If there is one song from the Seder that epitomizes Passover completely, it is Dayenu. I can't imagine a Seder without it. As the centerpiece of the dinner, each of its stanzas highlights how G-d historically acted in such gracious ways to the Jewish people, and we responded in such ungrateful ways. The entire concept of the song reflects on our history, and event by event, how G-d was good to us and how each even should have been enough -- and yet we failed to show the slightest appreciation for all He did.
It's not too late.
Dayenu reminds us that Pesach is not only the time to learn how to be grateful for the present and to express it, but also it's time to set ourselves free by paying our debts; we need to look back on our lives, and identify the people who made such a positive difference to us, whom we may have neglected, and express our thanks for what they have done. This song and Passover itself remind us to get busy, use any means we can from the facebook to the Internet, to track down those who were helpful to us in the past so that we can reach out and thank them for the positive difference they made in our lives. Whether our list is long or short, we shouldn't forget to ask ourselves if we expressed enough appreciation to the person who gave us our first job? To the person who introduced us to our spouses? To the person who safely delivered our children? To all of our families, friends, mentors, and neighbors whose efforts are responsible for who we are and where we are today?
As we realize many of our Chabad family, which has now grown to several hundreds, will be celebrating Passover in their own homes, we want each and every one of you to know that while we are celebrating at our sold-out Seder, we will be thinking of each one of you and we will be saying L'chaim to all. Now you know that requires a lot of wine to be consumed but please know that every one of you who has made a difference will be in our minds and in our hearts and will be thanked personally.
And so we address you all here, to thank every single person, to tell you how very much you all mean to us and never to forget that you were there to help lay the foundation for what we have achieved today.
Every one of you has a unique glow and every one of you has contributed to this beautiful Chabad of Naples home, where everyone who walks through its doors is valued and appreciated by a community that accepts you non-judgmentally and unconditionally. With open arms we welcome the rich and the poor, the affiliated and non-affiliated, observant and less observant - we focus on our commonalities, not our differences -- and each one of you has made a significant contribution in his own way.
So let's learn the lesson for Passover: be generous with gratitude. Thank you to each and every one of you for contributing to our success and just for being here for us.
With love from our Seder table to yours.
This evening, may the Gates of Heaven open for you with a fountain of blessings pouring down upon you … just as they showered down upon our brave, holy ancestors 3,328 years ago.
May you experience true freedom in all areas of your life.
May your relationships blossom, your faith be strengthened and may you experience much "nachat" in your world.
May you taste the healing and faith of the matzah.
Blessings for a Happy Pesach!
Rabbi Fishel & Ettie Zaklos