Remembering the Sacred Beginning

בפסוק קדש לי כל בכור כו' ויאמר משה זכור כו' בחזק יד הוציא כו' ולא יֵאָכל חמץ כו' בחודש האביב.

In the verse “Sanctify to Me every firstborn…,” and Moses said “Remember… with a strong hand He brought [you out]… and chametz shall not be eaten… in the month of Aviv.”

The Sefat Emet notes that these phrases form a continuous flow: the command to sanctify the firstborn is directly connected to the call to remember the Exodus and the prohibitions of Passover.

המשך זה לצווי הש"י קדש לי.

This sequence continues the Divine command “Sanctify to Me.”

All the verses are understood as elaborating the meaning of sanctification.

הרמז הוא כי יצ"מ הי' התחלת הכנסת בנ"י תחת מלכותו ית'.

The hint is that the Exodus was the beginning of bringing Israel under God’s Kingship.

The Exodus is not only liberation but initiation into divine service.

והתחלה הוא העיקר כמ"ש טוב אחרית דבר מראשיתו.

And the beginning is essential, as it is said: “Better is the end of a matter than its beginning.”

The value of the end depends on the integrity of the beginning.

וצריכין לזכור זאת לעולם.

And one must remember this forever.

Remembrance maintains connection to the source of spiritual vitality.

וזכירה זאת מביא כח וזריזות בכל המעשים.

And this remembrance brings strength and alacrity to all actions.

Memory of divine beginnings empowers a person’s ongoing efforts.

וכששוכחין ההתחלה נופלין בעצבות.

But when one forgets the beginning, one falls into sadness.

Lack of connection to the original inspiration leads to heaviness and discouragement.

וז"ש זכור כו' ממילא ולא יאכל חמץ.

And thus it says “Remember…,” and consequently, “no chametz shall be eaten.”

Chametz symbolizes heaviness; remembrance removes that heaviness and restores purity.

והרמז שיוצאין בחודש האביב ביכור כל התבואות.

And the hint is that they left in the month of Aviv, the ripening of all produce.

The timing of the Exodus symbolizes spiritual first-fruits and renewal.

לרמז כי יצ"מ אינו במקרה אבל הוא ראשית והכנה לכל המדרגות של בנ"י.

This hints that the Exodus was not accidental, but the beginning and preparation for all levels Israel would reach.

The entire spiritual trajectory of Israel begins with this foundational moment.

וזה עצמו הרמז במאמר קדש לי כ"ב פטר כל רחם שהוא התחלה הנ"ל.

And this is also the hint in “Sanctify to Me every firstborn that opens the womb,” for it is the same beginning mentioned above.

The firstborn symbolizes the primal opening, the first emergence of holiness.

ודבר זה נוהג בכל אדם כי בתחילה הש"י עוזר לאדם ומוציאו מתוך הבלי עולם בעזר עליון וצריכין לזכור זאת תמיד.

And this applies to every person, for at the beginning God helps one and brings him out of the vanities of the world with supernal assistance, and one must remember this always.

Each individual has a personal “Exodus,” a first divine uplift that must be remembered to sustain spiritual life.

Summary: The Sefat Emet teaches that the Exodus, and the command to sanctify the firstborn, both signify the foundational beginnings of holiness. Remembering one’s beginning maintains vitality, while forgetting it leads to heaviness and sadness. This dynamic applies universally to Israel and to every individual’s spiritual journey.