Israel as World's Foundation

במדרש כובד אבן ישראל שנק' אבן.

“In the Midrash: Israel is called ‘even’ (stone) - the weighty stone.”

The Sefat Emet introduces the Midrash that refers to Israel as a foundational ‘stone.’

ונטל החול ישראל שנטלתי כו'.

“And He lifted the sand - Israel - that I lifted, etc.”

This describes a second aspect in which Israel is elevated and carried upward.

פי' שהם ב' בחי'.

“This means there are two aspects.”

The Sefat Emet clarifies that ‘stone’ and ‘sand’ represent two spiritual levels.

אבן הוא היסוד שכל העולם נברא רק בשביל ישראל כמ"ש חז"ל בראשית בשביל ישראל שנק' ראשית.

“‘Stone’ is the foundation, for the whole world was created only for Israel, as the Sages said: ‘In the beginning - for Israel, who are called ‘first.’”

The ‘stone’ level refers to Israel as the primordial purpose of creation.

והם יסוד של כל העולם לכן נק' אבן.

“And they are the foundation of the entire world; therefore they are called ‘stone.’”

Israel serves as the world’s spiritual foundation.

וזה הי' צריך להתברר מקודם ע"י יצ"מ ונפלאות שעשה לנו הקב"ה.

“This had to be clarified first through the Exodus and the wonders God performed for us.”

The first revelation of Israel’s foundational role occurred through the miracles of the Exodus.

ונתברר שבני בכורי ישראל.

“And it was clarified that ‘Israel is My firstborn.’”

The Exodus established Israel’s identity as God’s firstborn.

כמ"ש במד' שנק' בכור שנוטלין ב' חלקים. בעוה"ז ובעוה"ב.

“As the Midrash says: a firstborn takes two portions - in this world and the next.”

This reinforces the dual-aspect theme: Israel has portions in both worlds.

ועיקר מדרגת ישראל נתברר אח"כ בקבלת התורה.

“And the main level of Israel was clarified later at the giving of the Torah.”

The Sinai revelation revealed Israel’s higher, inner spiritual stature.

שזה ונטל החול שהוא חשיבות והתרוממות כמ"ש על כנפי נשרים כו'. וינטלם וינשאם כו'.

“This is the ‘lifting of the sand,’ meaning honor and elevation, as it says: ‘on eagles’ wings… He lifted them and bore them.’”

The ‘sand’ level corresponds to Israel’s elevation at Sinai.

אבל בחי' אבן הוא מדרגה הראשונה כנ"ל.

“But the aspect of ‘stone’ is the first level, as mentioned.”

The foundational identity precedes the elevated one.

והוא בירור החלק בעוה"ז שיש לבנ"י.

“And it is the clarification of Israel’s portion in this world.”

The ‘stone’ level concerns Israel’s role within worldly existence.

שהם עיקר יסוד העולם.

“For they are the essential foundation of the world.”

This reaffirms Israel’s foundational function.

ובנ"י נבראו להעיד על הש"י כמ"ש אתם עדי.

“And Israel was created to bear witness to God, as it says: ‘You are My witnesses.’”

Israel’s mission is testimony to divine unity.

וכ' אתה הראית לדעת כו'

“And as it is written: ‘You have been shown to know…’”

This verse emphasizes experiential revelation.

[רמז לדברים דכ' בפ' יתרו אתם ראיתם אשר עשיתי למצרים.

[A hint to these things: it is written in Parshat Yitro, “You have seen what I did to Egypt.”

Two verses in Yitro speak of seeing.

וכ' אתם ראיתם כי מה"ש דברתי עמכם והם ב' ראיות הנ"ל].

And it is written, “You have seen that I spoke with you from heaven.” These are the two kinds of seeing mentioned above.]

Seeing in Egypt and seeing at Sinai.

וכמ"ש חז"ל בקבלת התורה פתח להם ז' רקיעים להראות להם כי אין מלבדו ית'.

“And as the Sages said: at Sinai He opened the seven heavens to show them that there is none besides Him.”

Sinai revealed ultimate divine unity.

