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Shabbat Hagadol

By: Rabbi Yitzchak Lerner

The Nesivos Shalom says that Emunas Hashem has two components:  Emunah and Bitachon. Emunas Hashem is the belief in one G-d, the belief that this one G-d created the world, the belief that this one G-d is involved in this world. This idea of Emunas Hashem is relevant to every human being on our planet. As we say at the end of Aleinu, "Bayom hahu yihei Hashem ehad u'shmo Ehad." Bitachon, on the other hand, is relevant for Jews alone. We have a special relationship with Hashem, like that of a father to a son. One of the greatest events of Jewish history – the redemption from Egypt – occurred when we were still at the 49^th level of Tumah.

In our Kiddush, we say that Shabbos is a remembrance for two things: the creation of the world and the redemption from Egypt. The first is relevant for the entire world, like Emunah; the second is relevant just for klal Yisrael, like Bitachon.

Similarly, Shabbos is referred to as both Yom Hashvi'i and as Shabbos. It is interesting to note, though, that the term Shabbos is only used in Sefer Shemos, after we became a nation. Yom Hashvi'i is used on our Friday night Kiddush , when referring to creation. The term Shabbos is used in our daytime Kiddush, when referring to the sign solely between Hashem and Bnei Yisroel: "Beini U'ben Bnei Yisroel, Os hi L'olam."

The Shabbos coming up is called Shabbos Hagadol. How is this Shabbos different than all other Shabboses? The Sefer Be'er Mayim Chaim in Parshas Netzavim says that the events of the week are a direct result of the previous Shabbos. The events of next week are those of Pesach, the redemption from Egypt, one of the two remembrances of Shabbos. This aspect corresponds to the special relationship between The Jews and Hashem, something no other nation in the world can enjoy. Can there be a more fitting name than "The Great Shabbos"?

 

 

 

 

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