From the Desk of the Director
Shabbat Hagadol, before Pesach, is always a special day in our hearts and souls. Among the reasons given for its name is that the term Hagadol refers to the miraculous lack of Egyptian response to the korban pesach prepared by Bnei Yisrael on that famous first Shabbat, the 10th of Nissan, thousands of years ago.
Shabbat is a sign between Hashem the bestower of Shabbat and Bnei Yisrael the recipient. It unites the higher and lower spheres. As indicated in the kiddush, the day links that part of Shabbat that belongs to Hashem with that aspect that belongs to Bnei Yisrael. For of Hashem, the giver, it is written, “Shabbat kodsho” – ‘His holy Shabbat’; and of Bnei Yisrael, the recipients of Shabbat, it is written that Shabbat was bestowed upon us (“Hinhaltanu”), as a remembrance of [our] going out of Egypt.
This dual nature of Shabbat is critical to our understanding of Shabbat, in general, and of Shabbat Hagadol, in particular. We are, in this respect, reminded of the Midrash in which Shabbat complains to Hakadosh Baruch Hu that unlike all of His creations she has no partner. The answer then came: “Let Knesset Yisrael be you partner.”
Building on this idea of reciprocity, the Sefat Emet explains that the potential of Shabbat increases - nitgadel – in relation to the preparedness of Yisrael to receive the Shabbat. And as the mother of all future Shabbatot, that first Shabbat in Egypt was appropriately called “Shabbat Hagadol” precisely because Bnei Yisrael demonstrated their worth in choosing to observe Hashem’s instructions in an alien and threatening environment.
Chag Kasher V'Samei'ach to you all.
Sincerely yours, Menachem Persoff, Director, Israel CenterFrom the Desk of the Director
Shabbat Hagadol, before Pesach, is always a special day in our hearts and souls. Among the reasons given for its name is that the term Hagadol refers to the miraculous lack of Egyptian response to the korban pesach prepared by Bnei Yisrael on that famous first Shabbat, the 10th of Nissan, thousands of years ago.
Shabbat is a sign between Hashem the bestower of Shabbat and Bnei Yisrael the recipient. It unites the higher and lower spheres. As indicated in the kiddush, the day links that part of Shabbat that belongs to Hashem with that aspect that belongs to Bnei Yisrael. For of Hashem, the giver, it is written, “Shabbat kodsho” – ‘His holy Shabbat’; and of Bnei Yisrael, the recipients of Shabbat, it is written that Shabbat was bestowed upon us (“Hinhaltanu”), as a remembrance of [our] going out of Egypt.
This dual nature of Shabbat is critical to our understanding of Shabbat, in general, and of Shabbat Hagadol, in particular. We are, in this respect, reminded of the Midrash in which Shabbat complains to Hakadosh Baruch Hu that unlike all of His creations she has no partner. The answer then came: “Let Knesset Yisrael be you partner.”
Building on this idea of reciprocity, the Sefat Emet explains that the potential of Shabbat increases - nitgadel – in relation to the preparedness of Yisrael to receive the Shabbat. And as the mother of all future Shabbatot, that first Shabbat in Egypt was appropriately called “Shabbat Hagadol” precisely because Bnei Yisrael demonstrated their worth in choosing to observe Hashem’s instructions in an alien and threatening environment.
Chag Kasher V'Samei'ach to you all.
Sincerely yours, Menachem Persoff, Director, Israel Center
NCSY B'YISRAEL NEWS
They came from Jerusalem, Lod, Ramle, Efrat, Bat Yam, Netanya, and Raanana to hike and enjoy two days of pre-Pesach fun and tiyulim. Eighty kids set out early Monday morning for Chof Dor, along the shoreline of the Mediterranean. They spent the night, after a day of great fun, sleeping under the stars. The next day was enjoyed in “Little Switzerland” in the Carmel: a treat for both body and mind.
This tiyul was an attempt to consolidate NCSY’s different batim from around the country. The many different faces of our members came together in a true kibbutz galiot, to get to know each other and spend a couple of days together as a microcosm of Israeli society. How appropriate for the month of Nissan for 80 kids from different Jewish walks of life to mingle and learn from each other. May it hearken our much desired and needed geulah.
Chag Same'ach!
Rabbi Michael Fredman, Director; Daniella, Ilana, Sara, B'not Sherut; (02) 566-7787 ext. 242 • fax: (02) 566-0156;
ncsy_isr@netvision.net
They came from Jerusalem, Lod, Ramle, Efrat, Bat Yam, Netanya, and Raanana to hike and enjoy two days of pre-Pesach fun and tiyulim. Eighty kids set out early Monday morning for Chof Dor, along the shoreline of the Mediterranean. They spent the night, after a day of great fun, sleeping under the stars. The next day was enjoyed in “Little Switzerland” in the Carmel: a treat for both body and mind.
This tiyul was an attempt to consolidate NCSY’s different batim from around the country. The many different faces of our members came together in a true kibbutz galiot, to get to know each other and spend a couple of days together as a microcosm of Israeli society. How appropriate for the month of Nissan for 80 kids from different Jewish walks of life to mingle and learn from each other. May it hearken our much desired and needed geulah.
Chag Same'ach!
Rabbi Michael Fredman, Director; Daniella, Ilana, Sara, B'not Sherut; (02) 566-7787 ext. 242 • fax: (02) 566-0156; ncsy_isr@netvision.net
