Chad Gadya | חַד גַּדְיָא

Mashadi Melody, sung by Galeet Dardashti

Anonymous · Europe · 15th–16th Century CE

Cumulative song sung at the end of the Seder. Each verse extends the chain until the Holy One, Blessed Be, defeats the Angel of Death itself.

חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא / דְּזַבִּין אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי
Chad gadya, chad gadya / d’zabin abba bitrei zuzei
One little goat / that my father bought for two zuzim

V’ata shunra v’achla l’gadya...
Then came a cat and ate the goat

V’ata chalba v’nashach l’shunra d’achla l’gadya...
Then came a dog and bit the cat

V’ata chutra v’hikah l’chalba...
Then came a stick and beat the dog

V’ata nura v’saraf l’chutra...
Then came fire and burned the stick

V’ata maya v’chavah l’nura...
Then came water and quenched the fire

V’ata tora v’shata l’maya...
Then came an ox and drank the water

V’ata hashochet v’shachat l’tora...
Then came the slaughterer and killed the ox

V’ata mal’ach hamAvet v’shachat l’shochet...
Then came the Angel of Death and slew the slaughterer

וְאָתָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְשָׁחַט לְמַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת
V’ata HaKadosh Baruch Hu v’shachat l’mal’ach hamAvet...
Then came the Holy One, Blessed Be, and struck down the Angel of Death itself

Dayenu | דַּיֵּנוּ

Galeet Dardashti

Traditional Haggadah · Text: c. 9th Century CE · New Setting by Galeet Dardashti. Recorded at Beth El Synagogue Center in New Rochelle, NY

Each couplet names another gift from God. After each verse, sing the refrain: Dayeinu!

אִלּוּ הוֹצִיאָנוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם / וְלֹא קָרַע לָנוּ אֶת הַיָּם — דַּיֵּנוּ
אִלּוּ קָרַע לָנוּ אֶת הַיָּם / וְלֹא הֶעֱבִירָנוּ בְּתוֹכוֹ — דַּיֵּנוּ
אִלּוּ הֶאֱכִילָנוּ אֶת הַמָּן / וְלֹא נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת — דַּיֵּנוּ
אִלּוּ קֵרְבָנוּ לִפְנֵי הַר סִינַי / וְלֹא נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת הַתּוֹרָה — דַּיֵּנוּ
אִלּוּ נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת הַתּוֹרָה / וְלֹא הִכְנִיסָנוּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל — דַּיֵּנוּ
אִלּוּ הִכְנִיסָנוּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל / וְלֹא בָנָה לָנוּ בֵּית הַבְּחִירָה — דַּיֵּנוּ

Ilu hotzianu mimitzraim / velo kara lanu et hayam — Dayeinu!
Ilu kara lanu et hayam / velo he’eviranu b’tocho — Dayeinu!
Ilu he’echilanu et haman / velo natan lanu et hashabat — Dayeinu!
Ilu kervanu lifnei har Sinai / velo natan lanu et hatorah — Dayeinu!
Ilu natan lanu et hatorah / velo hichnisanu l’Yisrael — Dayeinu!
Ilu hichnisanu l’Yisrael / velo vana lanu beit habchira — Dayeinu!

Translation:
If He had brought us out of Egypt / but had not split the sea for us
— It would have been enough for us!
If He had split the sea for us / but had not brought us through it
— It would have been enough for us!
If He had fed us the manna / but had not given us the Sabbath
— It would have been enough for us!
If He had brought us before Mt. Sinai / but had not given us the Torah
— It would have been enough for us!
If He had given us the Torah / but had not brought us into Israel
— It would have been enough for us!
If He had brought us into Israel / but had not built us the Chosen House
— It would have been enough for us!

Ki Lo Na’eh | כִּי לוֹ נָאֶה

Traditional Haggadah · Medieval Piyyut · c. 12th Century CE · Sung by Galeet Dardashti

After each verse, sing the refrain: lecha ul’echa…

אַדִּיר בִּמְלוּכָה, בָּחוּר כַּהֲלָכָה / גְּדוּדָיו יֹאמְרוּ לוֹ
לְךָ וּלְךָ, לְךָ כִּי לְךָ, לְךָ אַף לְךָ / לְךָ יְיָ הַמַּמְלָכָה
…דָּגוּל בִּמְלוּכָה, הָדוּר כַּהֲלָכָה / וָתִיקָיו יֹאמְרוּ לוֹ / לְךָ וּלְךָ
…זַכַּאי בִּמְלוּכָה, חָסִין כַּהֲלָכָה / טַפְסְרָיו יֹאמְרוּ לוֹ / לְךָ וּלְךָ
…יָחִיד בִּמְלוּכָה, כַּבִּיר כַּהֲלָכָה / לִמּוּדָיו יֹאמְרוּ לוֹ / לְךָ וּלְךָ
…מוֹשֵׁל בִּמְלוּכָה, נוֹרָא כַּהֲלָכָה / סְבִיבָיו יֹאמְרוּ לוֹ / לְךָ וּלְךָ
…עָנָיו בִּמְלוּכָה, פּוֹדֶה כַּהֲלָכָה / צַדִּיקָיו יֹאמְרוּ לוֹ / לְךָ וּלְךָ
…קָדוֹשׁ בִּמְלוּכָה, רַחוּם כַּהֲלָכָה / שִׁנְאַנָּיו יֹאמְרוּ לוֹ / לְךָ וּלְךָ
…תַּקִּיף בִּמְלוּכָה, תּוֹמֵךְ כַּהֲלָכָה / תְּמִימָיו יֹאמְרוּ לוֹ / לְךָ וּלְךָ

