I am a strong believer in our Abba’s sprinkling clues throughout our lives that lead us to the path He wants for us. The challenge is that we more often than not do not notice them. Part of our life’s journey is to become more aware of these moments, for the more that we do, the more centered we feel. We know that we are not in this alone. As we notice His Divine love drops, we can sense the preciousness of our relationship with Him and His being with us each day.

Sometimes we are moved more deeply by an event or by nature or have a realization not previously understood. Some of these times involve timing synchronicities. A random person or place we encounter touches another and another in a chain of connectedness that just cannot be random. Some of these experiences are sudden insights we may not have noticed previously, for example, while reading Scripture or during prayer. Such was the case this year as we read the Passover Haggadah, a service I have been reading for decades.

The word “dayenu” (Hebrew:דַּיֵּנוּ) leaped off the page. How many years have we said it at Passover? It is part of our DNA at this point! Yet this year I heard the word anew, perhaps a little Abba clue I had overlooked until now. Translated “dayenu” can mean “it would have been sufficent” or “it would have sufficed”, the transliteration coming from “day”/”enough” and “enu”/”to us”. Jews for centuries have sung “Dayenu” based on the Haggadah recounting of the many blessings HaShem gave to his people. The song dates back to over 1000 years ago, the earliest full text found in a medieval Haggadah of the ninth century. The word reminds us of His many gifts including the freeing of the Israelites from slavery, giving them manna in the desert, giving the Torah and Shabbat. The point is had our Abba only given one of these, it would have been sufficient, the thought captured in song as “Dayenu” is joyfully shouted or sung at the end of the recitation of each of the blessings.

Jews for centuries have chanted “Dayenu” at Passover. Frankly, it always feels like this song will never end! Verse after verse, Dayenu after Dayenu, as if the message is really, really, really meant to get through. Yes, our Abba has showered us with blessings and yes, we should never tire of repeating our words of gratitude. Yet could there be another reason for such repetition of that one word, “Dayenu”? Perhaps this is a clue to a deeper meaning not yet understood by our mainstream Jewish brothers and sisters. . .

As you know, “dayenu” is pronounced “die-yenu”. Clearly, there are challenges in transliteration let alone in seeing English/Hebrew language crossover connections within a transliteration. The clues may not follow our precise translations and logic, but rather, serve to be suggestive of thoughts and hidden meanings. ”To us” connects in our minds easily to “for us”. As we invite Him in, we welcome the mystery.

We are grateful for each of our Abba’s blessings as traditionally understood in “Dayenu”. Yet could the greatest of all be the giving of His Son Yeshua to die for us? Dayenu/die-yenu? To further mystify, consider the subtle “y” sound before we pronounce “enu”. Phonetically, the word sounds like “die-yenu.” Could this “y” sound be yet another hidden clue suggestive of Yeshua’s presence in a reading said by Jews in every generation, all over the world, every year – a mysterious clue not yet fully understood by so many? A Divine love drop?

The Passover Haggadah has been forever transformed for me as I recite the annual song. With the presence of Moses, Torah, and Shabbat now springs forth Yeshua who died for us. Dayenu.

Shabbat shalom.
Diane