Passover’s Four Corrections

ד' מצות שיש בלילה זו פסח מצה מרור וסיפור יצ"מ הם מול הד' מלכיות.

“The four commandments on this night—Passover offering, matzah, bitter herbs, and recounting the Exodus—correspond to the four kingdoms.”

The Sefat Emet teaches that the core mitzvot of the Seder night parallel the four exiles, indicating that each mitzvah repairs a specific spiritual distortion represented by those kingdoms.

ובאין בכח הד' עבירות ע"ז ג"ע וש"ד ולה"ר.

“And they counteract the four sins: idolatry, sexual immorality, bloodshed, and evil speech.”

Each mitzvah serves as a corrective force against one of the four cardinal transgressions that brought about exile.

פסח תיקון ע"ז לשחוט טלה ראש ע"ז שלהם.

“The Passover offering rectifies idolatry, for Israel slaughtered the lamb, the very idol of Egypt.”

By sacrificing what the Egyptians worshiped, Israel broke the spiritual hold of idolatry.

מצה תיקון ג"ע שלא להחמיץ הטיפה כדאיתא בתקונים. שזה שאור שבעיסה.

“Matzah rectifies sexual immorality, for one must not allow the drop to ferment, as stated in the Tikunim; this leaven is the ‘souring’ in the dough.”

Matzah represents purity and simplicity, countering the inner corruption symbolized by leaven.

מרו"ר גי' מו"ת תיקון ש"ד.

“Maror, whose numerical value equals ‘death,’ rectifies bloodshed.”

The bitterness of maror confronts the destructive power associated with wrongful spilling of blood.

וסיפור בפה לתקן לה"ר שהוא העיקר בגלות האחרון.

“And recounting the Exodus with the mouth rectifies evil speech, which is the central flaw of the final exile.”

Speaking words of redemption heals the misuse of speech that prolongs exile.

לכן המרבה לספר משובח.

“Therefore, whoever increases in telling the story is praiseworthy.”

The more one engages speech in the service of holiness, the greater the repair.

והם הד' לשונות של גאולה והוצאתי כו' מתחת סבלות מצרים הוא ע"ז שלהם.

“And these correspond to the four expressions of redemption: ‘I will bring you out’—from under the burdens of Egypt, which is their idolatry.”

The first expression of redemption aligns with liberation from the spiritual weight of idolatry.

והצלתי הוא הצלה משפ"ד.

“‘I will save you’ refers to rescue from bloodshed.”

This second stage reflects salvation from violence and destruction.

וגאלתי מג"ע שזהו עיקר בחי' גאולה.

“‘I will redeem you’—from sexual immorality, which is the essential aspect of redemption.”

True redemption requires purification from moral corruption.

ולקחתי להיות אגודה אחת כדילפינן לקיחה לקיחה שהוא באגודה לבטל שנאת חנם ולה"ר ועי"ז תהיו לי לעם.

“‘I will take you’—to become one union, as we derive from ‘taking,’ meaning being bound together, to nullify baseless hatred and evil speech, and through this you shall be My people.”

The final stage of redemption unites Israel in harmony, repairing the sins of hatred and harmful speech.

Summary: The four Seder-night mitzvot and the four expressions of redemption each correspond to the four exiles and four major sins. Through these acts, Israel repairs idolatry, immorality, bloodshed, and evil speech, culminating in unity and becoming God’s people.