215. “Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not spurn them.” Happy are Israel more than all the idol worshiping nations, for although they have angered their Master, the Creator does not want to leave them, and wherever they exile among the nations, the Creator is with them in the exile.
216. “Yet for all that, when they are in.” How much is the Creator’s love for Israel? Although they caused being in exile among the nations, the Shechina [Divinity] never departs from them. Also, they are not alone in exile, but rather, “for all that” the Shechina, who is called “that,” is with them, as it is written, “Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies.”
217. There is an allegory about a king who was angry with his son, and sentenced him to a punishment to move away and go to a faraway land. The queen heard and said, “Since my son is going to a faraway land, and the king has cast him from his palace, I will not leave him. Either we both return to the king’s palace together, or we will both dwell in another land.” After some time, the king visited the queen but did not find her because she went with his son. He said, “Since the queen is there, let them both return.”
218. So it is when the Creator visits the Shechina. He visits her first, and because of her, He will visit His children, as it is written, “And I, too, heard the groaning of the children of Israel.” Who caused me to hear their groan? It is as though the Shechina caused, for I remembered her, as it is written, “And I remembered My covenant,” the Shechina, who is called “covenant.” It is written, “And God remembered His covenant.” When the Creator returns Israel from the exile, it is written, “And the Lord your God will bring you back from captivity, and have mercy on you.” This is the Shechina, of whom it is written, “And the Lord your God will bring you back from captivity, and have mercy on you.” It is also written, “You showed favor to Your land, Lord; You restored Jacob from captivity,” the Shechina, called “land.”
219. It is written, “Is this how you repay the Lord?” Indeed, you are an obstinate and twisted generation; you have caused to reveal this in the exile. “Is this how you repay the Lord?” Is this the reward for all that He had with you in all those deeds in Egypt, and all those signs that He had done for you? Is this how you repay that “this”? Who caused you this? It is because you are a scoundrel and unwise people, who do not look at all the good that He has done for you thus far.