Vayigash תרס”ג 3
בפסוק כל הנפש כו’ נפש שבעים.
“In the verse ‘all the souls…’—‘seventy soul.’”
The Sefat Emet begins by noting that Scripture describes the seventy members of Jacob’s family as a single “soul.”
פי’ רש”י שהיו עובדין לאל אחד כתיב נפש.
Rashi explains that because they served one God, the Torah writes ‘soul’ in the singular.
The unity of purpose—their shared service of the One God—made them spiritually one.
וענין זה הי’ שורש והכנה להגאולה שעיקר הגלות הוא הפיזור כמ”ש מפוזר ומפורד.
This matter was the root and preparation for redemption, for the essence of exile is dispersion, as it is written “a people scattered and separate.”
Exile is defined by fragmentation, and unity becomes the foundation for future redemption.
אבל בנ”י מתקשרין בנפש אחת אפילו בגלות כמ”ש עם אחד מפוזר כו’.
But the Children of Israel connect as one soul even in exile, as stated “one people, scattered…”
Despite physical dispersion, Israel retains an inner spiritual unity.
וזה האחדות הוא מצד אלקות שהגם שכל נפש יש לו רצון אחר ולכן נתפרש כל נפש בפ”ע.
This unity comes from Divinity, for although each soul has its own will and therefore each soul is individually enumerated…
Individuality remains, yet a higher divine principle binds them together.
אבל בנ”י שכל נפשם ורצונם לעבודת הבורא וזה הרצון עולה על כל שאר הרצונות.
But for Israel, whose entire soul and will are directed toward serving the Creator, this will overrides all other wills.
Their core intention—to serve God—takes precedence over personal desires.
כמ”ש בכל לבבך. נפשך.
As it is written: “With all your heart, with all your soul.”
The Shema expresses the total dedication that unifies the people.
א”כ זה הרצון שוה בכל נפשות בני ישראל ובזה הם נעשין נפש אחד.
Thus this will is the same in all Jewish souls, and through it they become one soul.
Unity arises from their shared highest desire.
וזה עצמו שא”ל הקב”ה אנכי ארד עמך אנכי דעשרת הדברות אנכי ה’ אלקיך שיהי’ בהם קבלת מלכות שמים גם בגלות וממילא יהי’ אחדות אחד.
This is what God said to him: “I shall go down with you”—the “I” of the Ten Commandments, “I am the Lord your God”—that they should accept the yoke of Heaven even in exile, and through this there will be complete unity.
The revelation of “Anochi” accompanies Israel into exile, preserving their unity through shared acceptance of God’s kingship.
וגם עתה זה מפתח הגאולה אם יקבלו עומ”ש בק”ש בכל יום כראוי נעשין אחד ומוכנים לגאולה.
And even now this is the key to redemption: if they properly accept the yoke of Heaven in the daily Shema, they become one and are made ready for redemption.
Daily spiritual alignment creates national unity that prepares for deliverance.
וגם זה נרמז במשנה בטל רצונך מפני רצונו היינו בכלל ישראל שיבטלו רצונם לרצונו ועי”ז יבטל רצון אחרים שיגאלו מן המלכיות ומן הסט”א ע”י שיהיו נעשין נפש אחת כמ”ש:
This is also hinted in the Mishnah: “Nullify your will before His,” meaning that Israel as a whole should nullify their will to His, and through this other wills will be nullified—that they be redeemed from the nations and from the Other Side—by becoming one soul, as stated.
Collective self‑nullification before God dissolves external forces and reunifies the people as a single spiritual entity.
Summary: The Sefat Emet teaches that Israel’s unity—rooted in shared devotion to God—both sustained them in exile and forms the essential key to redemption. When the people align their will with God’s, they become “one soul,” overcoming fragmentation and preparing the way for geulah.
