Additions to “Dayenu” |
At the end of Parshat Shmini we learn about the
types of animals which are permitted and forbidden to eat. We are told in Vayikra
11:43-45: Do not make yourselves abominable by means of any
teeming thing; do not contaminate yourselves through them lest you become
contaminated through them. For I am HaShem, your God- you are to sanctify
yourselves and you shall be holy, for I am holy; and you shall not contaminate
yourselves through any teeming thing that creeps on the earth. For I am HaShem
Who elevates you from the land of Egypt to be a God unto you; you shall be
holy, for I am holy. Rashi comments: I elevated you from Egypt on condition that you should accept
My commandments. Rashi also
quotes the Talmud, Bava Metzia 61b: In all other places it is written, “I
brought you forth”, and here it is written “Who elevates you” — in reference to
this it was taught in the school of Rabbi Yishmael: If I had brought up Israel
from Egypt only to effect this one thing — that they do not defile themselves
by reptiles as do the other peoples, that should be sufficient for them and it
should be regarded by them as an elevation for themselves — this is what is
implied in the expression used here: Maaleh- I raised you above the people of
the land of Egypt. This
sounds link the song “Dayenu”, “It would have been enough”, that we sing at the
Passover seder. In honor of
Rabbi Yishmel, we could add a new stanza to “Dayenu”: If You
only elevated us from Egypt and brought us into Israel to keep us away from
non-kosher food, it would have been enough! Rav
Shimshon Rephael Hirsch explains that the redemption from Egypt elevated us
from the low moral values of the Egyptians. Moral freedom is the reason for why
national freedom exists. In honor
of Rav Hirsch, we could add another stanza: If You
only elevated us from Egypt so that we could be on a higher moral level in
Israel, it would have been enough! This
Pesach we all have one more additional stanza on our minds: If You can
help us win the war against our enemies that surround us and return all of our
hostages it will be enough! |