| "And it came to pass at the end of 430 years—on that very day—all the hosts of Hashem went out from the land of Egypt. It is a night of guarding for Hashem, to take them out of the land of Egypt; this very night is for Hashem, a night of guarding for all the children of Israel throughout their generations."
(Exodus 12:41–42) Rashi explains: -
"A night of guarding" - Hashem was watching and anticipating this moment to fulfill His promise to take them out of Egypt. -
"This very night is for Hashem" - this is the night on which He told Avraham, "On this night I will redeem your children." -
"Guarded for all generations" - a night protected from harmful forces, as it says, "He will not allow the destroyer…" The redemption from Egypt came after Hashem Himself waited and anticipated this moment, as Rashi explains. This was the first redemption - one that was followed by exile. The redemption we await today can only come when we, too, learn to wait and anticipate, knowing that everything that happens to us is only through His salvation. If we did not see that Hashem Himself "waited" for redemption, we would not have the strength to endure and wait. We go through so many hardships and exiles that, at times, it can feel as though all hope is lost. But here, Reb Noson teaches (Hilchot Pikadon 4:10) that even when we do everything we can to come closer to Hashem—and even if it seems we've already reached our goal—we must still continue to wait and long, understanding that we have not yet truly arrived, and that we must keep hoping for the ultimate redemption. This reflects the two meanings in Rashi: -
"Leil Shimurim" as waiting - learning from Hashem to anticipate and long for the true redemption. -
And at the same time, a night of protection - on Pesach we merit the awareness that we are guarded from harm. When there is a Guardian, all harmful forces fall away. And who more than us can see this today? Despite all the attempts of our enemies to destroy us, we witness clear and open miracles. In summary:
We must spend our lives both waiting and longing for the true redemption, and at the same time standing guard - faithfully observing Torah and mitzvot. In this merit, may we soon merit the true and complete redemption. Amen. | 
