Shabbat HaGadol

Greatness as revealing Hashem within nature· Essay 2

My grandfather, my teacher and master, of blessed memory, gave a reason for the name "Shabbos HaGadol" (the Great Shabbos): for in the Gemara, the Men of the Great Assembly (Anshei Knesses HaGedolah) "restored the crown to its former state,…

Shabbos HaGadol and the supernal Shabbos· Essay 3

Further one may say regarding Shabbos HaGadol: that even beforehand they had kept Shabbos, as it says in the Midrash that Moshe Rabbeinu, peace be upon him, instituted it for them. The Sefas Emes notes that Bnei Yisrael already observed Sha…

Shabbos HaGadol and the path to redemption· Essay 2

My grandfather, my teacher and master, of blessed memory, said that on this Shabbos all fifty Shabbosos of the year gather together to bring the redemption, as Chazal said, "If they would keep two Shabbosos..." — therefore it is called Shab…

Shabbos uproots arrogance, true humility· Essay 3

My grandfather, my teacher and master, of blessed memory, taught on Shabbos HaGadol, in his way, that it nullifies the arrogance and grandeur that is not for the sake of Hashem (see there). The Sefas Emes cites his grandfather's teaching th…

Two levels of Shabbos freedom· Essay 2

Concerning the matter of Shabbos HaGadol (the Great Shabbos). The Sefas Emes turns to explain why the Shabbos before Pesach is called "the Great Shabbos." As it is brought in the Ra'aya Mehemna on this parshah, that there are two aspects of…

Fifty Shabbosos and the gates of binah· Essay 3

And my grandfather, my teacher of blessed memory, explained that on this Shabbos at the end of the year, all the fifty Shabbosos of the year gather together to merit the redemption... see there. Citing his grandfather (the Chiddushei HaRim)…

Wholehearted will completes the mitzvah· Essay 1

There is a difficulty that is raised: why is the matter of taking the korban Pesach singled out to [be commemorated on] Shabbos, when it should always be on the tenth of the month, whether that falls on Shabbos or on a weekday? The Sefas Em…

Shabbos HaGadol gathers the year's lights· Essay 2

I heard from the holy mouth of my grandfather, of blessed memory, regarding Shabbos HaGadol, that all the illuminations of the Shabbosos of the year are gathered into it. The Sefas Emes transmits a teaching from his grandfather that Shabbos…

Two Shabbosos: freedom from below and above· Essay 2

Regarding Shabbos HaGadol, we have said that Shabbos has a reason, "for in six days Hashem made [the heavens and the earth]" (Shemos 20:11). The Sefas Emes notes that one rationale for Shabbos is that it commemorates Hashem's creation of th…

Yearning for the mitzvah brings geulah· Essay 2

The naming "the Great [Shabbos]" appears to be understood according to what is said: Shabbos said, "Everyone has a partner," etc.; [Hashem replied,] "Knesses Yisrael is your partner." The Sefas Emes explains the name "Shabbos HaGadol" throu…

Shabbos as partner and gateway to geulah· Essay 1

Concerning Shabbos HaGadol we have already explained that the Shabbos was awaiting the redemption, as it says, "Knesses Yisrael shall be your mate." Shabbos itself longed for a partner, and Chazal teach that Hashem designated Knesses Yisrae…

Bnei Yisrael as Shabbos witnesses· Essay 1

The matter is that there is katnus (smallness) and gadlus (greatness). The Sefas Emes opens with the two fundamental states of consciousness — a constricted "small" mind and an expanded "great" mind. Katnus is the root essence that exists i…

Exodus as the great divine rest· Essay 2

Further on the matter of Shabbos HaGadol. The Sefas Emes continues his discussion of Shabbos HaGadol, the great Shabbos before Pesach. According to the Midrash on "the weight of a stone…" (Mishlei 27:3) — that the creation of heaven and ear…

Shabbos as the root of the redemption· Essay 1

The commentators raised the question that one should have fixed the "Great" (the commemoration of "Shabbos HaGadol") on the tenth of the month, even on a weekday. The mefarshim ask: the miracle of taking the lamb occurred on the tenth of Ni…

Shabbos HaGadol and the supernatural mode of gadlus· Essay 2

In the Gemara: "On the first day you shall remove (the chametz)" — "first" means from the outset (i.e., the fourteenth, before the festival), as it is written, "Were you born the first man (rishon)?" etc. The Gemara derives from "ba'yom ha'…

Pesach and milah as twin covenants· Essay 3

And on the fourteenth [of Nissan] Bnei Yisrael would fulfill two mitzvos — the blood of the Pesach and the blood of milah — and these are the two mitzvos for [neglecting] which one is liable to kares (excision), unlike any other positive co…

Shabbos as the root above all festivals· Essay 1

Shabbos HaGadol, which precedes Pesach. It may be explained based on what is said, "first of the holy convocations," for in the parsha of the festivals the verse placed Shabbos before the Yamim Tovim, as it appears that all of them are draw…