SHABBAT HAGADOL

SHABBAT HAGADOL

The Shabbat before Pesach is called Shabbat Hagadol, the great Shabbat. This is because of the great miracle that occurred on this Shabbat. The Jewish people were commanded to take the Pesach lamb on the tenth of Nissan, four days before slaughtering it. That day was Shabbat.

The lamb was the idol of the Egyptians. Readiness to slaughter the lamb was a tremendous act of self-sacrifice. When Moshe initially spoke to Pharaoh, he told him that the Jews must perform their offering outside of Egypt because the Egyptians would surely stone the Jews for slaughtering sheep.

Holding a lamb for four days, in preparation for slaughter, was an even greater act of courage. Nevertheless, imbued with faith in Hashem and the coming redemption, The Jews followed Moshe’s command. 

Upon seeing the Jew’s taking sheep into their homes, the Egyptians asked them what they are doing. They responded that in four days they would slaughter the lambs, and then Hashem would kill all of the firstborn Egyptians. Upon hearing this, the firstborn Egyptians rebelled, demanding the release of the Jews. Many Egyptians were killed quelling the rebellion.

The reason that this is called a “great” miracle is that although many times our enemies have been given over into our hands, or defeated by Hashem, here the Egyptians were smitten by there own, by their firstborn. The firstborn represent the epitome, the cream of the crop. By the Jews selflessly fulfilling the will of Hashem, the epitome of evil became a tool to smite evil and pave the path to redemption. May Hashem grant us miracles today as He has in the passed.