וכמו כן במעשה מצרים הראה להם הש"י כי כח כל הסט"א היא רק ממנו ית'

“Similarly, through the events in Egypt, God showed them that all forces of impurity derive only from Him.”

The plagues demonstrated that even opposing forces originate in God.

לכן הוצרכו בנ"י לירד לעמקי תהום ולעלות למרום עליון.

“Therefore Israel had to descend to the depths and rise to the highest heights.”

This journey reveals God’s presence above and below.

להעיד כי הוא ממעל ומתחת.

to testify that He is above and below.

Israel testifies that God rules the depths and the heights.

וז"ש ולמען תספר כו' אשר התעללתי במצרים.

“Thus it says: ‘So that you may recount… how I played with Egypt.’”

The verse frames the plagues as God demonstrating total mastery.

פי שכל מעשה המצרים הי' רק מאתו ית'.

“This means all the actions of Egypt were only from Him.”

Even their rebellion was part of His plan.

ורש"י ז"ל כתב דהל"ל עוללתי.

“Rashi wrote that it should have said ‘I inflicted.’”

Rashi raises a linguistic question.

אך התרגום מפרש דעבדית במצרים.

“But the Targum explains: ‘that I acted in Egypt.’”

The Targum emphasizes divine action.

ולא שייך עוללתי כי לא מיוחס גוף העובדא אליו ית'.

“‘I inflicted’ is inappropriate, for the act itself is not attributed to Him.”

This distinguishes divine causation from physical execution.

רק הכוונה שכל מעשה הרשעים מאתו ית' יצאו.

“Rather, the meaning is that all actions of the wicked ultimately come from Him.”

God is the ultimate source even of opposing forces.

ולכן כ' התעללתי.

“Therefore it says ‘I played.’”

The verb expresses divine mastery.

וזה עצמו נכלל בפרש"י שחקתי.

“This is included in Rashi’s explanation: ‘I mocked.’”

God exposes the illusion of human power.

זה שהיו סבורין הרשעים שבכח ידם פועלם.

This is that the wicked thought that their acts were by the power of their own hand.

Egypt believed it acted on its own power.

ובאמת הכל הי' מאתו ית' כדי להפרע מהם זה פי' שחקתי כנ"ל.

But in truth everything was from Him in order to punish them. This is the meaning of “I made sport,” as said above.

God was behind it all, and Egypt’s pride became its downfall.

וידעתם כי אני ה'

“‘And you shall know that I am God.’”

This knowledge corresponds to the second, higher level of Israel.

הוא על חלק הב' שנודע להם אח"כ בקבלת התורה שהוא הדעת.

“This refers to the second portion revealed at Sinai - the level of knowledge.”

Sinai imparts true divine knowledge.

וזה עיקר מדרגת בנ"י כמ"ש החודש הזה לכם

“And this is Israel’s essential level, as it says: ‘This month shall be for you…’”

The first commandment marks a new beginning.

שהתחיל לפתוח להם דרך חדש בעולם

“He began to open for them a new path in the world.”

A new divine order began.

וכמ"ש חז"ל שהי' צריך להתחיל התורה מכאן כו'.

“As the Sages said: the Torah should have begun from here.”

This commandment is foundational.

רק כדי לתת להם נחלת גוים.

“Except that He wished to give them the inheritance of the nations.”

Genesis explains Israel’s earthly inheritance.

פי' להיות להם גם החלק בעוה"ז ובהטבע.

“Meaning: to give them also a portion in this world and within nature.”

Israel must hold both spiritual and worldly domains.

ולכן הוצרך להיות שינוי כל הטבע בעשרה מכות

“Therefore all of nature had to be overturned through the ten plagues.”

The plagues reset the natural order.

מאחר שהתחיל אח"כ דרך חדש צריך להיות ביטול מקודם לדרך הראשון לעשות בנין חדש:

“Since a new path was beginning, the old path first had to be nullified to build anew.”

Creation had to be spiritually reconstructed for Israel’s mission.

Summary: The Sefat Emet contrasts two levels of Israel - ‘stone,’ their foundational role in creation, revealed through the Exodus, and ‘sand,’ their elevation at Sinai. The plagues dismantled the old natural order to allow a new path of divine knowledge to emerge.