Although our Sages teach us that this is the reason for the name, nevertheless, I feel that there must be more to it then simply the miracle of the Egyptians’ silence. Did we not experience far greater miracles than this? Furthermore, why attribute this miracle to Shabbos any more than to the 10th of Nissan, the date on which this occurred?

There is a saying that carries much meaning; “More than the Jews kept the Shabbos, the Shabbos kept the Jews”. The implication is that Shabbos provides some form of protection to her people. What does Shabbos afford her people that offers this protection?

While it is true that Shabbos provides her people a day of rest and family time, there is much more that she provides. Shabbos provides her adherents the opportunity to exercise and strengthen their emunah in HaShem. Emunah is the knowledge and awareness of HaShem and the subsequent power that results from that awareness.

Let us take two new employees of Google who have finished their first year of employment, Joe and Moe. Both would like to ask their boss for a raise. Both worked hard and have good reason to get a raise. Joe has no connections in the company while Moe is a nephew of Sergey Brin. You can be certain that Moe will go to his boss with more confidence than Joe. The reason;
Moe knows and is aware that his uncle has influence on his boss and better yet, his uncle owns the place!

Shabbos is the day of the week on which the Jew exercises and strengthens his emunah, his trust in HaShem. Every week he closes his shop and tells his customers “I am sorry but I do not
work on Shabbos” and when they ask how he can close his business, the answer he gives them as well as the answer he gives to himself is “HaShem instructed me to close, so I close.

My success comes from Him and these instructions come from Him. I would be nuts to stay open on Shabbos.” Hence, Shabbos is the day when the Jew is constantly reminded that he has a direct relationship with HaShem. This weekly reminder becomes part of his psyche and from it, he gains the courage and strength to follow HaShem’s lead.

Shabbos gives her adherents faith and courage to do what they know is right without being influenced by any outside pressures. Shabbos has protected the Jew more than the Jew protected the Shabbos because Shabbos gives us the necessary trust in HaShem for us to have the courage to follow HaShem without being swayed by outside influences. We are able to withstand the winds of change that catch the minds of society and overturn them until they are destroyed.

From the time HaShem began inflicting the Egyptians with the Ten Plagues showing His absolute sovereignty, our people were never called upon to implement their trust in Him. We were just bystanders watching in awe the Greatness of HaShem and the closeness He has to us. Finally, with this mandate to take the sheep in the presence of the Egyptians and tie them to the bedpost we put into practice our trust and reliance upon Him. This was truly The Great Shabbos.

Have a wonderful Shabbos HaGadol.

Paysach Diskind