to _________________________________________________,
Dayeinu, it would be enough. [a right we have as Americans]
If we only had the power to ________________________________________________,
Dayeinu, it would be enough. [another right or power we have as Americans]
If we only could enjoy ____________________________________________________,
Dayeinu, it would be enough. [something we enjoy freely]
If we only could ask for ____________________________________________ for Israel,
Dayeinu, it would be enough. [something we want for Israel]
If we only had _________________________________________ as Jewish Americans,
Dayeinu, it would be enough. [a right/freedom we have as Jewish Americans]
If we only had the ability to do this one mitzvah, _________________________________,
Dayeinu, it would be enough. [a mitzvah you think is very important]
If we only had __________________________________________________________,
Dayeinu, it would be enough. [something modern technology]
If we only had __________________________________________________________,
Dayeinu, it would be enough. [something that keeps us in good health]
If we only had __________________________________________________________,
Dayeinu, it would be enough. [something wonderful in nature]
If we only could go to ____________________________________________________,
Dayeinu, it would be enough. [a beautiful place you like to go in the area]
If we could only feel the emotion of __________________________________________,
Dayeinu, it would be enough. [a good emotion]
If we could only say the prayer of ___________________________________________,
Dayeinu, it would be enough [an important prayer]
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