Adir bimluchah, bachur kahalakha / G’dudav yomru lo
L’cha ul’cha, l’cha ki l’cha, l’cha af l’cha / L’cha Adonai hamamlacha
Dagul bimluchah, hadur kahalakha / Vatikav yomru lo / L’cha ul’cha…
Zakai bimluchah, chasin kahalakha / Tafsrav yomru lo / L’cha ul’cha…
Yachid bimluchah, kabir kahalakha / Limudav yomru lo / L’cha ul’cha…
Mosheil bimluchah, nora kahalakha / S’vivav yomru lo / L’cha ul’cha…
Anav bimluchah, podeh kahalakha / Tzadikav yomru lo / L’cha ul’cha…
Kadosh bimluchah, rachum kahalakha / Shin’anav yomru lo / L’cha ul’cha…
Takif bimluchah, tomech kahalakha / T’mimav yomru lo / L’cha ul’cha…

Translation:
Mighty in Sovereignty, choice in the path — His troops say to God
Refrain: To You and for You, to You for it is for You — Yours, Adonai, is the Sovereignty
Exalted in Sovereignty — His faithful say to God — To You and for You…
Meritorious in Sovereignty — His devotees say to God — To You and for You…
Alone in Sovereignty — His disciples say to God — To You and for You…
Ruling in Sovereignty — His awesome ones say to God — To You and for You…
Humble in Sovereignty — His righteous say to God — To You and for You…
Holy in Sovereignty — His merciful say to God — To You and for You…
Mighty in Sovereignty — His perfect ones say to God — To You and for You…

Shir Chadash Ashir | שִׁיר חָדָשׁ אָשִׁיר

Traditional Piyyut · Medieval · Siman Shmuel · Baghdadi-Indian Melody
Video recording by Tzlilei Rag Ensemble

שִׁיר חָדָשׁ אָשִׁיר וְשֵׁם אֵ-ל
אֲקַדֵּשׁ לִפְנֵי עֲדַת אַרְיֵאל
‘אָז יָשִׁיר מֹשֶׁה וְיִשְׂרָאֵל, הַשִּׁירָה הַזֹּאת לַה
מַה נִכְסְפָה כָּלְתָה נַפְשִׁי
לִׁשְׁכּוֹן בְּחַצְרוֹת בֵּית קָדְשִׁי
לְהַקְרִיב לוֹ לֶחֶם אִשִּׁי
רֵיחַ נִיחוֹחַ לַיְיָ
…אָז יָשִׁיר
וַאֲרַנֵּן לֹו בְּרֹוב גִילָה
וּבְרֹוב חֶדְוָה וְצָהֳלָה
שֶבַח וּתְהִּלָה הַלְלּויָּה
הַלְלּו עַבְֵדי יְיָ
…אָז יָשִׁיר
אֲנִי לֶאֱֹלהִים אְֶקָרא
תַּצִילֵנּו מִּכָל צָרָה
וְהוּא יִהְיֶה לָנוּ עֶזְרָה
נִדְבוֹת פִּי רְצֵה יְיָ
…אָז יָשִׁיר
לָנוּ יִשְׁלַח מְשִׁיחֵנוּ
בִּמְהֵרָה יָבֹא אֵלֵינוּ
וְיַעֲלֵנוּ לְאָרְצֵנוּ
לַחֲזוֹת בְּנֹעַם יְיָ
…אָז יָשִׁיר

Shir chadash ashir ve’shem El
Akdish ba’adat ariel
Az yashir moshe yisrael, hashira hazot la’Adonai
Ma nichsefa kalta nafshi
Lishkon be’chatzrot beit kodshi
Lehakriv lo lechem ishi
Re’ach nichoach la’Adonai
Az yashir…
Va’aranen lo berov gila
U’verov chedva ve’tzahala
Shevach u’tehila haleluya
Halelu avdei Adonai
Az yashir…
Ani le’Elohim ekra
Tatzilenu mikol tzara
Ve’hu yihyeh lanu ezra
Nedivot pi retze Adonai
Az yashir…
Lanu yishlach meshichenu
Bimhera yavo eleinu
Ve’yaalenu le’artzenu
Lachazot be’noam Adonai
Az yashir..

