The Pounding of Exile

The Egyptian exile was the crucible of fire that refined the Jewish people, transforming them into a proper vessel to contain the revelation of Torah on Mount Sinai. So it is with our present age, when we find ourselves "pounded" by the harshness of the exile. But it is precisely this "pounding" that will bring us to the "light" of Moshiach and the Messianic Era, as our Sages said, "it is only when the olive is crushed that the oil can emerge."

At Sinai, it was primarily the revealed part of Torah that was revealed by G-d. Our present exile, however, prepares us for the revelation of the Torah that will be taught by Moshiach.

(Peninei HaGeula)