Translator's Summary: The Haggadah interprets the expression “With great awe” as “the revelation of the Shechinah/Divine Presence.” This is based on a play on the word mora/awe and mareh/vision. Chida further develops this theme. Israel’s encounter with God inspired them to fear/see God. It also brought them together as one people in the service of God. This was part of a transformation from a loosely connected people to one people, with each person having a very personal experience of the Shechinah. The Maggid states, “And with great awe”- refers to the revelation of the Divine Presence.” It was as if the Shechinah was with them in exile, as the sages say. But it was b’mora gadol (with great awe) through the revelation of the Divine Presence. Until now it was hidden but now it was B’mora, it was with a great vision of the revelation of the Divine Presence.¹⁷⁷ plays on the word Mora which comes from the same root as yira, awe, but is very close or Mareh, see or sight. This is the plain sense meaning of the Haggadah text.

footnotes: ¹⁷⁷ The Maggid

This is hinted at by Rabbi Abraham Monzon.¹⁷⁸ He says, “The revelation of the Divine Presence caused them to fear God. Though they could not see the divine presence, their souls perceived it. As a result they feared sin, as a result of the Divine Presence dwelling appearing (in a hidden fashion).” According to this explanation it makes sense that “With great awe refers to the revelation of the Divine Presence.” The Talmud often uses the word “Great…” to indicate small things.¹⁷⁹ Here too the presence of the Shechinah though hidden, brought about fear of God. Now as a result of the revelation of the Divine Presence there was certainly a great and mighty fear of God which extended to all people. The farther a person is from cleaving to God the more troubled he is each day when fails to see God’s presence. According to one’s closeness to God, fear of God increases. Here too, mora gadol, great fear, is the revelation of the Shechinah.

footnotes: ¹⁷⁸ Rabbi of the latter part of the 16th century; died at Constantinople. He was a pupil of Bezaleel Ashkenazi. He officiated as rabbi first in Egypt, but later went to Constantinople, where he remained until his death. He was an excellent scribe, and wrote many Torah scrolls, which are still extant in Egypt. He was also the author of a large number of decisions and responsa, which are included in great part in the collections of Samuel of Medina, Solomon ben Abraham Cohen , Abraham de Boton , and Joseph di Trani. (JE) ¹⁷⁹ BT Baba Metzia 112b

We can now explain the verse that was quoted in the Haggadah, “and awesome acts, like all that Adonai, your God, did for you in Egypt in front of your eyes?” (Deut. 4:34) In one phrase, the verse uses both plural and singular: “Like Adonai, your God did in Egypt” is plural, and, “in front of your eyes,” is singular. It is because the verse begins by mentioning, “Enigmas, with signs and with wonders.” During the other plagues Israel was not so strong in their faith in God. But once they experienced, “And with great awe,” the revelation of the Shechinah, the verse concludes in the singular, “Before your eyes.” The revelation of the Divine Presence caused each Israelite to see the Shechinah with his/her own heart and also it caused them to have a unified heart in the service of God. Therefore it says l’einekha, “Before your eyes.” At first they were separated from God but when the Divine Presence was revealed to them they were unified, “before your eyes” - the whole nation as one.

According to this interpretation, one can say that during the plagues, Israel hadn’t yet separated itself from idolatry and they were still troubled by the demonic realm. Therefore it says, “as Adonai, your God, did for you (lachem) in Egypt,” in the plural. When they separated themselves from idolatry by offering the Passover sacrifice and being circumcised, they became like one person unified in the service of God. Therefore, it says li’einekha, before your eyes (in the singular). Thus it states, “And with great awe - this refers to the revelation of the Divine Presence.” It alludes to the fact that revelation of God and enlightenment was according to each person’s spiritual capacity; that is why it says li’einekha. It was different for each person and according to the intellectual capacity of each person.