Parshat Tzav-Shabbat HaGadol-The Shabbat of Loooove

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 Parshat Tzav-Shabbat HaGadol-The Shabbat of Loooove


The holiness of Shabbat is likened to 1/60th of the afterlife.[i] Without delving into the nature of the afterlife, one can understand that in a deep sense, Shabbat is the essence of our being. Shabbat is a time that is specifically set aside for the Jewish people. It is not something that can escape us. Every week it arrives precisely at its time, regardless of whether or not we are ready.

There are two biblical commandments regarding Shabbat: “And the Children of Israelguarded the Sabbath…” and, “Remember the Shabbat day and sanctify it”[ii]. Every Jew is supposed to incorporate these two aspects of the commandment into theirShabbat observance. The Netivot Shalom writes that shamor, or “guard,” is connected to fear, which is connected to the practice of Shabbat and the laws associated with it [iii].Zachor, however, which means, “remember,” is connected to love. Loving Shabbatmeans simply basking in the day’s holiness in order to create a bond with G-d. EveryShabbat is meant to have the practice of both zachor and shamor. Our sages tell us that if the entire Jewish people properly observed one Shabbat, redemption would come [iv].

There are two Sabbaths out of the whole year that are filled with these two attributes. The Shabbat before Yom Kippur is called Shabbat Shuva (“Shabbat of return”). The aforementioned Shabbat is connected with the attribute of fear because it is theShabbat of judgment. Which Shabbat is connected to this attribute of “love”? None other than the Shabbat before Pesach, this very Shabbat! This one is called ShabbatHaGadol, it is connected to the paschal offering that the Jews prepared for G-d on the tenth of Nissan while they were in Egypt.

The reason why this Shabbat is connected to love is because this Shabbat is the holiestShabbat of the year. The light of Pesach and its redemptive radiance are experienced through Shabbat HaGadol. We must remember that the week doesn’t carry us toShabbat; Shabbat carries us through the week. How we act on Shabbat dictates how our week will be, and the way in which we treat this Shabbat, dictates how our Pesachwill be.

Shabbat HaGadol provides us with an opportunity to prepare for Pesach --- to prepare for a time of complete rest, complete heart and complete soul. Embrace the light ofPesach and recognize that this Shabbat is a day that we can remember the true holiness of the season. As spring takes its form, it is a reminder that the same G-d who brought winter to spring is the G-d who brought us from slavery to freedom.

This weekend I will try to: Open up the haggadah, do a little research (without technology of course), and recognize that the time to prepare for your spiritual redemption is right now!

Remember, part of the experience of the Pesach seder is making the Exodus story relevant to the present day. Many have the practice to go through the Maggid section of the Hagadda so as to begin the emotional, psychological and spiritual preperations for the Holiday. So please take time to reflect upon what we are enslaved by and how we might attain liberation!

CHAG SAMAYACH!

Shabbat Shalom!


[i] Tractate Brachot 57b
[ii] Exodus: 31:16, 20.8-11
[iii] The Slonimer Rebbe was from present day Belarus. He wrote mostly on the esoteric teachings of the Torah.
[iv] Shemot Rabba 25:121

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