" ויהי שם לגוי -- מלמד שהיו ישראל מצוינים שם "

“There he became a nation- [the fact that the Jews are called a nation] teaches us that Israel was distinct there.”

At this point in the Seder, there has been some singing, there has been some wine, and there has been some eating - all key aspects of a traditional Jewish meal. However, it is at this time that we are deep into the story of יציאת מצרים. We are about to begin the story of the ten plagues, but first, a little history to prepare us for the story of the exile from Egypt. We read a large quote, and the Haggadah critically analyzes every few words. When we reach the point telling of Israel’s status in Egypt we read that ויהי שם לגוי - there he became a nation.

However, the explanation of these words is that the Jews were distinct, מצוינים. This word is interesting, and the סידור רש"י comments that the Jews were distinct in that they lived separately from the Egyptians, in Goshen. They lived their own lives, followed many of their own laws, where possible, and continued to hold by their customs.

The ריטב"א quotes the סידור רש"י from a later point where it is written that מצוינים is written as a term of ציון, a marker, as is written in ירמיהו ל"א:כ'that Israel should, “הציבי לך ציונים– Set thee up waymarks.” But what does this mean? Israel is being told to mark the road on which they walk into captivity, for that is the road upon which they will return to the land of Israel, to eventual freedom. These markers along the road are the first attempts to prepare for the return to Israel.

Today the Jewish community of the world is living in an age where at times, up is down, black is white, and right is wrong. We have seen revolutionary change in our days, with the widespread use of advanced technologies in everyday life, and we have seen terrible destruction for the Jewish people, in Israel, and throughout the world. But before we read what may be thought of as the most important event in Jewish history, we still read of our ציון, our longing for our return to Israel. This is a strong message for all of us, as youth and as Jews, for even as we are about to read of some of the most miraculous events of all time, we still read of our everlasting hope for what will one day be the most miraculous event of all time – the coming of משיח speedily in our days when the People of Israel will return to their Holy Land.