For all of my fellow feminists preparing to celebrate Passover, I want to share something we read every year along with the traditional “Dayenu.” The Women’s Dayenu was written by Canadian journalist, activist and feminist Michelle Landsberg many years ago. Her columns were what helped me and other young Canadians become the feminists we are today.
For extra credit, check out the book Miriam’s Cup, above, the story of Moses’ sister Miriam and her inspiring role in the Passover story. We honor her by placing her goblet next to the one for Eliyahu, filled with water to symbolize her Well.
We say this Dayenu after the original one, with each person at the table reading one line. It made an appearance in my 2005 film I Was A Teenage Feminist, it still provokes much eye-rolling and commentary at our Seder table, which is why we love doing it. Hag Sameach!
If Eve had been created in the Image of God and not as a helper to Adam,
DAYENUIf she had been created as Adam’s equal and not been considered a temptress,
DAYENUIf Lot’s wife had been honored for compassion for looking back at the fate of her family in Sodom, and had not been punished for it,
DAYENUIf our mothers had been honoured for their daughters as well as for their sons,
DAYENUIf our fathers had not pitted our mothers against each other, like Abraham with Sarah and Hagar, or Jacob with Leah and Rachel,
DAYENUIf the Just Women in Egypt who caused our redemption had been given sufficient recognition,
DAYENUIf Miriam were given her seat with Moses and Aaron in our legacy,
DAYENUIf women had written the Haggadah and placed our mothers where they belong in history,
DAYENUIf every generation of women together with every generation of men would continue to go out of Egypt,
DAYENU