Oroh V'Simchoh

OROH V'SIMCHOH - MESHECH CHOCHMOH ON THE 7TH OF PESACH BS"D

Shmos Ch. 12, v. 16: "Uvayom hashvii mikro kodesh" - The MESHECH CHOCHMOH asks, "Why is the 7th day as a holiday mentioned here as all agree that Pesach Mitzrayim was only one day? There are numerous other places where the Torah mentions Pesach and tells us that the seventh day is "mikro kodesh," so why mention it here where the Torah is specifically discussing only the laws of Pesach Mitzrayim?" He answers that the nations of the world establish holidays to commemorate dates on which they overpowered and brought the downfall of their enemies. The bnei Yisroel do not do this in keeping with the dictum "binfol oyivcho al tismach uvhikoshlo al yo'geil li'becho" (Mishlei 22:17). Similarly we do not commemorate the downfall of our oppressors during the time of the Greek rule, but rather do a mitzvoh that is a remembrance of the miracle of the oil in the Beis Hamikdosh. By Purim the day that was established as a holiday was the day after the war with the enemies, "v'noach mei'oi'vei'hem, v'noach bachamishoh ossor bo" (Megilas Esther 9:17,18). Again this was to stress that we only celebrate our deliverance and not our enemies' downfall.

Had the Torah not mentioned the seventh day of Pesach as a "mikro kodesh" until later, one might have mistakenly thought that it commemorates the downfall of the Egyptians by Yam Suf. Therefore by strategically placing it in our parsha, before the incident of Krias Yam Suf even took place, it is clear to all that the Holiday of the seventh day of Pesach does not celebrate the downfall of the Egyptians.

A GUTTEN SHABBOS KODESH.
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