Dayenu 5786

If they had not stormed our borders,
And brought terror and bloodshed to our doorsteps —
Dayenu.

If we had only been prepared,
Not abandoned by our leaders —
Dayenu.

If they had not come for the dancers at dawn, and raped and murdered and kidnapped our people —
Dayenu.

If we had stopped them at the fence,
Before the fire, before the screams —
Dayenu.

If they had not taken our families and loved ones and our children —
Dayenu.

If every hostage had returned,
Into the arms that never stopped aching —
Dayenu.

If we had defeated not only Hamas and Hezbollah,
But those who arm them and fund them —
Dayenu.

If the world had cried “ceasefire,”
And also cried “Let them go now” —
Dayenu.

If they had stood against antisemitism,
Not ignored or justified it —
Dayenu.

If our children could travel abroad
Without having to conceal their identity —
Dayenu.

If those who call themselves allies
Had stood with us in truth, in courage —
Dayenu.

If our leaders had led with wisdom,
If they guarded our borders AND our democracy —
Dayenu.

If we had stood against terror,
And also against extremism within —
Dayenu.

If we had buried our dead,
But not our conscience—
Dayenu.

If we had mourned all children — ours and theirs —
Dayenu.

If the sky were only sky again
and not an existential battlefield —
Dayenu.

If the sirens  had stopped, and there was only birdsong —
Dayenu.

If we had not had to justify our survival,
Again and again, in every generation —
Dayenu.

Dayenu. Dayenu.