1. The last day of Pesach is connected to this Shabbos and to the portion of Acharei. Both are positive progressions from previous conditions. We must emphasize that matzah symbolizes freedom, which emerges on the last day of Pesach in the Haftorah and the meal of Mashiach, and in the “Acharei” (meaning “after”) that comes at the end of time.
2. Last Shabbos was also connected to this Shabbos. The Haftorah of theresurrection preceded the Haftorah of the redemption through Mashiach — two stages in the era of Mashiach. The first will be natural, the second, supernatural. We must believe in and hope for the ultimate, absolute, supernatural redemption, then we will merit both stages.
3. Why does Rashi give the symbolic meaning of “b’zos”? Why does Rashi teach a symbolic interpretation of “Ponai”? Why must Rashi tell us that the Egyptians and Canaanites were more corrupt than all the other pagans, etc.? The verb used with Ponai is out of place. By singling out Egyptian and Canaanites within the context we must conclude that they were more corrupt, etc.
4. Rambam usually does not use words superfluously; why, in the case of the Sukkah covering, the Sukkah in a house, and in the laws of slaves on Shabbos, does he add phrases which seem redundant? Sometimes the Rambam quotes the original Mishnaic language for the sake of style or congruity.
