Parshat Tzav Shabbos Hagadol 5780
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week's parsha about the special Minchas Chavitin brought by the Kohanim (Chapter 6, Pasuk 13), Zeh Karban Aharon U'Vanav Asher Yakrivu L'Hashem Beyom Himashach Oso, Asiris Ha'Eifah Soles Minchah Tamid. Rashi explains that there was a special Minchah brought by a regular Kohen Hedyot, the Minchas Chinuch, only on the day he began serving in the Beis Hamikdash, Beyom Himashach Oso. But the Kohen Gadol brought his Minchah every single day, as the pasuk concludes Minchah Tamid.
The Sfas Emes teaches that the idea behind the Chavitin of the Kohen Gadol is that the Kohen Gadol was involved in a constant process of renewal and growth. Therefore, he brought his Minchas Chavitin every single day. In this regard, the Kohen Gadol resembles the angels who are constantly regenerating, as the pasuk says (Eichah, Chapter 3, Pasuk 23), Chadashim La'Bekarim; so too there is a constant Hischadshus for the Kohen Gadol.
The Ohr Gedalyahu picks up on this idea of the Sfas Emes and teaches that this is why he is called the Kohen Gadol. His ability to reestablish a constant freshness and newness makes him great and gives him the status of not just a Kohen, but a Kohen Gadol. He is Gadol and thus he is bringing a new Karban, a Minchas Chavitin, every day.
This is also why this Shabbos before Pesach is called Shabbos Hagadol. We just recently had two weeks ago the Shabbos of parshat Hachodesh where we read that on Rosh Chodesh Nisan Bnei Yisrael received the mitzvah of Kiddush Hachodesh, of sanctifying the new moon. This mitzvah is very significant in being the first one in that it established within Clal Yisrael the ability to constantly rejuvenate and start over again every month anew. This trait of Hischadshus which began with the first signs of the new month, reaches its apex with Shabbos Hagadol before Pesach.
We read in the Haggadah, V'Ilu Lo Hotzi Hakadosh Baruch Hu es Avoseinu Me'Mitzrayim Harei Anu U'Vaneinu U'Vnei Vaneinu Meshubadim Hayinu L'Pharaoh B'Mitzrayim. Had Hashem not taken our forefathers out of Egypt, we would still be slaves in Egypt. The Maharal explains that since Hashem took us out Himself, Ani V'Lo Malach, it made Yetzias Mitzrayim eternal; but without Hashem being directly involved, we might still be slaves as the effect of the event would have been temporary. This is expressive of a unique relationship we have with Hashem whereby He takes care of us directly without any intermediaries and made us His nation.
This unique relationship is also expressed on Shabbos. Shabbos is the day when our connection to the world is not through the natural world of nature, but through a direct, intimate connection with Hashem. On Shabbos we receive a Neshamah Yeseirah and experience a taste of Olam Haba. And in this regard Shabbos is Zecher L'Yetzias Mitzrayim. Yetzias Mitzrayim indicates our unique relationship with Hashem when He alone took us out of Egypt and therefore, we alone received the mitzvah of Shabbos, of having this eternal, special relationship with Hashem on a weekly basis. This also explains why this Shabbos is Shabbos Hagadol; precisely before Pesach our exclusive connection to Shabbos is clarified.
This understanding of the connection between Shabbos and Pesach is consistent with what we mentioned above from the Ohr Gedalyahu. Our connection to the events of the past are part of our present experience as well. Being eternal, they are part of our past, present, and future. Rejuvenating ourselves is also part of our weekly routine of Shabbos, if not already part of our daily routine as well. And this situation of isolation we found ourselves in ought to encourage us to refresh ourselves and recharge if we had previously found ourselves stuck in a routine of staleness and lack of growth. We have within us from Egypt the ability to recharge and grow, as the eternal events from back then relate to us as well today. And that ability is part of what makes us great as we celebrate this Shabbos Hagadol.
Good Shabbos
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