Pesach
The pesukim call the Yom Tov of Pesach “Chag HaMatzos”. We refer to the Yom Tov as “Chag HaPesach”. Why is this? What is the difference between the two and what can we learn from each one?
I heard the following answer. We call the Yom Tov “Chag HaPesach” because we are makir tovah to Hashem for skipping over our houses in Mitzrayim and having pity on us, saving us from makas bechoros. Hashem calls it “Chag HaMatzos.” The reason is as the passuk says “and they baked the dough which they took out of Mitzrayim into matzos… because they were sent out of Mitzrayim and there was no time to wait and also they didn’t prepare provisions…” Rashi brings this teaches us the praise of Klal Yisroel that they didn’t say “how can we go into the desert without provisions?” Rather, they left with emunah! Hashem calls the Yom Tov “Chag HaMatzos” to expess appreciation to Klal Yisroel by calling the Yom Tov after our emunah and mesiras nefesh.
The Ramban explains that Klal Yisroel carried dough out of Mitzrayim and baked matzos on the way or in Sukkos where they arrived soon after. The Targum Yonason ben Uziel explains that the sun baked the dough while they carried it on their heads. The Peirush Yonasan proves this from the fact that it says “and also provisions they had not made” one can assume that there was absolutely no time to bake bread in an oven. Rather, Hashem performed a nes and baked the dough in the sun!
Similarly the passuk says, את ה’ האמרת היום and וה’ האמירך היום. The Gemara says Hashem says to Klal Yisroel, “you make Me unique and important with special praise; I too will make you unique and important with special praise. Klal Yisroel says שמע ישראל ה’ … אחד as a special praise; I too will make you a special praise of ומי כעמך ישראל גוי אחד…. Hashem is praised by us, and He praises us. So too on Pesach we praise Hashem by calling it Chag HaPesach and Hashem praises us by calling in Chag HaMatzos.
May Hashem help us strengthen our emunah and praise Hashem throughout Chag HaPesach!
Chag Kosher V’Sameach!
