Friday, Nissan 11, 5784 / April 19, 2024
This Shabbat, The Shabbat before Pesach, is called Shabbat Hagadol – The Great Shabbat.
One of the reasons is that on the Shabbat before the Exodus, a great miracle took place. The first-born Egyptians, knowing that G-d was going to bring the Plague of the First-Born on them, insisted that Pharaoh let the Jewish people go. However, Pharaoh didn’t listen to them, they put up a fight and many Egyptians were killed. It was a war between Egyptians and Egyptians.
We saw the same miracle last Shabbat when Arab armies shot down missiles coming from Iran against Israel. It was truly a Shabbat Hagadol – A GREAT Shabbat of our time. May G-d protect and keep Jews in Israel and all over the world safe.
Q. At the Seder we speak about “Four Sons.” The wise son (Chacham); The wicked son (Rasha); The simple son (Tam); The one who doesn’t know what to ask (Sh’aino yodaya lishol). This order is a bit strange. The wicked son should be last. Why is he next to the wise one?
A. The simple answer is that they are placed in the order of their intelligence. The wicked son can also be very intelligent; thus, he comes after the wise son.
Today (Friday), the 11th day of the month Nissan, is the 122nd birthday of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of blessed memory. His great influence on world Jewry continues to this day through his teachings and through his thousands of emissaries who are spreading Torah and Judaism throughout the world.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe, in his unique way, which is also a lesson to us, explains the reason as follows: We bring together the above-mentioned children to the Seder to include them in the beauty of our traditions. Even the one who is wicked and will barrage us with disturbing questions, he too, must be included in the Seder ceremony. We cannot give up on any Jew. We include everyone and try to answer their question, so they too, will share in the beauty of our sacred traditions.
For this reason, we place the wicked son next to the wise one, so that the wise one will answer his questions and influence the wicked one. None of the other children at the Seder, the simpleton and the one who doesn’t know what to ask, can answer his questions.
“There is an important lesson here, especially in our generation,” says the Rebbe. “It is the responsibility of each and every one to influence others, to care about their spiritual welfare, because we are responsible for the welfare of every Jew.”
SHABBAT SHALOM & HAPPY HOLIDAY – CHAG SAMEACH
Montreal candle lighting time: 7:28 / Shabbat ends: 8:35
UNITED WE STAND IN PRAYER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL
& FOR THE WELFARE OF THE CAPTIVES. MAY THEY BE RELEASED NOW. AMEN
This will be the last Torah Fax until after the Pesach Holiday
This will be the last Torah Fax until after the Pesach Holiday