Halocho #2274 - The great Shabbat Hagadol

The Jews in Egypt were commanded to take home a lamb for the pre-Exodus Seder on 10 Nissan, four days before it was going to be sacrificed.

It was a miracle that the Egyptians didn't harm the Jews when they did this since lambs were considered sacred objects in Egypt.

Since we left Egypt on Thursday 15 Nissan, this miracle happened on a Shabbat.

To commemorate this miracle, the Shabbat before Pesach is called שַׁבָּת הַגָּדוֹל - the Great Shabbat - and a special Haftara is read; the last chapter in מַלְאָכִי which predicts the future redemption, may we merit it in our days.

The custom is to read the narrative section of the הַגָּדָה at the conclusion of the Mincha service on Shabbat Hagadol. One starts at עֲבָדִים הָיִינוּ (we were slaves) until (but not including) Rabban Gamliel's admonition to say "פֶּסַח, מַצָה וּמָרוֹר".

Source: Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 430

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 6 Nissan 5779

שַׁבָּת שֶׁלִפְנֵי הַפֶסַח קוֹרִין אוֹתוֹ שַׁבָּת הַגָּדוֹל, מִפְנֵי הַנֵּס שֶׁנַּעשָׂה בּוֹ

הגה: וְהַמִּנְהָג לוֹמַר בְּמִנְחָה הַהַגָּדָה, מִתְּחִלַּת עֲבָדִים הָיִינוּ עַד לְכַפֵּר עַל כָּל עֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ; וּפוֹסְקִים לוֹמַר בָּרְכִי נַפְשִׁי