The Shabbos that precedes Pesach is known as Shabbos HaGadol, “The Great Shabbos”, for 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 firstborn engaged them in battle and killed many of their fellow Egyptians. It was instituted that this miracle be remembered in future generations on this Shabbos, which is therefore known as Shabbos HaGadol.”
The parallels are striking. Just as Pharaoh stubbornly refused to release the Israelites, modern-day aggressors like Hamas continue to hold people hostage. In addition, just as Pharaoh was destructive not only for the Jews but also for their own (firstborns), so too Hamas is overwhelming destructive for their fellow Palestinians living in Gaza.
The Jewish people have often been miraculously saved from our enemies. To quote the text of the Haggadah: “In every generation there are those who rise against us to destroy us, and G‑d saves us from their hands”. The greatness of the miracle of Shabbos HaGadol is that our Egyptian enemies were destroyed by the Egyptians themselves.
The miracle of Shabbos HaGadol stands out because of the unique way it transformed the enemy. The Egyptians turned their weapons against themselves, becoming instruments of liberation for the Israelites. This extraordinary event demonstrates the power of Divine intervention to shift the balance of power and bring about redemption.
Similarly, modern-day aggressors, despite their military fight, struggle to control their populations and achieve their geopolitical goals. Their attempts often result in harming their own people more than their enemies. May the people of Gaza, and the people of Iran, successfully rid themselves of their destructive leaders in Hamas and the Islamic Republic.
The current fight in Israel highlights the ongoing struggle for freedom and the desperate attempts of oppressive regimes to maintain their grip on power. We see clear miracles from Hashem where 99% of the rockets, missiles, and drones from Iran were shot down. Shabbos HaGadol reminds us that ultimate liberation can only come through Divine intervention, transforming the forces that perpetuate oppression.
May the spirit of Shabbos HaGadol inspire us to hope for a very soon future where peace and freedom prevail, where the forces of liberation overcome the darkness, and where our hostages are finally free! May all of us be liberated from our own internal Yetzer Hora holding us from revealing our truest G-dly identity.
Wishing you a Kosher and Happy Passover,
Kushi