Seeing Oneself Leave Egypt

בכל דור כו'.

“In every generation, etc.”

The Sefat Emet begins by invoking the teaching that in every generation a person must see himself as if he personally left Egypt.

משמעות הלשון שכל אדם חייב לראות עצמו שבכל דור הוא יוצא ממצרים שנאמר ואותנו הוציא:

“The meaning of the phrase is that every person must see himself as though in every generation he is leaving Egypt, as it is said: ‘And us He took out.’”

The Rebbe explains that the Exodus is not a historical event but a continual spiritual process. Each generation — and each individual — must experience liberation from inner constraints, because the divine redemption applies personally.

לך אף לך.

“To You, even to You.”

This phrase underscores that whatever is directed toward God ultimately returns fully to Him, without separation or fragmentation.

שגם הלך הוא לך כמ"ש מידך נתנו לך.

“For even the ‘to You’ is Yours, as it is said: ‘From Your hand we have given to You.’”

The Sefat Emet stresses that even our ability to offer praise or devotion to God is itself a gift from God. Nothing we ‘give’ originates independently; all spiritual expression is empowered from above.

פי' שמה שאדם יודע לשבח להשי"ת הוא מאתו יתברך:

“Meaning that whatever a person knows to praise the Holy One, blessed be He, is from Him, blessed be He.”

The capacity for recognition, gratitude, and spiritual uplift is seeded by God within the human heart. Thus, the act of praising God is itself a form of returning divine light to its Source.

Summary: The Sefat Emet teaches that the Exodus is a perpetual inner journey, renewed in each generation and each individual. Even our ability to participate in this liberation — through awareness, praise, and spiritual striving — is itself a divine gift, returning us continually to God.