To my beautiful niece on your first Shabbos in Olam Hazeh

 

The shabbos you arrive commemorates  a special day in the Jewish Calender,  Shabbos Hagadol, the shabbos preceding Pesach.

Why is Shabbos Hagadol considered a day of greatness?

Rabbi Berel Wein explains that greatness is not only part of the day, but is integral to the way we as Jews celebrate it. Shabbos is a day of greatness. As you grow up in a home filled with Torah and Mitzvos, you will see how shabbos is a day we raise ourselves above the mundane. Our dress, our language, our pace, our activities, and our thoughts are morally higher and spiritual on this day. We take great pains to create an atmosphere of kedusha to honour this day. You will spend shabbos in your best clothing, helping mummy make the best food, and helping Taty create a holy spirit in your home. You will be surrounded by an aura of greatness, one that will raise you spiritually.

 Pesach is another time of greatness for the Jews, it was the time we were liberated from bondage, released from slavery, and allowed to become a nation. The nation that we became, was one of Am milachim and Goy kodesh, a nation of kings and holy priests. A nation that accepted the Yolk of Shomayim and agreed to follow all of the mitzvas Hashem decreed upon us. Each year Mummy and Taty will remind you of the importance of this chag, and how remembering Yitziat Mitzriaim, is paramout to our existence as Jews today.

For it is written the holy one blessed be he wished to confer merit upon israel therefore gave them Torah and mitzvos in abundances.Hashem desired for the sake of Israels righteousness that the Torah be made great and glorious. Only when we were liberated from slavery, did we become a nation who was receiving of the Torah.

The Torah is an emblem of greatness and living by the Torah can make us too, great people. . As we are retell the story of Pesach, we relive the blessing of Torah and Mitzvas given to us by Hashem at this time.. Shabbos Hagadol not only reminds us of the greatness we must achieve as individuals on the day of shabbos, but it prepares us for the greatness of Pesach, of being reminded how greatness was bestowed upon us and continues to be year after year.

 My bracha to you, my beautiful niece, on this very special Shabbos, is to strive to be a Gadola, a great one. Follow mitzvot, love Torah, do chesed and grow to be a Bas Yisroel like no other. May the merit of your birth bring forth Moshiach speedily in our days, and may we continue to strengthen Klal Yisroel through Avodas HaShem,

 Good Shabbos, I love you!!!!!!!!!