Everyone here probably knows the “Vehi Sheamda” part of the Haggadah. What I am going to say right now is pretty self-evident but, for some reason, I’ve heard a lot of people make a mistake understanding this.

This is the full part in the Haggadah:

“Blessed is He who keeps His promise to Israel, blessed be He! For the Holy One, blessed be He, calculated the end [of the bondage], in order to do as He had said to our father Abraham at the “Covenant between the Portions,” as it is said: “And He said to Abraham, `You shall know that your seed will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and they will enslave them and make them suffer, for four hundred years. But I shall also judge the nation whom they shall serve, and after that they will come out with great wealth.’”

This is what has stood by our fathers and us! For not just one alone has risen against us to destroy us, but in every generation they rise against us to destroy us; and the Holy One, blessed be He, saves us from their hand!”

The misconception of a lot of people is that “This”, in other words, the thing which stood by our fathers and us, is the Torah.

There are a few problems with that. (Torah wasn’t given then.) But - I’ve heard answers to these problems. The real problem to me, is that this is definitely not what the haggadah is saying. Rather, the haggadah is clearly saying that “This” is the promise which God made to Avraham that he will eventually leave Egypt. This promise was then translated into a promise of Klal Israel’s eternal nature - NETZACH ISRAEL.

This is what got us out of Egypt! No, I’m sorry to tell you guys, not even torah and mitzvot because, at least from a very explicit reading, we did not have torah and mitzvot. And anyways, even if some people did learn torah even before it was given formally, many midrashim speak about how we were idolatrers in Egypt!

However, Klal Israel is eternal! And this is a promise from God Himself! This promise came even before the Torah came! And with that promise, we know that even if many many people come to try and destroy us, they will NEVER be successful - because we have God’s word which protects us!

If someone wants to connect to eternity - it is very easy - connect to Klal Israel! Roman emperors (and leaders from all other nations) have, throughout history, tried to accomplish incredible things to maintain an eternal legacy and get a share in eternity. To get your share in eternity - make your life part of Klal Israel’s life! Then - you will truly remain eternal.

Here is a rendition I happen to really like of Vehi She-Amda!

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