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B’Simchah Rabbah:

Why We Celebrate the Last Day of Pesach

Rabbi Reuven
Taragin

n the seventh day of Pesach, the people had left Egypt a week before, Shirah is rooted in feelings of simchah.
we commemorate and they only achieved true freedom at the The Gemara (Arachin 11a) links the
celebrate the splitting of sea, and so that is where they sang. Levi’im’s shirah in the Temple to a verse
Othe sea by reading about Why were these processes completed that mentions the importance of serving
the miracle in Parashat Beshalach only at the sea and not through the Hashem with simchah and goodness
(Megillah 30b). What aspect of Kri’at initial Exodus? The commentators 1 of heart (Devarim 28:47), explaining
Yam Suf are we celebrating? that shirah is the expression of serving
explain that even after they left Hashem with simchah. Rashi adds that
The miracle – geulah and cherut Egypt, the people continued to see we only sing when we are happy and in
the Egyptians as their owners and
The simplest explanation is that the taskmasters. Only once the Egyptians good spirits. Song is a unique expression
seventh day commemorates the miracle perished at the sea did the Jews feel of happiness; though many things
of Kri’at Yam Suf. The seventh day parallels completely redeemed and truly free. generate happiness, song is the way
the first day of Pesach, with each day we express happiness. (Tzon Kedoshim)
commemorating a miraculous stage of The shirah and simchah Kri’at Yam Suf was more than “just”
the Exodus: the first day, the beginning, Rashi understood the significance another miracle on behalf of our
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and the seventh, the completion. people. It was the moment we were
of the seventh day differently. He
Kri’at Yam Suf completed two aspects explains that our commemoration finally relieved and happy enough
of the Exodus. The first aspect was and celebration are not due to the to express our thanks in song to
the redemption itself. The Yerushalmi miracle, but to the people’s response Hashem, and it is this song that we
(Pesachim 71:1) explains that Bnei – their singing of shirah. The Sforno commemorate and celebrate on the
Yisrael did not sing shirah when they (Vayikra 23:36) uses this idea to explain seventh day. According to Maharil,
first left Mitzrayim, because it was only the Torah’s usage of the term atzeret their happiness is the essence of what
Scan here to the beginning of the redemption. The (gathering) to describe the yom tov the day should be for us as well.
join Rabbi Ohr HaChayim (Shemot 12:15) explains status of the seventh day of Pesach.
Taragin’s that the redemption was only completed The seventh day celebrates the fact Bayamim haheim bazman hazeh
daily Divrei with Kri’at Yam Suf. The centrality of the Let’s use the seventh day of Pesach to
Torah that the Jewish people gathered together appreciate, celebrate and sing about
WhatsApp splitting of the sea is evident from the to sing shirah. The Torah emphasizes the gift of true freedom Hashem gave
group text of the geulah beracha recited before this point because, had they not done us – bayamim haheim and bazman hazeh!
Shemoneh Esreh. The blessing mentions so, the seventh day would not be a yom
the Exodus only briefly, focusing instead tov. The miracle of Kri’at Yam Suf alone
on Kri’at Yam Suf. would not have been enough basis 1. Rabbeinu Bechayei (Shemot 6:7) writes this about
the geulah, the Sforno (Shemot 14:30) writes it
for a yom tov. Only the shirah gives us
Kri’at Yam Suf also completed the about the cherut, and the Ohr HaChayim (Shemot
process of cherut (freedom). The Torah reason to celebrate. 14:30) writes it about the yeshu’ah (salvation).
twice mentions that the name of the This explains the opinion quoted by 2. Megillah 31a
place near the sea where the Jews the Maharil that instead of calling the 3. Sefer Maharil (Minhagim) Seder Tefillot Shel Pesach
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camped was Pi HaChirot, “the mouth of seventh day zman cheruteinu, “the time  Dedicated to Miriam HaNevi’ah, one of
freedom.” (Shemot 14:2, 14:9) Rashi cites of our freedom,” we should describe it our first female leaders, who led the Jewish
the Mechilta, explaining that the Jews as zman simchateinu, “the time of our women in song in response to the miracle of
only became truly free through Kri’at joy.” This description is surprising. the splitting of the sea.
A member of Yam Suf. The Talmud learns from the Pesach is the only holiday regarding  Transcribed by Adina Lev.
the Mizrachi story of the Exodus that one should sing which the Torah does not mention
Speakers Bureau shirah when freed from slavery. Rashi simchah. Why does the Maharil Rabbi Reuven Taragin is Educational Director
mizrachi.org/ explains that this “Exodus song” is the argue that simchah is the central of Mizrachi and Dean of the Yeshivat Hakotel
speakers one the Jews sang at the sea. Though characteristic of the seventh day? Overseas Program.

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