Introduction
The Shabbos immediately prior to Pesach is called Shabbos HaGadol (“the Great Shabbos”) to commemorate a great miracle that took place on our behalf. In anticipation of their Exodus from Egypt, the Jews were commanded to select a lamb for a Pesach sacrifice. They were to bring the animal into their homes on the 10th of Nissan in readiness for the final plague – the death of the Egyptians’ firstborn sons – that would occur on the 15th and result in their liberation.
Since the Egyptians worshipped sheep, they wanted to know why all the Jews were busying themselves with the object of the Egyptians’ idolatry. Far from being intimidated, the Jews answered them openly and with great conviction, displaying absolute faith in the upcoming plague and subsequent redemption. Miraculously, no Jew was harmed for obeying G-d’s command. In fact, the firstborn of Egypt were so influenced by this display of conviction that they led a revolt against Pharaoh, fighting to free the Jews and avert the plague. Many Egyptians were killed in the civil war that ensued.
This event is indicated in the verse, “He smote the Egyptians with their [very own] firstborn” (Tehillim 136:10). So even before the actual Exodus took place, and while the Jews were yet enduring the final phase of their exile, the redemption had already begun – and the very forces of exile (i.e., the firstborn, considered the “strength” of Egypt) were passionately fighting for the Jews’ redemption.
Review the Haggadah with Children
The obligations of Pesach place specific focus on children. This also extends to Shabbos HaGadol, the Shabbos before Pesach, as it is written, “It is customary to have the children read through the Haggadah on Shabbos HaGadol in order to familiarize them with the text, thus enabling them, when the time comes, to understand the procedure of the Seder night, ask the Four Questions, etc.”
I have not actually seen this done [in Chabad]. Nevertheless, such a case could well be included in our Sages’ teaching that “not seeing is not a proof that it did not occur…”
Increase Pesach Preparations
On Shabbos HaGadol, the “Great Shabbos,” we should increase in all matters pertaining to Pesach – doing so in a manner of “greatness” (gadlus).
See the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 429:1. See also below, fn. 19.
Keep the Kids Up. It is because of this directive to transmit the story of the Exodus to the children that the Sages instituted a number of measures designed to prevent them from falling asleep at the Seder. Shabbos HaGadol (5743/1983, during an address to children of Tzivos Hashem, Hisvaaduyos, pp. 1776–1777).
Review the Haggadah. On the days between Shabbos HaGadol and Pesach, we should again increase in, and complete, all that is necessary to prepare ourselves for Pesach. Even on Shabbos HaGadol, while it is still Shabbos, we should begin with those preparations that are permissible on Shabbos, such as prepping our children for the Seder night. We should make sure they know the Four Questions and the rest of the Seder procedure, enabling us to fulfill the Torah’s command, “You shall tell your child [the story of the Exodus]” on the night of Pesach (Parshas Metzora, 5744/1984, Hisvaaduyos, p. 1418).
Sources given in the sicha (ibid.) are: Mishnah Edius 2:9; “When something usually performed out of the public eye is not witnessed, we cannot claim that it did not happen.”
Great Joy
On Shabbos HaGadol, we should experience great joy – as was clearly the case during the original Shabbos HaGadol in Egypt, when the “great miracle” that was the “start of the redemption and its many miracles” transpired. We should emulate the Jews of that time [who] were in a state of great joy.
The Shabbos That Enables Pesach
It is now the last Shabbos before Pesach, known as “Shabbos HaGadol.” We should therefore infuse a measure of “greatness” into all aspects of Pesach, for “since the blessings for each week are elicited on the preceding Shabbos,” it is on this Shabbos that all aspects of Pesach are blessed. In other words, in addition to our having been preoccupied with Pesach preparations thirty days in advance, and having steadily increased these activities from Rosh Chodesh Nissan onward… still, when Shabbos HaGadol arrives, we should again increase – and do so in a manner of “greatness” (i.e., magnitude).
…This way, we will cause a “great miracle” to occur for us as well, in the spirit of the verse, “He smote Egypt with their firstborn.” That is to say, G-d will cause the contemporary “Egyptian firstborn” (the evil forces’ bastion of might) to itself demand and wage battle in order to secure the Redemption of the Jewish people from this final exile (Shabbos HaGadol, 5743/1983, Hisvaaduyos, pp. 1818–1819).
Day of Great Joy
One of the fundamental aspects of Shabbos observance is experiencing joy, as our Sages state, “The verse ‘And in the days of your rejoicing…’ refers to the day of Shabbos.” How much more so on Shabbos HaGadol, the Great Shabbos! We should certainly experience great joy (Parshas Metzora, 5744/1984, Hisvaaduyos, p. 1418).
