ליל שמרים

This evening, ליל הסדר, the night of the Seder, is referred in the Torah as ליל שמרים, a night of protection. There are two opinions in מסכת ראש השנה as to what שמרים means. Rabbi Yehoshua is of the opinion that this date was designated from the six days of creation as a time of redemption, both in Egypt and in the future. Rabbi Eliezer held that this is a night where we are protected from מזיקין, generally translated as demons. There is a Gemara in מסכת פסחים that asks how the Rabbis were able to decree the drinking of four cups of wine at the Seder, when such a large consumption of wine could be a סכנה, danger. The answer is that because tonight is ליל שמרים, we are protected from such a danger. The important point to realize is that tonight is a special night of protection. We do not say a complete קריאת שמע על המיטה. And it is also a night of hope of good things to come. (Tonight is the fifteenth of the month, and this year, a “pink moon”, which may be another sign גאולה.”