The Keynote Drasha of the Great Shabbos
Pesach
An insight from the Mahara”l on the greatness of the Shabbos before Pesach and its special Drasha
The Shabbos before Pesach is called Shabbos Hagadol – “the Great Shabbos”. It is a widespread custom that in each community, the Rabbi delivers a “Shabbos Hagadol Drasha”, discussing the practical Halachos of Pesach and Midrashim and Torah insights on the Festival.
Many different explanations have been given for why this Shabbos is called Shabbos Hagadol. The Alter Rebbe in his Shulchan Aruch, quotes the reason found in the Tur and Shulchan Aruch, that it is because we commemorate the great miracle that happened in Egypt on the Shabbos before the Exodus.
The Jewish people were commanded to take the sheep for the Korban Pesach on the 10th of Nissan, which fell out on Shabbos. When the Egyptian Firstborn saw this and were told that this was in preparation for Makas Bechoros – the Death of the Firstborn, they led a civil war against their fellow Egyptians.
At the beginning of his commentary on the Haggadah, the Mahara”l of Prague offers a fascinating explanation for the significance of this Shabbos; why it is called Shabbos Hagadol and what is the reason for the its keynote Drasha.
On Shabbos Hagadol, many communities read the Haftorah beginning וערבה from the book of Malachi (according to some authorities, including the Alter Rebbe, this Haftorah is only read when Shabbos Hagadol is on Erev Pesach).
In this Haftorah we read about the coming of Eliyahu to announce the Final Redemption; “Behold I will send to you Eliyahu Hanovi, before the great and awesome day of Hashem arrives”. The “great and awesome day” refers to the day of the coming of Moshiach. The Mahara”l says that it is because of this prophesy, that it is called Shabbos Hagadol.
Redemption is called greatness (Gadlus) because of the manifestation of Hashem’s greatness that it brings. In the redemption from Egypt, this greatness was seen in the miracles performed by Hashem and the revelation of the Shechina.
Just as our ancestors were redeemed from Egypt, we are assured that Hashem will redeem us once more. The Future
Redemption is also called ‘greatness’ and its miracles and wonders will surpass even the great miracles of Yetzias Mitzrayim.
The first night of Pesach is called Leil Shimurim. Our sages explain that this is because it is a night that has been preserved and guarded for us to be redeemed in the future. This means that the Yomtov of Pesach is an auspicious time for the coming of Moshiach.
According to the mystics, everything that takes place in the course of the week is aroused in potential on the preceding Shabbos.
Since we are expecting the ‘greatness’ of the Final Redemption to take place on Pesach, the Shabbos beforehand is called Shabbos Hagadol – because it contains within it the potential and power for the greatness of the Geulah. This is highlighted in the words of the Haftorah which mention the coming of Eliyahu.
On the Shabbos before the Exodus from Egypt - the original Shabbos Hagadol, the Jewish people took the sheep for the Korban Pesach. The sheep was one of the deities. By taking the sheep to slaughter, they were withdrawing their hands from idolatry. It was this action, on that Shabbos, that aroused their redemption, which came to be realised 5 days later.
From the time of the Giving of the Torah, the power of the Jewish people is in our mouths. Through our reciting of the Haggadah passages on Shabbos Hagadol and through the Chiddushei Torah and Divrei Halacha of the Shabbos Hagadol Drasha, we arouse the potential for the Final Redemption. From the potential state on Shabbos, we will merit the actualisation on the Leil Shimurim; the coming of Moshiach and the Final Redemption, when the true greatness of Hashem will be revealed in the world – the “great and awesome day”.
Many different explanations have been given for why this Shabbos is called Shabbos Hagadol. The Alter Rebbe in his Shulchan Aruch, quotes the reason found in the Tur and Shulchan Aruch, that it is because we commemorate the great miracle that happened in Egypt on the Shabbos before the Exodus.
The Jewish people were commanded to take the sheep for the Korban Pesach on the 10th of Nissan, which fell out on Shabbos. When the Egyptian Firstborn saw this and were told that this was in preparation for Makas Bechoros – the Death of the Firstborn, they led a civil war against their fellow Egyptians.
At the beginning of his commentary on the Haggadah, the Mahara”l of Prague offers a fascinating explanation for the significance of this Shabbos; why it is called Shabbos Hagadol and what is the reason for the its keynote Drasha.
On Shabbos Hagadol, many communities read the Haftorah beginning וערבה from the book of Malachi (according to some authorities, including the Alter Rebbe, this Haftorah is only read when Shabbos Hagadol is on Erev Pesach).
In this Haftorah we read about the coming of Eliyahu to announce the Final Redemption; “Behold I will send to you Eliyahu Hanovi, before the great and awesome day of Hashem arrives”. The “great and awesome day” refers to the day of the coming of Moshiach. The Mahara”l says that it is because of this prophesy, that it is called Shabbos Hagadol.
Redemption is called greatness (Gadlus) because of the manifestation of Hashem’s greatness that it brings. In the redemption from Egypt, this greatness was seen in the miracles performed by Hashem and the revelation of the Shechina.
Just as our ancestors were redeemed from Egypt, we are assured that Hashem will redeem us once more. The Future
Redemption is also called ‘greatness’ and its miracles and wonders will surpass even the great miracles of Yetzias Mitzrayim.
The first night of Pesach is called Leil Shimurim. Our sages explain that this is because it is a night that has been preserved and guarded for us to be redeemed in the future. This means that the Yomtov of Pesach is an auspicious time for the coming of Moshiach.
According to the mystics, everything that takes place in the course of the week is aroused in potential on the preceding Shabbos.
Since we are expecting the ‘greatness’ of the Final Redemption to take place on Pesach, the Shabbos beforehand is called Shabbos Hagadol – because it contains within it the potential and power for the greatness of the Geulah. This is highlighted in the words of the Haftorah which mention the coming of Eliyahu.
On the Shabbos before the Exodus from Egypt - the original Shabbos Hagadol, the Jewish people took the sheep for the Korban Pesach. The sheep was one of the deities. By taking the sheep to slaughter, they were withdrawing their hands from idolatry. It was this action, on that Shabbos, that aroused their redemption, which came to be realised 5 days later.
From the time of the Giving of the Torah, the power of the Jewish people is in our mouths. Through our reciting of the Haggadah passages on Shabbos Hagadol and through the Chiddushei Torah and Divrei Halacha of the Shabbos Hagadol Drasha, we arouse the potential for the Final Redemption. From the potential state on Shabbos, we will merit the actualisation on the Leil Shimurim; the coming of Moshiach and the Final Redemption, when the true greatness of Hashem will be revealed in the world – the “great and awesome day”.