The Great Sabbath

There are many explanations as to why the Sabbath before Passover is called Shabbat Hagadol.

By Rabbi Ronald H. Isaacs

One of the distinctions of Shabbat Hagadol among Ashkenazi Jews is that it was one of two times during the year that the rabbi would address the congregation. The other occasion was Shabbat Shuva --the Sabbath of Repentance--between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Often, the Shabbat HaGadol address dealt with the issues and intricacies of Passover kashrut. One humorous explanation for the name of this sabbath is that the word "gadol" meaning "great" or "big" refers to the length of the rabbi's sermon that was traditionally delivered on this special occasion. Excerpted with permission from Every Person’s Guide to Passover (Jason Aronson, Inc).

The Sabbath immediately preceding Passover is called Shabbat HaGadol, the great Sabbath. According to tradition, the 10th of Nisan in the year of the exodus was a Saturday. It was considered a great event, in fact a miracle, that the Israelites could on that day select a lamb for sacrifice without being molested by their Egyptian masters, who, at other times, would have stoned them for such daring (Code of Jewish Law, Orach Chayyim 430: 1).

Another possible reason for the name is that the haftarah (Malachi3:4-24), the prophetic portion, speaks of the "great day" of God on which the Messiah will appear. A novel explanation for the name of Shabbat HaGadol is that the people used to return from the synagogue later than usual on this Sabbath because of the unusually long sermon that was customary on this day.

The custom of reciting the Haggadah in the afternoon of Shabbat HaGadol was designed to familiarize the people with its contents in preparation for the Seder service that week (Code of Jewish Law, Orach Chayyim 430).

Rabbi Ronald H. Isaacs is the spiritual leader of Temple Sholom in Bridgewater, N.J. He has served as the publications committee chairperson of the Rabbinical Assembly. Rabbi Isaacs is the author of over sixty books.