והיא שעמדה
This is what stood by us
Mendel Lowenthal
It says in the Siddur in the name of the Ariza’l, that for Vehi Sheamdah, we lift the cup – כוס. This reason behind this is because כוס has the same Gematria as הטבע, meaning nature. Vehi Sheamdah means “this is what stood by us” and it refers to the merit of our Emunah. All Yidden have Emunah but it could be in a way that doesn’t affect us. This is like the analogy of a ‘thief at the entrance of the tunnel who calls out to Hashem.’ Clearly his Emunah is not internalized to change his behaviour.
Here we are referring to a strong Emunah in a way that affects us, like the Emunah of the Yidden in Mitzraim as it says ויאמן העם “and the people believed.”. The proof for this is that we lift the כוס which is the Gematria of הטבע, meaning we need to lift the order of nature, that even if something can’t happen within nature, we have Emunah in that which is Above nature.
~ First night Seder 5704