A Night for Tikkunim — “Leil” or “Layla” According to “Zera Shimshon”

A Night for Tikkunim — “Leil” or “Layla” — According to “Zera Shimshon”

Exodus 12:42 “Leil shimurim hu la-Shem lehotziam me’eretz Mitzrayim, hu-halayla hazeh la-Shem shimurim lechol-bnei Yisrael ledorotam” — (This is a night preserved by G-d for bringing them out of the land of Egypt; this is that night, preserved by G-d for all the Children of Israel throughout their generations.) “Siftei Kohen” — Rabbi Shabtai HaKohen — the Shach reveals the meaning of this pasuk and explains that the first half of the night is called Leil, meaning “Din” (strict judgment), while the second half of the night, beginning at Chatzot, is called Layla and signifies mercy — “Chesed.” If we divide the night into two parts that are opposite and fundamentally incompatible, why does the Torah say “Leil shimurim” (a night preserved), while “hu-halayla hazeh” is translated as “that very night”? “Zera Shimshon” explains that, in order to understand this, we must clarify why the Holy One, blessed be He, waited until midnight to strike the firstborn. He explains that if the plague had begun during the first third or quarter of the night, it would have occurred during the part of the night when “Middat HaDin” (the attribute of Strict Judgment) prevails. This attribute had repeatedly risen throughout our history and accused Bnei Yisrael before the Holy One, blessed be He, which could have led to tragedy. Therefore, the Holy One, blessed be He, waited until the final moment before midnight. When midnight arrived, He sent the plague against the Egyptian firstborn, leaving “Middat HaDin” no opportunity to harm Am Yisrael. For as soon as midnight — Chatzot — arrived, “Middat HaDin” was replaced by “Middat HaRachamim.” This is why the pasuk mentions both times — “Leil” and “Layla.” The Creator of the Universe carried out the final plague against Egypt shortly before midnight, still during “Leil,” as close as possible to the onset of “Layla” — the time of Mercy. On Shavuot, during Leil (before Chatzot HaLayla), the Sefer Tehillim is read. On Hoshana Rabbah, during Leil (before Chatzot HaLayla), the Sefer Devarim is read. Tikkun Leil Shavuot Tikkun Leil Shavuot according to the Maggid Meisharim   Tikkun Hoshana Rabbah  Sefer Devarim on the Night of Hoshana Rabbah (Based on the sefer “Zera Shimshon,” translated by Silatehilim)