Recap for 14 Nisan 5777 (Shabbos Hagadol, Parsha Tzav)

This Shabbos Rav Males gave a dvar Torah on the subject of divine intervention.   We discussed that it was a special Shabbos, known as Shabbos Hagadol.  I would like to thank Norm and Eileen for hosting our Kiddush.

Please continue keeping Howard’s Mom, Bracha bat Malka in your thoughts and prayers.  There is a place in the Shemoneh Esrei in which names of those we wish a refua shleimah can be inserted.   

Rav Males gave a dvar Torah in which he commented that Hashem performs miracles however we must do our part.  He commented that Hashem prefers to perform miracles working through nature.  An example of this is the splitting of the Red Sea.  We had to do our part and get in the water.  And then rather than magically splitting the sea with no natural causes, the sea was split with an enormous gust of wind.

Rav Males commented that one of the purposes of us doing our part, is to “minimize” the miracle that appears to come from Hashem.  For example, Hashem commanded Noah to build a very large boat, so that the boat appeared to be the reason why Noah was able to float, along with the animals that were with him.  Hashem could have simply enabled Noah and the animals to float, however he wanted to minimize the miracle.

This all is as true in our everyday modern lives, as it was during historic times.  If we would like Hashem to perform miracles, or simply help u out, we have to do our part.  For example, Hashem will make sure we are provided for so we do not have to work on Shabbos, but we must do our part and work on the other days of the week, and make sure we are observing the Sabbath.  If we work on Shabbos, we may think we will receive more, but we will actually receive less in the long run, as we can not count on Hashem helping us out.   

Rav Males made the point that sometimes the help we receive from Hashem is disguised as it comes through another avenue.  For example, we have to do our part and work days of the week that are not Yom Tov and/or Shabbos, however, Hashem may provide for us through something other than payment through work.  We may win a lottery, or be giving a mysterious gift, that we would not have received if we had not done our part.

Rob led a discussion, of how this Shabbos was a special Shabbos known as Shabbos Hagadol – the great Shabbos.  We discussed the miracles that occurred to us on this Shabbos, such as the Egyptians being unable to do anything when they saw us taking and tying up lamb.  It was on the Shabbos before we left Egypt, that we gathered lamb and began to prepare for the sacrifice that would occur a few days later. 

We discussed how when we were in Egypt, Shabbos Hagadol occurred on the 10^th of Nissan.  We discussed why it is that we commemorate the Shabbos before Pesach, rather than the 10^th of Nissan which may not necessarily fall on a Shabbos.  This is because we could have easily lied to the Egyptians if they questioned our gathering the lamb on a day that was not Shabbot.  However, we do not want to lie on Shabbos.  Because being Shabbos is an important part of the miracle, we commemorate on Shabbos, rather than the 10^th of Nissan.

We have discussed how there is both holiness of space, and holiness of time.  Rob gave a dvar Torah in which he presented the idea that the holiness of Pesach, comes from the holiness of the preceding Shabbos Hagadol.  We created the holiness of the time of Pesach with the Exodus.  We have discussed how there is also a holiness of space.  For example, the space in the tabernacle is holy, as it is a meeting place between man and Hashem. 

We discussed how it was difficult for Moshe to give up his duties to his brother and the Kohen.  Norm commented that perhaps we have given up something in our lives, and it was very hard to give it up, so we can relate to Moshe.  My thoughts are that it can be hard to give something up, but if we do our best, Hashem helps us out with this.  That has been my experience, anyhow.

I would like to wish everyone a Chag Samayach, including my friends and family in Memphis, New York, Israel and Costa Rica.  There are friends and family from all over the world receiving these notes.

This is a summary of what we discussed.  No halachic rulings are intended or should be inferred.