Shabbat Hagadol Rabbi Eliezer Shenvald

Very often a historical revolution with far-reaching consequences takes place – by virtue of a previous, lesser event which paved the way for the great change.
Genuine freedom is not granted on a silver platter! And not by virtue of one deed. Going from slavery to freedom is a long-term, wide-reaching process which demands hard work and sacrifice. Nevertheless, its success could also be determined by a single pivotal event which gives direction to all that follows. This understanding is immortalized by Jewish tradition in "Shabbat Hagadol", the Shabbat before Pesach, "The time of our freedom": "The Shabbat before Pesach is called 'Shabbat Hagadol' (the Great Shabbat) because of the great miracle that occurred on it, since the lambs for the Pesach sacrifice were taken on the tenth of Nissan, as is written "On the tenth of this month they will take for themselves a lamb for each household" and the Pesach that Israel left Egypt was a Thursday, as it says in 'Seder Olam' so the tenth (of Nissan) was Shabbat. And everyone took his lamb, and tied it to the legs of his bed, and the Egyptians asked them 'What are you doing with it?' And they answered, 'To slaughter it as a Pesach sacrifice, according to G-d's command to us! And they (the Egyptians) gnashed their teeth because they were going to slaughter their gods (the lambs), but they were not permitted to say anything to them, and because of this miracle, it is called Shabbat Hagadol". (Tur, Orach Chayim 130)
According to our sages, the "great" historical event of the exodus from Egypt began with this "great miracle". The Egyptians, despite their frustration and anger over the "desecration" of their gods, couldn't do anything to Am Israel.
Still we can ask: Why was this miracle so highly regarded and called "great" in comparison to other miracles? Weren't there greater miracles than this one? Wasn't the Splitting of the Sea and all the other miracles that G-d did for his nation Israel greater than this one? (Rabbi Levi Yitzchat Miberditchev, "Kedushat Levi"- Yitro)
Wouldn't it be appropriate to call the whole process of the Exodus "great", and not just one specific stage? Rabbi Levi Yitzchak answers: "The reason it is called a great miracle is because they (Israel) attained "greatness of the mind", that they didn't have any dread or fear of the Egyptians even though they intended to slaughter their gods".
This was a revolution in mentality for Am Israel, from the mentality of a downtrodden slave, dependent on his master, to that of an independent, straight-backed man, who can stand up to his oppressor. This was a strategic revolution, and it alone enabled the "great" process to begin. The seed of the revolution which paved the way to redemption and freedom was "greatness of the mind"! First of all, this involves a true understanding of the concept of freedom: "It is not so easy to fully understand the meaning of slavery in its entirety, to the point of knowing how to break off its shackles, and to reach the broad plain of freedom…it is also not an easy task to comprehend the concept of freedom fully and comprehensively, to the level of clarity (necessary) to connect to true freedom and not fall into false freedom, which is much worse than any slavery." (Rav Kook, Ma'amarei Haraaya p. 163) It is very easy to fall into an illusion of freedom, and in reality remain entirely enslaved.
Secondly, "greatness of mind" allowed Am Israel a deep understanding of what is its uniqueness and what are its goals. Indeed: "The difference between a slave and a free man is not just a difference in status, that this one happens to be enslaved to another, and the other one is not…(but) the characteristic freedom is that same
uplifting spirit that elevates a man and an entire nation, to be faithful to his inner makeup...as opposed to a slave in his spirit, whose life's content and feelings are never the result of his inner character, but rather what is good and desirable in the eyes of the other who has some kind of control over him, whether formal or moral. (Rav Kook, p. 157)
"Greatness of the mind" is also what creates courage, that which fills hearts with boldness of spirit, fearlessness, strength of the soul and uncompromising determination, to the point of being willing to face danger and confront the Egyptians in order to attain the aspired-for freedom and independence. In this respect, "Our right to freedom is the willingness to pay the price".