Enduring Power of Redemption

והיא שעמדה לאבותינו ולנו כו'.

“And it is this that has stood for our ancestors and for us…”

The Sefat Emet introduces that the phrase refers back to the earlier idea of God sustaining Israel through all generations.

קאי אדלעיל שהקב"ה חישב הקץ לעשות והתחיל הגלות מימי האבות שהי' הכנה לכל הגליות.

It refers to what was stated earlier: that the Holy One calculated the final redemption and began the exile already in the days of the Patriarchs, which served as a preparation for all future exiles.

The early experiences of the Patriarchs were not incidental but the groundwork for every later redemption.

וזה המאמר ידוע תדע כו' והכניסנו לארץ מצרים היא שעמדה לנו בכל הדורות.

And this is the meaning of “You shall surely know…,” that bringing us into Egypt is what stood for us in all generations.

The descent into Egypt created the spiritual foundation enabling Israel to survive and be redeemed throughout history.

כמאמר ואלו לא הוציא הרי אנו ובנינו כו' וכמ"ש במ"א שם.

As the Haggadah says: “Had He not taken us out, then we and our children…” as explained elsewhere.

This traditional teaching supports the idea that the Exodus provided enduring liberation for all descendants.

ולכן הרשע שאומר מה העבודה ומוציא עצמו מן הכלל כפר בעיקר.

Therefore, the wicked one who says “What is this service?” and removes himself from the community denies the essential principle.

Excluding oneself from the collective breaks the very link that allows one to partake in the ongoing redemption.

כי עיקר הגאולה הי' הכנה לדורות.

For the essence of the redemption was a preparation for all generations.

The Exodus was not merely historical; it endowed every generation with a living potential for freedom.

וכמ"ש בכל דור ודור חייב אדם לראות כו' כאלו הוא יצא.

As it is said: In every generation a person must see himself as though he personally went out.

This statement affirms that each generation experiences its own form of the Exodus.

פי' שיש יצ"מ בכל הדורות.

This means that there is an Exodus from Egypt in every generation.

Redemption is a continual spiritual process, not confined to one moment in time.

ולכן אם הי' הרשע שם לא הי' נגאל כי מי שהי' בכלל הגאולה מרגיש החירות בכל הדורות.

Therefore, had the wicked one been there, he would not have been redeemed, for only one who belongs to the collective redemption senses the freedom in every generation.

Only those spiritually connected to the original redemption can experience its ongoing liberating force.

Summary: The Sefat Emet teaches that the exile and redemption beginning with the Patriarchs laid the foundation for all future deliverances. The Exodus remains spiritually active in every generation, and only those who remain connected to the community of Israel can partake in that continuing freedom.