Acharei Mot / Shabbot HaGadol

Acharei Mot: After the Death

Shabbat HaGadol

Shabbat HaGadol is the Shabbat service immediately before Pesach (Passover). Shabbat HaGadol means The Big or Great Shabbat. It is called that because traditionally, this was one of the few Shabbat services during the year in which the rabbi gave a sermon. (Actually, today, most Shabbat services come with a sermon.) The Shabbat HaGadol sermon generally focuses on the Passover preparations and commemorates the preparations of the Israelites from their flight from Egypt.

There is a special haftarah reading for the Shabbat HaGadol, which is Malachi 3:4~24. The haftarah is about the end of days and the return of the profit Elijah. It is a traditional belief that Elijah will return during Passover. For this reason, we include a cup of wine for him at the seder meal.