Translation:
I sing a new song and God's name I sanctify among the people of Ariel. Thus sings Moshe Yisrael, this song to God. My soul is consumed with a passion to dwell in the courts of my holy shrine, to offer loaves from my fire, a sweet aroma to God. And celebrate in song the flush of joy, the rich gaiety and jubilation. Praise and adoration, Halleluyah! Glorify the servants of God. I address the Creator, save me from all adversity. God’s Being cares for us. God accepts our gift of song, God will send our Messiah. May he soon come for us and bring us unto our land, to view God's harmony

About the Piyut (from Piyyut North America’s Holiday Guide):
‘Shir Chadash Ashir’ is a Piyut from the Indian and Iraqi Jewish communities. It is generally sung before the recitations of Shirat Ha-Yam (Song of the Sea, Exodus 15:1-18), as a way to introduce or ask divine permission to chant this passage from the Torah. Therefore, the poet begins with the phrase shir chadash (lit. new song), recalling the text that leads into the Shmoneh Esreh prayer in the Amidah: “Shirah chadashah shibechu ge’ulim l’shime’chah al s’fat ha-yam”(A new song did the redeemed ones sing out to Your name, beside the sea).

This Piyut is sung on Shabbat Shirah (lit. Shabbat of Song), which generally falls close to the 15th of Sh’vat. Shabbat Shirah carries this special name because it coincides with the Torah portion B’shalach, which includes Shirat Ha-Yam - the song that Moses and the Israelites sang as they left the land of Egypt.

Un Cabrito (Tangos Del Chavico)

Sephardic Ladino version of Chad Gadya, c. 16th–17th Century CE
Sung by Catalina Avila

A Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) adaptation of Chad Gadya set in the Andalusian ‘tangos’ style. ‘Chavico’ (small coin) replaces ‘zuz.’ Sung entirely in Ladino.

Un cabrito y un cabrito
Ay va que compro mi papa por dos chavicos

Y vino el perro que mordió al cabrito
que compro mi papa por dos chavicos, Ay va que compro…

Y vino la vara que pegó al perro
que mordió al cabrito, que compro mi papa por dos chavicos, Ay va que compro…

Y vino el fuego que quemó la vara
que pegó al perro, que mordió al cabrito, que compro mi papa por dos chavicos, Ay va que compro…

Y vino el agua que apagó el fuego
que quemó la vara, que pegó al perro, que mordió al cabrito, que compro mi papa por dos chavicos, Ay va que compro…

Translation:
One little goat that my papa bought for two chavicos.
Then came the dog that bit the goat, that my papa bought for two chavicos.
Then came the stick that beat the dog, that bit the goat, that my papa bought for two chavicos.
Then came the fire that burned the stick, that beat the dog, that bit the goat, that my papa bought for two chavicos.
Then came the water that quenched the fire that burned the stick, that beat the dog, that bit the goat, that my papa bought for two chavicos.

Va'amartem Zevach Pesach

Rabbi Aharon Cohen · Medieval Piyyut · c. 11th–12th Century CE
Sung by Divahn

הֲרִימוּ קוֹל שִׁירִים שִׂמְחוּ בְּלֵיל שִׁמּוּרִים
עַל מַצּוֹת וּמְרוֹרִים אִכְלוּ וּשְׁתוּ יֵנַי
‘וַאֲמַרְתֶּם זֶבַח פֶּסַח הוּא לַה
נִסִּי אֵל זָכַרְתִּי וַחֲסָדָיו סִפַּרְתִּי
.’אָתָּא יָדַעְתִּי כִּי גָדַל ה’ — וַאֲמַרְתֶּם זֶבַח פֶּסַח הוּא לַה
כְּכוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם מְנַשֶּׁה וְאֶפְרָיִם
.’יָצְאוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם כֹּל צִבְאוֹת ה’ — וַאֲמַרְתֶּם זֶבַח פֶּסַח הוּא לַה
נִפְלָאִים מַעֲשֶׂיךָ וַעֲצוּמִים נִסֶּיךָ
‘יֹאמְרוּ כֹל חוֹסֶיךָ טוֹב לַחֲסוֹת בַּה’ — וַאֲמַרְתֶּם זֶבַח פֶּסַח הוּא לַה

Herimú kol shirim, simchú b’leil shimurim
Al matzot oomurim, ichlu ooshtu yenai
Va’amartem zevach pesach hu l’Adonai
Nisi el zacharti, vachasadav siparti
Ata yadati, ki gadal Adonai — Va’amartem zevach pesach hu l’Adonai
Kechochevai hashamayim, Menasheh Ve’Efrayim
Yatzu mimitzrayim, kol tz’iv’ot Adonai — Va’amartem zevach pesach hu l’Adonai
Nifla’im ma’asecha, va’atzumim nisecha
Yomru kol chosecha, tov lachasot ba’Adonai — Va’amartem zevach pesach hu l’Adonai

Translation:
Lift up your voices in song on Passover night, as you eat matzah, maror, and wine.
And you shall say: This is a Passover sacrifice to Adonai.
I have remembered God’s miracles and told of His kindness. Now I know that God is Great.
And you shall say: This is a Passover sacrifice to Adonai.
Like the stars of the Heavens, Menasheh and Efraim went out of Egypt — the army of God.
And you shall say: This is a Passover sacrifice to Adonai.
Your deeds are wondrous, oh God. It is good to trust in God.
And you shall say: This is a Passover sacrifice to Adonai.