The “Great” and Unique Sabbath Before the Redemption

Based on Chassidic Talks by the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, on Shabbat HaGadol,

Presented with permission, as translated and published by Sichos in English.

The Shabbos that precedes Pesach (Passover) [1] is known as Shabbos HaGadol, “ The Great Shabbos.” The Alter Rebbe offers the following reason for the name [2]:

The Shabbos that precedes Pesach is called Shabbos HaGadol because a great miracle occurred on that day. For … when the Jews took the lambs for their Paschal offerings on that Shabbos, the Egyptian firstborn assembled before them and asked why they were doing so. The Jews responded: ‘This is our Paschal offering, for G‑d shall slay the Egyptian firstborn.’

The first-born thereupon went to their parents and to Pharaoh and requested that they send the Jews out of Egypt. When their demand was refused, the first-born engaged them in battle and killed many of them. It was instituted that this miracle be remembered in future generations on this Shabbos, which is therefore known as Shabbos HaGadol.

The Alter Rebbe’s words, “since a great miracle occurred on that day,” emphasizes the fact that the Shabbos is called “The Great Shabbos,” specifically because of the extraordinary nature of the miracle that took place. This, however, must be understood:

What was so “great” about this miracle, especially since the benefit for the Jewish people seems quite limited? For even though the firstborn “killed many of them,” the Jews were still unable to leave Egypt until after the “Plague of the Firstborn.” Why, then, is this considered a “great” miracle?

The Jewish people have often been miraculously saved from our enemies. To quote the text of the Hagaddah : “In every generation there are those who rise against us to destroy us, and G‑d saves us from their hands.” Many of these miracles were accompanied by the death of a great number of our enemies, such as the miracle at the Crossing of the Sea, the miracles of Chanukah and Purim, etc. In this regard, the miracle of Shabbos HaGadol is not unique.

The greatness of the miracle of Shabbos HaGadol, however, lies in the fact that our Egyptians enemies were destroyed by none other than the Egyptians themselves. This takes on even greater significance when we realize that at that time the Jewish people were still mired in exile, and Pharaoh emphatically refused to let us leave his land.

It was during this difficult time that the firstborn, the mightiest Egyptians and greatest oppressors of the Jewish people, demanded that we be set free. Moreover, the demands they made were so vociferous that they “declared war on the rest of the Egyptians and killed many of them.” The fact that the miracle took such a form caused it to be truly “great” — one not seen at any other time.

The salvation of the Jews from the hands of our enemies during the Crossing of the Sea and the miracles of Chanukah and Purim, etc., saw our enemies drowned in the sea or killed or vanquished by the Jewish people.

Here, however, it was the mightiest Egyptian themselves, the great persecutors and torturers of our people, who were miraculously transformed by G‑d into people who — while remaining Egyptians — took up the Jewish cause. This was a striking instance of “darkness being transformed into light.”

This event becomes even more remarkable if we realize that a miracle usually involves a change in the natural order of things. Understandably, if this change is so great that it “goes against nature” even as “nature” is perceived by Torah, the miracle becomes even greater.

According to the natural Torah order, the more extreme forms of unholiness must be “cast aside” rather than refined or elevated. [3] Accordingly, for the unholy Egyptian firstborn to take up the holy cause of the Jewish slaves involved a change within the forces of nature even as these are dictated by Torah — a very great miracle indeed, a miracle wherein G‑d demonstrated His unique deliverance. [4]

Based on Likkutei Sichos, Vol. XII, pp. 33-36.

Footnotes:

[1] Ask Noah notes: G-d’s prophecy in Michah 7:15 informs the Jewish people, “As in the days of your exodus from Egypt, I will show you wonders” – in the Messianic Redemption.

[2] Shulchan Aruch HaRav, Orach Chayim, beginning of Section 430.

[3] Ask Noah notes: These are things that are forbidden by the negative commandments of the Torah.

[4] See Psalms 91:16. [It is recommended to recite this Psalm when in need or praying for deliverance.]