SHABBAT HAGADOL

The Shabbat before Pesach is called Shabbat Hagadol, for several reasons:
1. Because of the miracle that occured then.
The Jews were commanded to take a lamb on the tenth of Nissan which would serve as the Pesach sacrifice. On that year, the tenth came out on Shabbat. The Egyptians asked the people why they were taking the lamb and they replied: In order to slaughter it for a Pesach sacrifice. The lamb was considered a deity by the Egyptians. Nevertheless, they did not harm the Jews, but remained silent.

 

 

2. On this Shabbat, we read the Haftara from Malachi Chapter 2:

"And the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem shall be pleasing unto Hashem."

This chapter ends with the verse:

"Lo! I am sending to you Eliyahu the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome day of Hashem."

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