The matza is covered and the cups of wine are raised for this paragraph:

וְהִיא שֶעָמְדָה לַאֲבוֹתֵינו וְלָנו, שֶלֹא אֶחָד בִלְבָד עָמַד עָלֵינו לְכַלוֹתֵנו, אֶלָא שֶבְכָל דוֹר וָדוֹר עוֹמְדִים עָלֵינו לְכַלוֹתֵנו, וְהַקָדוֹש בָרוךְ הוא מַצִילֵנו מִיָדָם.

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 cups are set down and the matza is covered.  

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Vehi -- "and it is this" -- refers to the promise God made to Abraham to take our forefathers out of Egypt. Many commentators offer possible interpretations. One explanation is that the Torah is alluded to in the word Vehi as each Hebrew letter refers to a different part of our written and oral law:

Vav = numerical value 6, refers to the six tractates of Mishna.
Hei = numerical value of 5, stands for the five books of Moses.
Yud = numerical value 10, stands for the Ten Commandments.
Aleph = numerical value 1, stands for the one God.

This explanation implies that it is the Torah, and our connection with it, that has always saved us from our enemies.


haggadah Section: -- Exodus Story