Why is Pesach called Shabbos in the Torah, ממחרת השבת? Why is the Shabbos before Pesach called Shabbos Hagadol?
The Tur (430) says that Shabbos Hagadol is to commemorate the miracle that they prepared the lambs for the korban Pesach and the Egyptians could do nothing to stop them. The commentators on the Shulchan Aruch ask why do we commemorate this on Shabbos and not on the date of the occurrence, the 10th of Nissan? And why is this miracle specifically worthy of merit more than any other miracle that occurred?
The Kabbilists say that all ברכה that occurs from the week stems from the Shabbos that precedes the week. It is the oasis of kedusha that starts off the week on the right foot and imbues the entire week with kedusha. The beracha that comes during the week is merely a reflection, a fraction of the beracha that was present on the preceding Shabbos. Pesach is the Shabbos of the year. The great experience of yitzias mitraim that we relive every year gives us the ability to experience the kedusha that is present throughout the rest of the year. All of the moadim are zecher l’yitzias mitzraim, the kedusha is a ray of that which occurs on Pesach. That is why Pesach is referred to as Shabbos. It has that Shabbistic quality of having a kedusha that leaves its mark through the days and year that follows.
The essence of the act of taking the sheep was in essence an act of preparation to secure the korban pesach. What was unique about this miracle was that it was a miracle that set forth a building of the future, to offer the korban pesach. We commemorate this miracle because it reflects the entirety of what the holiday of Pesach is. This holiday sets the tone and inspires kedusha for the entire year. It is not just an end in itself but is a cornerstone to build toward the future. What Shabbos is to the week Pesach is to the year and we therefore choose specifically to convey this message on the Shabbos before Pesach (based upon Binyan Av, Or Gedaylahu and R’ Brown.)
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