Shabbos Parashas Tzav-HaGadol - 5778

Shabbos Parashas Tzav-HaGadol - 5778

Rabbi Hal Miller

For I, Hashem, have not changed, and you the sons of Yaakov have not

perished. [Malachi 3:6]

The Haftorah for our parsha is a big chunk of the last book of the prophets, the

last visionary words of the last prophet. The last two verses include God's promise

that He will send Elijah and that he will turn back the hearts of the Jews to God.

Rav Hirsch notes that the last words of the book are read on Shabbos HaGadol,

the "great" Sabbath preceding the festival celebrating our national birthday. He writes

that "the final words of the prophets conclude with the reminder and reference to the

same calling which the first announcement of God to Moshe declared to be the

purpose of the redemption, 'to be My people, a people to Me'."

The Exodus from Egypt and the giving of the Torah at Sinai are the two events

that formed the Jews into a nation. In both events, God promised the people that

He would not abandon them, that He would protect this nation forever.

Now, at the end of the era of prophecy, He reiterated those promises. So how does

our verse fit in with this pattern?

On our verse, Rav Hirsch says, speaking for God, "My desire has always been the

same. My will, the law I have set you to keep, remains unalterably your goal, but

you have not ceased to be what you have been all along, you have not yet thrown

off the dross that still clings to you."

Radak says that God's will does not change, and similarly, the existence of the

Jewish people will not change, and is guaranteed forever.

Malachi tells us that even though the Jews have strayed, God has given us a path

to return, and He will return to us. How much better a message could we have for the Great Shabbos leading into Pesach!