Parshas Tzav (Shabbos HaGadol) - Chag HaPesach 5785
- Torah Tavlin
- Apr 10
- 2 min read
ואתא הקב"ה ושחט למלאך המות ... דזבין אבא בתרי זוזי. חד גדיא, חד גדיא (סדר נרצה)
As the Seder concludes, we sing the words of the mystical song “Chad Gadya.” While on the surface it may appear to be a comical and perhaps somewhat childish song, in fact, great meaning and deep lessons have been attributed to it. Each paragraph concludes with the refrain “Chad Gadya, Chad Gadya,” which leads to the question: If the goat was eaten by the cat at the start of the story, why do we keep talking about that “one goat?” It’s dead and gone!
A famous story is told of the Bluzhever Rebbe zt”l. During the Holocaust he was in Bergen Belsen. One Chanukah he had the opportunity to light Chanukah Licht. As he made the Berachos, a spectator asked him what justification does he have to say the words “Shehechiyanu”?
“How can you bless Hashem ‘Who kept us alive and enabled us to reach this time’ when thousands of people are dying before our eyes?” asked the bitter man.
“I too ask myself this question,” replied the Rebbe softly. “But when I recited the blessing, I saw that a large crowd had gathered. Men risking their own lives to watch the lighting of the candles. By the fact that Hashem has such loyal Jews - prepared to give their lives for the lighting of the Chanukah candles - by that very fact alone we may recite Shehechiyanu.” Indeed, Yidden and Yiddishkeit is very much alive.
Rav Shmuel Ehrenfeld zt”l, the Chasan Sofer, explains each stage of the Chad Gadya piyut as a parable for our shortcomings which allows the various nations, compared to animals, to harm us. Klal Yisroel is compared to the “Chad Gadya” - the single goat, and although it appears that we have been knocked down and consumed, this is only an illusion. Ultimately, Am Yisroel survives every time. And finally, when all other beings have been eradicated, there will be only ואתא הקב"ה...חד גדיא"“ - Hashem and His Chosen Nation.