Our Gemara on Amud Aleph tells us about Yocheved, Moshe’s mother, who was born “between the walls” during the transition into Egypt. According to one opinion, her birth completed the missing number in the census, allowing us to reach the 70 souls described in Bereishis 46:27, even though the actual count comes to 69.

The Maharal (Gevuros Hashem, Yayin Nesech) explores the significance of the number 70, as well as the fact that this number was reached by a birth occurring at a liminal point—neither fully outside nor inside Egypt. Our tradition holds that there are 70 foundational nations of the world (Succah 55b), and thus the number 70 symbolizes the entirety of human expression and experience. Similarly, the Talmud mentions 70 languages (Shabbos 88b). For the Jewish people, they were not fully actualized as a nation until they reached the number 70. However, unlike the 70 nations of the world, who are disparate and separate, the Jewish people embody 70 facets of unity, representing all nations within a unified whole.

The Jewish people’s experience of oppression and slavery in Egypt was essential for their national development. Only by undergoing this intense period of suffering could they bring out different aspects of their collective identity, which is true for human development in general.  Discomfort brings about change and growth. On the other hand, had they already been a fully-formed nation before entering Egypt, they would have been too strong for Egypt to subjugate. Yet, it was only upon reaching the number 70, with their nascent national identity, that they became ready for the trials ahead. In this sense, their formation as a nation coincided perfectly with their entry into Egypt, at the moment of transition.

Maharal also connects the number 70 to wine, as both share the same numerical value in Gematria. Wine, he explains, is a product of fermentation—a process of transformation under pressure, much like the Jewish people who, through their oppression, achieve transcendence. The prohibition against sharing wine with non-Jews, which could lead to intermarriage, holds deeper significance than the surface-level concern about fraternization. According to Maharal, the very concept of Jewish uniqueness is symbolized by wine. The Jewish people form a cohesive entity of 70, while the nations of the world, to reach 70, must remain separate and disconnected. This profound secret is hidden within the symbolism of wine— the Hebrew word sod (secret) also is 70 in Gematria. By avoiding shared wine, the Jewish people preserve their secret unity and prevent intellectual and psychological assimilation with the broader world.

Ultimately, the number 70 encapsulates the Jewish people's role as a unified collective that integrates various aspects of humanity while maintaining a distinct and separate identity. Just as wine undergoes a process of fermentation to reach its full potential, so too do the Jewish people emerge stronger and more refined from their trials. Maharal's teachings remind us that the Jewish nation’s uniqueness lies not only in its spiritual mission but also in its ability to endure and grow from oppression, all while preserving the secret of its unity. This serves as a reflection on balancing interaction with the broader world and safeguarding the inner strength that defines the Jewish people.