Knowledge and Humility through Exodus

מה שאומרין המי יודע בלילה זו.

“Regarding what we say in ‘Who Knows?’ on this night.”

The Sefat Emet begins by noting the significance of reciting ‘Mi Yodea’ on the Seder night.

כי הידיעות יכולין להביא לידי גבהות.

“For knowledge can lead a person to arrogance.”

Intellectual understanding, when detached from humility, may cause spiritual pride.

והעצה ע"י התדבקות הידיעות ביצי"מ.

“And the remedy is through attaching all knowledge to the Exodus from Egypt.”

The path to humility is to bind all wisdom to the foundational experience of deliverance.

כמאמר ואפילו כולנו חכמים כו'.

“As it is taught: ‘Even if we were all wise…’”

The Haggadah insists that even the wise must retell the Exodus, showing that no level of knowledge exempts one from humble remembrance.

אעפ"כ יש לזכור כי הכל בא בכח השי"ת שהוציאנו ממצרים.

“Nevertheless, one must remember that everything comes through the power of God, Who brought us out of Egypt.”

Wisdom must be anchored in the recognition that redemption comes solely from the Divine.

וז"ש אני יודע כו'.

“And this is what is meant by ‘I know…’”

The phrase teaches that even when one claims knowledge, it must be accompanied by humility and gratitude.

כלומר אם שאנו יודעים כל זה עכ"ז אנו מספרין ביצ"מ ומודין להשי"ת שהכל ממנו:

“Meaning: even though we know all this, nevertheless we recount the Exodus and give thanks to God, for all is from Him.”

True knowledge expresses itself not in pride but in continual retelling and acknowledgment of God’s role in history and personal life.

Summary: The Sefat Emet teaches that knowledge risks producing arrogance unless it is rooted in the humility of remembering the Exodus, which reveals that all wisdom and redemption come from God.