What Does The Great Shabbos Mean? Shabbos HaGadol 5772
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Loading ...The Shabbos before Pesach is called Shabbos HaGodol, the Great Shobbos. What does the name intend to connote? The Poskim (See Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 430) state that it refers to the great miracle that happened in Egypt on Shabbos the 10th day of Nissan when the Jews followed Hashem’s command to take a sheep for the Pesach offering into their homes. The Egyptians worshipped the sheep and really should have protested and killed the Jewish slaves for desecrating their god. However, Hashem made a miracle and not one Jew was hurt by an Egyptian.
The Questions
The commentators point out that this commemoration is very strange. Why should it always be celebrated on the Shabbos before Pesach, normally we celebrate things on the same calendar day as the event transpired which is 10 Nissan? Also, what are we supposed to do to celebrate, this seems to be omitted from the instructions? Are we simply meant to call the Shabbos “Gadol, great”?
The Answer
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein zt”l (1895-1986) explains a beautiful principle here. The Ramban asks that there is a contradiction in the verses as to what the purpose of Shabbos is. Does Shabbos signify that Hashem created the world or does it signify that Hashem took the Jews out of Egypt. He explains that really both are true. Hashem created the world in six days and He rested on the seventh day of Shabbos. Our commandment is to rest on Shabbos from creative work in order to recognize and acknowledge that Hashem created the world. Over the years from Adam until Moshe, many people accepted the fact that the world was created by God, however, they felt that God left the world unguided and allowed people to do as they pleased. This was the general belief of the Egyptians.
Full Providence
When Moshe came before Pharaoh and demanded in the name of Hashem to let his people free, Pharaoh simply laughed. Hashem then brought the Ten Plagues and wreaked havoc on Egypt in a powerful demonstration that not only did Hashem create the world, He also continues to watch over and guide the world in the way that He sees fit. The lesson of Egypt’s decimation showed that Hashem continued to watch over the world and He chose the Jewish Nation to be His beloved Nation. Thus, in truth one who keeps Shabbos acknowledges that Hashem created the world; one who observes Pesach strengthens his belief that Hashem continues to guide and watch over His world. This is the proper belief expected of every person. Thus, Shabbos is a testimony of Hashem’s creation of the world and of His Divine Guidance and Providence.
Summary
This is what Shabbos HaGadol is all about. We spend the Shabbos thinking about our emunah, faithfulness to Hashem, as we recognize that He created and maintains the world at all times. Shabbos HaGadol is called Great because it begins the goal of Pesach which is to instill in our hearts a deep connection with Hashem. The commemoration date was not set for 10 Nissan as this would not fully express its theme. The Shabbos before Pesach was chosen as Shabbos is the day that teaches us to internalize our emunah in Hashem’s creation and providence. The celebration of Shabbos HaGadol is talking about the great miracles that Hashem did for us which show that He watches and guides the world. We talk about the miracle of taking the Pesach lamb, Egypt’s god, and how they couldn’t hurt the Jews. We talk about the Hagaddah Shel Pesach (see Shulchan Aruch ibid.) which is all about Hashem’s Guiding Hand in Egypt. We strive to root the beauty and power of emunah deep inside our hearts. May we merit to experience the deepest connection with Hashem over Shabbos HaGadol, the Great Shabbos.
Categories: Shabobs HaGadol
